Instant Messaging and Chat | Thunderbird Help
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Thunderbird
Thunderbird
8/17/20
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Thunderbird supports instant messaging and chat using IRC, XMPP, and Google Talk.
Table of Contents
Configuring Chat
1.1
Start the New Account Wizard
1.2
Enter Username
1.3
Enter Password
1.4
Advanced Options
1.5
Finish the Wizard
Using Chat
2.1
Connect to your Chat Account
2.2
Use the Chat Tab to start and join conversations
2.3
Chat is included in Search
Configuring Chat
To use Chat, you must first create a new account (or configure an existing account) with an online instant messaging or chat provider. Thunderbird currently works with IRC, XMPP,
, and Google Talk.
In this example we will show IRC, Google Talk and XMPP. Note, Twitter is no longer supported.
Start the New Account Wizard
At the top of the Thunderbird window, click on the
File
menu, then click
New
and then click
Chat Account…
Enter Username
For IRC, you will have to enter your IRC server name, e.g. irc.mozilla.org for Mozilla's IRC server.
For XMPP, you will also have to enter your XMPP server name.
Enter Password
Enter the password for the service.
A password is optional for an IRC account and is only required if you have reserved your nickname on the IRC network.
Advanced Options
This is not usually needed, so just click
Next
Continue
Finish the Wizard
Next, you will be presented with a Summary screen. Click
Finish
to finish the wizard and start chatting.
Using Chat
Connect to your Chat Account
First make sure that you are online by going to your Chat Status and connecting:
click on the
Tools
menu and then click on
Chat status
and then
Show Accounts…
click on the
Connect
button next to the account you want to go online with
Use the Chat Tab to start and join conversations
Click on the Chat Tab next to the Write Tab to start and join conversations.
Chat is included in Search
Like any other type of Thunderbird account (e.g. email and RSS), Chat is integrated with search.
Here's an example of email, and Chat conversations being found by Thunderbird's
global search
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