For real-time chat with other Wikimedians, there are several Internet Relay Chat (IRC) channels on the Libera Chat network. #wikipedia-en is the main forum (see here for other channels); these are the responsibility of, and controlled by, the Group Contacts.

Channels located on the Freenode network will not be maintained by the IRC Group Contacts.

The recent changes channels are now located on the Wikimedia IRC network (irc.wikimedia.org:6667). A channel exists for each public Wikimedia wiki which has been changed since the last time the server was restarted. In general, the name is just the domain name with the .org left off. For example, the changes on the English Wikipedia are available at #en.wikipedia. However, some wikis which are not Wikipedias have the .wikipedia suffix (e.g. #mediawiki.wikipedia for MediaWiki.org). See IRC/Channels#Raw feeds for details.

If you're new to IRC see the IRC instructions for help.

On IRC/Nicks you'll find a list of people whose nickname on IRC is different from their Wikimedia username.

IRC hostmask cloaks allow you replace the default user cloak with something like wikimedia/JamesF. Cloaks allow you to show off your pride as a Wikipedia editor, and prove that you are the same person on Wikipedia. For more information and instructions on how to obtain a cloak, see IRC cloaks.

• WikiLounge (WMCS-based IRC web client and bouncer)
• IRC channel scripts
• IRC channels
• IRC Meeting Recommendations – advice for how to have a happy, productive meeting via IRC
• IRC public channel logs
• IRC office hours
• Simple IRC RC Bot
• Wikimedia Chat
• WM-Bot – utility which allows you to set up RC feed in any Wikimedia channel and other useful stuff
• Wikibot
• A helpful list of IRC tricks