User Modes

User modes apply globally to a user, affecting their visibility and behavior across the entire server.

Syntax: MODE <yournick> +<modes> or MODE <yournick> -<modes>

+B — Bot

Set by: User Removed by: User Purpose: Marks the user as a bot.

When set, this mode identifies the user as an automated bot. It is purely informational — it appears in WHOIS and is broadcast via IRCv3 message tags to clients that support the bot tag (MESSAGE-TAGS capability).

MODE mybotnick +B

+g — Caller ID

Set by: User Removed by: User Purpose: Only users on your ACCEPT list can send you private messages.

When +g is set:

PRIVMSGs from users not on your ACCEPT list are blocked
The sender receives a notification that you have Caller ID enabled
You receive a one-time notification per session when someone tries to message you (so you can decide to add them)

Manage your accept list:

MODE yournick +g          # Enable Caller ID
ACCEPT +Alice             # Allow Alice to message you
ACCEPT -Bob               # Remove Bob from your accept list
ACCEPT *                  # View your accept list

+H — Hide Operator

Set by: IRC Operators only Removed by: IRC Operators only Purpose: Hides your IRC operator status from non-operators in WHOIS.

When set:

Non-operators doing /whois on you will not see the “is an IRC Operator” line
IRC operators doing /whois on you will still see your operator status
This allows operators to be “undercover”

MODE yournick +H    # Hide op status (must already have +o)
MODE yournick -H    # Show op status again

+i — Invisible

Set by: User Removed by: User Purpose: Hides you from WHO and WHOIS searches by users not in shared channels.

When set:

/who searches will not show you unless the searching user shares a channel with you
/whois from users not in shared channels may show limited information
You still appear in channel NAMES lists to people in those channels

MODE yournick +i

+o — IRC Operator

Set by: Server only (via OPER command) Removed by: User (via /mode yournick -o) or server Purpose: Elevated server-wide operator privileges.

This mode cannot be self-set. It is only granted by the OPER command after successful authentication.

Removing it de-opers you and automatically removes +H and +s if set.

See Operators for full documentation.

+r — Registered

Set by: Server only (via NickServ IDENTIFY or SASL authentication) Removed by: Server only (via NickServ LOGOUT) Purpose: Indicates the user is identified with NickServ.

This mode cannot be manually set or removed. It is automatically applied when you identify successfully, and removed when you log out.

It enables access to +R channels and ability to speak in +M channels.

+R — Registered Only

Set by: User Removed by: User Purpose: Only registered (+r) users can send you private messages.

When set:

Unregistered users who try to PRIVMSG you receive an error
Registered users (those with +r) can message you normally

MODE yournick +R    # Only registered users can DM you
MODE yournick -R    # Allow all users to DM you

+s — Server Notices (Snomask)

Set by: IRC Operators only Removed by: IRC Operators only Purpose: Receive server notice messages.

When set, the operator receives server-level notices such as:

Client connection events
Other operator-level server events

MODE yournick +s    # Enable server notices (must be +o)

+w — Wallops

Set by: User Removed by: User Purpose: Receive WALLOPS broadcast messages from operators.

IRC operators can send WALLOPS messages to all users with +w enabled. This is commonly used for server-wide announcements.

MODE yournick +w    # Start receiving WALLOPS
MODE yournick -w    # Stop receiving WALLOPS

+x — Cloaked Hostname

Set by: User Removed by: User (unless cloak_allow_disable: false in config) Purpose: Replace your real hostname with a cloaked (masked) version.

When set:

Your hostname is replaced with prefix-HASH.domainparts in your visible hostmask
The hash is deterministic — the same real hostname always produces the same cloak
Bans on your cloaked hostname continue to work

Example: alice@192.168.1.100 → alice@elixir-A3F2B1C8.home.isp.com

MODE yournick +x    # Enable hostname cloaking
MODE yournick -x    # Remove cloaking (if allowed by server config)

If cloak_on_connect: true is set in the server config, +x is applied automatically when you connect.

See Hostname Cloaking for details.

+Z — Secure Connection

Set by: Server only (automatic for TLS connections) Removed by: Cannot be removed Purpose: Indicates the user is connected via SSL/TLS.

This mode is automatically set when you connect using TLS (port 6697 or WebSocket over HTTPS). It cannot be set or removed manually.

It is required to join channels with +z (Secure Only) mode.