NickServ

NickServ allows users to register and manage nicknames, providing authentication and nickname protection services.

Getting Help

/msg NickServ HELP
/msg NickServ HELP <command>

REGISTER

Syntax: REGISTER <password> [<email>]

Example:

/msg NickServ REGISTER mysecurepass
/msg NickServ REGISTER mysecurepass user@example.com

Constraints:

Password must be at least min_password_length characters (default: 6)
If email_required: true, email must be provided
If wait_register_time > 0, you must have been connected for that many seconds
The nickname must not already be registered

Without email: The nickname is registered immediately.

With email: A verification code is sent to the email address. You must verify within unverified_expire_days (default: 1 day).

After registration:

/msg NickServ IDENTIFY mysecurepass

VERIFY

Verify a registered nickname via email confirmation.

Syntax: VERIFY <nickname> <code>

Example:

/msg NickServ VERIFY Alice abc12345

Only required when email verification is enabled. The code is sent to the email address provided during REGISTER.

IDENTIFY

Authenticate with your registered nickname.

Syntax: IDENTIFY [<nickname>] <password>

Examples:

/msg NickServ IDENTIFY mypassword
/msg NickServ IDENTIFY Alice mypassword

Behavior:

Without nickname: identifies to the registered nick that matches your current nick
With nickname: identifies to that specific registered nick (even if your current nick is different)
On success: sets your +r mode and identified_as to the account name

Conditions that prevent IDENTIFY:

Already identified to a different account → “already identified as X, LOGOUT first”
Already identified to the same account → “you are already identified”
Authenticated via SASL → “you authenticated via SASL, LOGOUT first”

LOGOUT

Log out from your current NickServ session.

Syntax: LOGOUT

/msg NickServ LOGOUT

Behavior:

Removes +r mode
Clears identified_as
Does not disconnect you

GHOST

Disconnect another session that is using your registered nickname.

Syntax: GHOST <nickname> <password>

Example:

/msg NickServ GHOST Alice mypassword

Behavior:

Disconnects the connection using the specified nickname with the message “This nickname is owned by someone else”
Requires authentication — you must provide the correct password for the registered nick

RECOVER

Forcefully disconnect another user using your registered nickname and reserve it for you.

Syntax: RECOVER <nickname> <password>

Example:

/msg NickServ RECOVER Alice mypassword

Behavior:

Disconnects the user currently using the nick
Reserves the nickname for recover_reservation_duration seconds (default: 60s)
During the reservation period, only you can claim the nick

After RECOVER, change your nick to the recovered one:

/nick Alice

REGAIN

Recover your nickname and immediately take it.

Syntax: REGAIN <nickname> <password>

Example:

/msg NickServ REGAIN Alice mypassword

Behavior:

Similar to RECOVER, but also attempts to change your current nick to the recovered nick
The nick is reserved for regain_reservation_duration seconds (default: 60s)

RELEASE

Release a reserved nickname before the reservation expires.

Syntax: RELEASE <nickname>

Example:

/msg NickServ RELEASE Alice

Behavior:

Releases the reservation created by RECOVER or REGAIN
After release, anyone can claim the nick

DROP

Permanently delete your registered nickname.

Syntax: DROP <nickname> <password>

Example:

/msg NickServ DROP Alice mypassword

INFO

Display information about a registered nickname.

Syntax: INFO <nickname>

Example:

/msg NickServ INFO Alice

Returns:

Nickname
Registration date
Last seen date
Email address (unless hidden with SET HIDEMAIL ON)
Registered by (hostmask at time of registration)

SET

Configure settings for your registered nickname.

Syntax: SET <option> <value>

Requirements: Must be identified (+r)

SET HIDEMAIL

Control whether your email address is shown in NickServ INFO.

/msg NickServ SET HIDEMAIL ON     # Hide email in INFO displays
/msg NickServ SET HIDEMAIL OFF    # Show email in INFO displays

ACCESS

Manage the access list for your registered nickname.

The access list allows automatic identification from trusted hostmasks.

Syntax:

/msg NickServ ACCESS ADD *!*@trusted.host.com
/msg NickServ ACCESS DEL *!*@trusted.host.com
/msg NickServ ACCESS LIST

Behavior:

Connections from matching hostmasks are automatically identified without a password
Maximum entries: 10 per account (configurable via max_access_entries)

ALIST

Display channels or nicknames associated with your account.

Syntax: ALIST

/msg NickServ ALIST

Returns: A list of ChanServ-registered channels where you are the founder or successor.

STATUS

Check the identification status of one or more nicknames.

Syntax: STATUS [<nick1> <nick2> ...]

Example:

/msg NickServ STATUS Alice Bob Charlie

Status codes:

Code	Meaning
`0`	Not registered
`1`	Registered but not online
`2`	Online but not identified
`3`	Online and identified

NickServ Configuration Reference

Setting	Default	Description
`enabled`	`true`	Enable/disable NickServ
`min_password_length`	`6`	Minimum password length
`nick_expire_days`	`90`	Days until inactive nicks expire
`email_required`	`false`	Require email for registration
`wait_register_time`	`120`	Minimum connection time to register (seconds, 0=disabled)
`unverified_expire_days`	`1`	Days until unverified registrations expire (0=never)
`regain_reservation_duration`	`60`	Seconds a nick stays reserved after REGAIN
`recover_reservation_duration`	`60`	Seconds a nick stays reserved after RECOVER
`max_access_entries`	`10`	Maximum ACCESS list entries per nick
`settings.hide_email`	`false`	Default HIDEMAIL setting

See Services Configuration for full details.