This is a guide to Pidgin, a free-as-in-freedom instant messaging client with support for many messaging protocols.

Accounts

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To add an existing account:

  1. Accounts > Manage Accounts
  2. Click "Add".
  3. Fill-in the form, choosing Protocol, entering User Name, and switching between Basic, Advanced, and Proxy tabs.
    If you choose to enter password, beware that it is stored on your computer unencrypted. From a security standpoint, entering your password to be stored with your account is inadvisable.
  4. Click "Add".

To disable an account without deleting it:

  1. Accounts > Manage Accounts
  2. Uncheck "Enabled" at the account

To delete an account:

  1. Accounts > Manage Accounts
  2. Select the account.
  3. Click "Delete"

Logging

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By default, Pidgin logs all instant messages you send and receive to a file. To change this:

  1. Tools > Preferences
  2. Logging
  3. Uncheck "Log all instant messages"

Buddies

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To add a buddy:

  1. Buddies > Add Buddy...
  2. Fill-in the form

To remove a buddy:

  1. Right-click on the buddy in the buddy list
  2. Choose Remove

Chat

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To start a chat:

  1. Buddies > Add Chat...
  2. Enter Room, Exchange, Alias and Group

Files

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To send a file to a buddy:

  1. Right-click on the buddy in the buddy list
  2. Choose Send File...

Protocols

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Supported protocols:

  • Bonjour
  • Gadu-Gadu
  • IRC
  • Lotus Sametime
  • MySpaceIM
  • MXit
  • MSNP
  • Novell GroupWise
  • OSCAR (AIM, ICQ, MobileMe)
  • SIP/SIMPLE
  • SILC
  • XMPP/Jingle (Google Talk, Jabber, Facebook Chat, LJ Talk, Gizmo5, etc.)
  • YMSG (YIM only basic chat and file transfers)
  • Zephyr

Shortcuts

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Keyboards shortcuts:

  • New Instant Message...: Ctrl+M
  • Join a Chat...: Ctrl+C
  • Get User Info...: Ctrl+I
  • View User Log...: Ctrl+L
  • Add Buddy...: Ctrl+B
  • Quit: Ctrl+Q
  • ----
  • Manage Accounts: Ctrl+A
  • ----
  • Custom Smileys: Ctrl+Y
  • Plugins: Ctrl+U
  • Preferences: Ctrl+P
  • Set Mood: Ctrl+D
  • File Transfers: Ctrl+T
  • Mute Sounds: Ctrl+S
  • ----
  • Online Help: F1

Preferences

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To edits preferences aka settings:

  • Tools > Preferences

Versions

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The latest release is 2.10.7 from 2013-02-14.

Links:

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See also Commons:Category:Pidgin (instant messaging client).

See also

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