mIRC is an IRC client for Windows with an integrated scripting language allowing the creation of extensions. The software was first released in 1995 and has since been described as "one of the most popular IRC clients available for Windows." mIRC is shareware and requires payment for registration after the 30-day evaluation period.
mIRC was created by Khaled Mardam-Bey, a British programmer born in Jordan to a Syrian father and a Palestinian mother. He began developing the software in late 1994, and released its first version on 28 February 1995.
Mardam-Bey states that he decided to create mIRC because he felt the first IRC clients for Windows lacked some basic IRC features. He then continued developing it due to the challenge and the fact that people appreciated his work. The author states that its subsequent popularity allowed him to make a living out of mIRC. He also jokingly states that the "m" in mIRC stands for "moo" or "MU" (meaning 'nothing' in Japanese and Korean).
What is mIRC?
mIRC by mIRC Co. Ltd. (developed by Khaled Mardam-Bey) is proprietary Windows software in the chat & messaging category. It ranks 15th by popularity among chat & messaging in this catalogue. The first release dates back to 1995. It is written in C++ and C.
Installation and requirements
The publisher provides EXE (NSIS) installers for 32-bit Windows. The main installer is 1 KB. Installation asks for administrator rights. It needs Windows 10 or newer. A silent install is possible with the installer’s documented switches.
Updates and version history
The current version is 7.83, released on November 22, 2025. The version history goes back to August 4, 2023: 8 releases, all linked to the official files. That is about 3.5 releases a year.
Popularity and file types
The Chocolatey package has been downloaded 36,481 times. Wikipedia has an article about it in 36 of our languages. Similar programs include Signal, Discord and Telegram Desktop.
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Documented silent install
- Small download (1 KB)
- Mature project (since 1995)
Cons
- Proprietary licence: check the terms and price
- No native ARM64 build
- 32-bit only
- Installation needs administrator rights
In short: mIRC is a chat & messaging tool for 32-bit PCs. Administrators can deploy it unattended.
Is mIRC safe to download?
- The file is served by mirc.com, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
C4E001B16AEFB94158C6EE0324491B843639548FE5FACBB04A03F45B7E3847A9· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link answered when we last checked it (October 22, 2026)
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 8 versions ›8 versions over 2 years · about 3.5 a year
| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7.83Latest | November 22, 2025 | 1 KB | 32-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 7.82 | November 9, 2025 | 1 KB | 32-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 7.81 | May 21, 2025 | 1 KB | 32-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 7.78 | November 6, 2024 | 1 KB | 32-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 7.77 | June 11, 2024 | 1 KB | 32-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 7.76 | January 8, 2024 | 1 KB | 32-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 7.75 | August 28, 2023 | 1 KB | 32-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 7.74 | August 4, 2023 | 1 KB | 32-bit EXE (NSIS) |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id mIRC.mIRC -echoco install mirc -ymirc783.exe /SRelated guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Information
- Publisher
- mIRC Co. Ltd.
- Developer
- Khaled Mardam-Bey
- Category
- Chat & messaging
- Licence
- Proprietary
- Price
- See the publisher’s site
- Written in
- C++ and C
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10 (Windows 10+)
- Architecture
- 32-bit
- Installer
- EXE (NSIS)
- Version
- 7.83
- Released
- November 22, 2025
- First release
- 1995
- Added to the catalogue
- August 4, 2023
- Versions listed
- 8
- Updates / year
- 3.5
- Chocolatey downloads
- 36,481
- Website
- mirc.com
- winget ID
- mIRC.mIRC
- Chocolatey package
- mirc
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
Alternatives to mIRC
See all ›-
Open source3.4M ↓ -
Proprietary882.4K ↓ -
Telegram Desktop7.3.3A cloud-based mobile and desktop messaging app with a focus on security and speed.Open source1M ↓ -
Proprietary9.8M ↓ -
Rocket.Chat4.18.5Rocket.Chat is the leading open source team chat software solution. Free, unlimited and completely customizable with on-premises and SaaS cloud hosting.Open source973K ↓ -
Proprietary259.3K ↓ -
Pidgin2.14.14Pidgin is a universal chat client, allowing you to consolidate all your different messaging apps into a single tool.Open source175.4K ↓ -
Open source97.4K ↓
Frequently asked questions
Is mIRC free?
mIRC is proprietary (closed-source) software (licence: Proprietary). Whether it costs money depends on the edition: check the publisher’s site for prices and free tiers.
Is mIRC safe to download?
The download comes from mirc.com, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install mIRC with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Can mIRC be installed silently?
Yes. The silent install page lists the exact command for each installer.
Which Windows versions does mIRC support?
The installer requires Windows 10 or newer and is available for 32-bit.
Does mIRC run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
There is no ARM64 build; Windows 11 on Arm can run the 32-bit version through emulation.
Where can I download an older version of mIRC?
The versions page lists all 8 versions with links to their official installer files, back to August 4, 2023.
What are alternatives to mIRC?
Signal, Discord, Telegram Desktop, Slack and Rocket.Chat. The alternatives page compares them.
