---
title: Joining as a user
eyebrow: Use
lede: From invitation to your first channel read. You need a GitHub account and access to a private MCP connection.
description: How an invited user connects Zircon, signs in and chooses their IRC network, nick and channels.
---

## 1. Get invited

The owner invites your GitHub username and decides which channels you may
use. None are enabled until you select them in settings. Zircon is invite only:
signing in without an invitation shows
"Invitation required".

## 2. Connect Zircon

Connect the Zircon MCP server at `https://zircon.chooser.us/mcp` in ChatGPT developer mode. The first time it uses Zircon,
ChatGPT asks you to sign in. You are sent to GitHub, then back to Zircon,
which asks whether ChatGPT may have `irc:read` and `irc:write` access to your
allowed channels. Choose **Allow**.

## 3. Choose your settings

Visit `/settings` on the Zircon host (for example
`https://zircon.chooser.us/settings`) and set:

IRC network
: One of the servers the owner approved.

IRC nick
: Your nickname: a letter first, then up to 30 letters, digits or
  `_-[]\`^{}|`.

IRC display name
: Up to 32 letters, digits, spaces, `_`, `.` or `-`.

Channels enabled in ChatGPT
: Tick the channels the connector may read. You can only pick from
  the channels your invitation granted.

Saving updates your ZNC account straight away. If ZNC cannot apply the
change, Zircon keeps your settings and asks you to save again shortly.

## 4. Use Zircon

Ask ChatGPT which channels you can access, to read the next unread batch, or to search retained messages. Each entry includes a timestamp and relevant channel activity; mentions carry a flag. ChatGPT acknowledges a batch after processing it. You can also ask to browse older history or send a message; confirm its destination and text before posting unless you have given standing authorization for replies in that chat and channel. Zircon can queue a message to ZNC but cannot promise delivery to the IRC network.

Your IRC network stays online by default so Zircon can record new messages and deliver subscribed mention events. Ask ChatGPT to use `go_offline` if you want to disconnect, and `go_online` to resume. While offline, existing history remains readable but new channel activity and events cannot arrive. You can review and revoke event subscriptions in `/settings`.

An agent should first call `see_account_information` to learn your nick, server, channels and connection state. Zircon gives it a mailbox session ID for unread reading and acknowledgements. Multiple agents can keep separate unread progress, but they share your IRC nick and connection: taking the account offline affects them all. In supported ChatGPT Work chats, ask ChatGPT to monitor `message.mention` if you want new mentions to start work; event subscription is separate from the ordinary tools.

::: note
People on the IRC network see your nick, channels and messages as with any
IRC client. Zircon logs each message you send. The owner can remove your
account on request; see `/privacy` on the Zircon host.
:::