Pidgin
This is a guide to Pidgin, a free-as-in-freedom instant messaging client with support for many messaging protocols.
Accounts
To add an existing account:
- Accounts > Manage Accounts
 - Click "Add".
 - 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.
 
 - Click "Add".
 
To disable an account without deleting it:
- Accounts > Manage Accounts
 - Uncheck "Enabled" at the account
 
To delete an account:
- Accounts > Manage Accounts
 - Select the account.
 - Click "Delete"
 
Logging
By default, Pidgin logs all instant messages you send and receive to a file. To change this:
- Tools > Preferences
 - Logging
 - Uncheck "Log all instant messages"
 
Buddies
To add a buddy:
- Buddies > Add Buddy...
 - Fill-in the form
 
To remove a buddy:
- Right-click on the buddy in the buddy list
 - Choose Remove
 
Chat
To start a chat:
- Buddies > Add Chat...
 - Enter Room, Exchange, Alias and Group
 
Files
To send a file to a buddy:
- Right-click on the buddy in the buddy list
 - Choose Send File...
 
Protocols
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
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
To edits preferences aka settings:
- Tools > Preferences
 
Versions
The latest release is 2.10.7 from 2013-02-14.
Links:
- Pidgin files at sourceforge.net
 - ChangeLog, release notes at pidgin.im
 - FullChangeLog release notes at pidgin.im
 
Gallery
- 
			
Pidgin running on Windows - 
			
Pidgin running on Ubuntu - 
			
Conversation window - 
			
An IRC connection setup, in French 
See also Commons:Category:Pidgin (instant messaging client).
See also
- Pidgin/Installing OTR - Installing OTR for secure messaging with pidgin
 
External links
- pidgin.im, Pidgin home page
 - FAQ at pidgin.im
 - Using Pidgin at pidgin.im
 - pidgin at sourceforge.net
 - W:Pidgin (software)