Where Is the Irssi Config File?
Irssi config, scripts and log locations on Linux and Mac, and the setting that turns logging on.
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Irssi centers on ~/.irssi/config: servers, channels and binds in one hand editable file, reloaded with /RELOAD and written with /SAVE. Scripts drop into ~/.irssi/scripts with symlinks into autorun/ for autoload; startup commands live in ~/.irssi/startup.
Logging surprises newcomers twice. Nothing logs by default: turn on /SET autolog and set autolog_path (the default template writes under ~/irclogs, outside ~/.irssi). Windows has no native build, so use the same ~/.irssi layout inside WSL or Cygwin home. Flags --config and --home override everything for portable setups.
Where Irssi stores this, by platform
~/.irssi/config
Servers, channels and binds; /RELOAD after hand edits, /SAVE to write. Scripts in ~/.irssi/scripts (autorun/ for autoload), startup commands in ~/.irssi/startup. Overrides: irssi --config=FILE, --home=PATH.
~/.irssi/config
Identical layout via Homebrew or MacPorts installs. Default autolog template writes to ~/irclogs/$tag outside ~/.irssi; manual logs via /LOG OPEN can go anywhere. No native Windows build; same layout applies inside WSL or Cygwin.
Frequently asked questions
How do I turn on logging in Irssi?
Run /SET autolog ON and set /SET autolog_path to your template (default lands under ~/irclogs). Without that, only manual /LOG OPEN files exist, which catches people after the fact.
Can I run Irssi on Windows?
There is no native build. Run it inside WSL or Cygwin and the same ~/.irssi layout applies within that environment home. Config files transfer between Linux, Mac and WSL untouched.
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