> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://esmp-fun.gitbook.io/plugins/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://esmp-fun.gitbook.io/plugins/community-chat/getting-started/connect-a-server.md).

# Join a chat

Somebody has sent you an address and a token. This is your page, and it takes about two minutes.

If nobody has sent you anything and you are the one starting this, you want [Set up your chat](/plugins/community-chat/getting-started/set-up-the-network.md) instead.

{% hint style="warning" %}
Your server needs **Paper, Purpur or Folia** on Minecraft **26.x** with **Java 25**. It does not work on Spigot, CraftBukkit, Fabric, Forge, or on 1.21 and older. See [Will it work on my server?](/plugins/community-chat/readme.md#will-it-work-on-my-server).
{% endhint %}

Your server makes one outgoing connection, the same way a web browser does. Nothing has to be opened, so shared hosting is fine.

## 1. Install the plugin

Drop `communitychat-connector.jar` into your server's `plugins/` folder and restart once.

## 2. Paste in the two things you were sent

In game, run:

```
/cchat setup
```

Paste the address into the first box and your token into the second, then press **Connect**. The screen tells you whether it worked, and if it did not, it says why in plain words rather than sending you to a log file.

That is the whole job.

<details>

<summary>Prefer to edit a file?</summary>

The same two values live in `plugins/CommunityChat/config.yml`, which the plugin writes on its first start:

```yaml
hub:
  url: "PASTE-THE-ADDRESS-HERE"
  token: "PASTE-YOUR-TOKEN-HERE"
```

The **address** is the same for everybody in the chat and looks like `wss://chat.esmp.fun/relay/c/gCTwaCegmtchZyAUTS7bwF`. Paste it exactly as it was sent, quote marks left in place.

The **token** is yours alone and is different from everybody else's. It is not only how your server proves who it is, it is what your messages are locked with, so keep it private.

Then apply it without restarting:

```
/cchat reload
/cchat status
```

</details>

## 3. Check it

```
/cchat status
```

It should say it is connected, name the chat, and tell you how many servers are online. Type something in chat and watch it appear on every other server and in Discord.

Not connected? The message says which of the two things is wrong. Nearly always it is an address pasted with a piece missing, or a token that belongs to a different server. Send that line to whoever hosts the chat and they will spot it in seconds. [Troubleshooting](/plugins/community-chat/help/troubleshooting.md) covers the rest.

## Making it yours

Everything below is yours alone and changes nothing for anybody else.

* **The menu**: `/cchat menu`, then **This Server**.
* **Hide the `[TAG]` prefixes** on your server: turn off "Show server tags" in that same screen, or set `show-tags: false` in the file.
* **Change how messages look**: the `formats:` section at the bottom of `plugins/CommunityChat/config.yml`, explained in place and in the [connector settings reference](/plugins/community-chat/reference/connector-settings.md).
* **Take a break**: `/cchat menu` has a **Pause chat** button, which stops messages going out and coming in until you press **Resume chat**. From the console it is `/cchat pause` and `/cchat resume`.

## What your players get

Nothing to install and nothing to learn. Chat simply reaches further. There are a few things they can use if they want them, all covered in [Daily use](/plugins/community-chat/using-it/daily-use.md): `/link` to connect their Discord account, `[item]` to show what they are holding, and `/ctoggle` to hide the shared chat when they want quiet.