---
name: "toxic"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "toxic"
version: "0.16.3-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/toxic"
---

# toxic(1)

CLI client for Tox

## NAME

toxic - CLI client for Tox

## SYNOPSIS

**toxic** \[-f *data-file*\] \[-x\] \[-4\] \[-c *config-file*\] \[-n *nodes-file*\] \[-h\]

## DESCRIPTION

toxic is an ncurses-based instant messaging client for Tox which formerly resided in the Tox core repository, and is now available as a standalone application.

## OPTIONS

- \-4, --ipv4

  Force IPv4 connection

- \-b, --debug

  Enable stderr for debugging. Redirect output to avoid breaking the curses interface and better capture messages.

- \-c, --config config-file

  Use specified *config-file* instead of *~/.config/tox/toxic.conf*

- \-d, --default-locale

  Use default locale

- \-e, --encrypt-data

  Encrypt an unencrypted data file. An error will occur if this option is used with an encrypted data file.

- \-f, --file data-file

  Use specified *data-file* instead of *~/.config/tox/toxic\_profile.tox*

- \-h, --help

  Show help message

- \-l, --logging

  Enable toxcore logging to stderr

- \-n, --nodes nodes-file

  Use specified *nodes-file* for DHT bootstrap nodes instead of *~/.config/tox/DHTnodes.json*

- \-N, --nodes-url nodes-list-url

  Use specified *nodes-list-url* for DHT bootstrap nodes status info instead of *https://nodes.tox.chat/json*

- \-o, --noconnect

  Do not connect to the DHT network

- \-p, --SOCKS5-proxy

  Use a SOCKS5 proxy: Requires \[IP\] \[port\]

- \-P, --HTTP-proxy

  Use a HTTP proxy: Requires \[IP\] \[port\]

- \-r, --namelist

  Use specified nameservers list

- \-s --netstats

  Dump network statistics to log on exit: Requires \[path\] (only available if toxic is compiled with experimental features enabled)

- \-t, --force-tcp

  Force TCP connection (use this with proxies)

- \-T, --tcp-relay

  Act as a TCP relay server for the network (Note: this uses significantly more bandwidth)

- \-u, --unencrypt-data

  Unencrypt a data file. A warning will appear if this option is used with a data file that is already unencrypted.

## FILES

\~/.config/tox/DHTnodes.json

Default location for list of DHT bootstrap nodes (list obtained from https://nodes.tox.chat). This list is automatically updated. See [**toxic.conf**(5)](/toxic.conf/5.md) for details on controlling the update frequency.

\~/.config/tox/toxic\_profile.tox

Savestate which contains your personal info (nickname, Tox ID, contacts, etc)

\~/.config/tox/toxic.conf

Configuration file. See [**toxic.conf**(5)](/toxic.conf/5.md) for more details.

/usr/share/toxic/toxic.conf.example

Configuration example.

## BUGS

\-Unicode characters with a width larger than 1 column may cause strange behaviour.

\-Screen flickering sometimes occurs on certain terminals.

\-Resizing the terminal window when a game window is open will break things.

## LINKS

Project page: https://github.com/JFreegman/toxic

Tox development group public key: 360497DA684BCE2A500C1AF9B3A5CE949BBB9F6FB1F91589806FB04CA039E313

## AUTHORS

JFreegman \<JFreegman@gmail.com\>

## SEE ALSO

[**toxic.conf**(5)](/toxic.conf/5.md)