The official ICQ service is no longer running: the public shutdown happened on June 26, 2024, and old clients can no longer sign in to the original infrastructure. If you install an old copy of QIP, Miranda, or Jimm and try the old official servers, login will fail. What still exists is the idea of ICQ: OSCAR-style messaging, UINs, contact lists, statuses, and retro clients. Today those can be used through independent servers that recreate a similar experience for nostalgia, experiments, and old devices. The project website provides new UIN registration, Jimm for Java phones, and QIP for Windows. This is not the official ICQ coming back and it does not migrate old accounts from the original network. It is better to treat it as a new retro network where you can sign in from an ICQ-like client, add friends by UIN or nickname, set a status, and hear the familiar message sound again.
Help center
Jimm.fun FAQ: ICQ, Jimm and QIP in 2026
A practical guide for returning to the old ICQ flow with Jimm, QIP, Java phones and the Jimm.fun OSCAR server.
You cannot use the old official ICQ network in 2026 because the original service has been shut down. What you can use is a new retro server that accepts connections from classic clients. For the user, the flow feels close to the old one: there is a UIN, a password, a contact list, statuses, and a client such as Jimm or QIP. The important difference is that the account is created from scratch and the client connects to the project server instead of the old AOL/VK network. This is useful if you want ICQ on a feature phone, Jimm on Nokia or Sony Ericsson, QIP 2005 on Windows, or simply the feeling of early mobile internet. The setup normally needs three things: a client, a new account, and server settings. In the client, use host icq.jimm.fun, port 5190, and a TCP/OSCAR connection. If the client offers proxy settings, keep proxy disabled. This is not a replacement for modern messengers; it is a separate nostalgic messenger for people who miss the old style of chatting.
The easiest path is to choose the client for your device. For a feature phone, use Jimm as a JAR file; for Windows, QIP 2005 is usually more comfortable. First download the client from the download page, then register a new account with a Latin-letter nickname, first name, email, numeric UIN, and password. After that, open the connection settings in the client. In QIP, go to server/proxy settings, set the server to icq.jimm.fun, port 5190, and proxy NONE. In Jimm, choose a regular TCP connection, the same server, and the same port. The login is usually the UIN, while the password is the one used during registration. If connection fails, check the common mistakes: wrong server, proxy enabled, or nickname entered instead of UIN. On old phones, also check GPRS/EDGE or Wi-Fi settings, Java network permissions, and the device date. After a successful login, you can add contacts by UIN or nickname, change your status, and use the client like classic ICQ.
Old phones need Jimm as a JAR file. It is a Java ME / J2ME messenger installed like a regular Java application. Download jimm.jar to a computer or Android phone, then transfer it to the device by USB cable, Bluetooth, memory card, or infrared on very old models. On Nokia Series 40 or Series 60, the file usually opens from the file manager. On Sony Ericsson, the JAR can often be placed in the applications folder or installed through the file manager. On Siemens, the process depends on the exact model and firmware; sometimes a cable and vendor software are the easiest option. The phone must support Java applications and have working internet access. If you are searching for “Jimm for Nokia”, “Jimm for Siemens”, “jimm jar download”, “j2me messenger”, or “ICQ on a feature phone”, the setup is the same: a JAR client, a new account, and server icq.jimm.fun:5190. Without a real phone, you can run Jimm on Android through J2ME Loader.
QIP 2005 was one of the most popular Windows clients for ICQ: lightweight interface, tabs, statuses, sounds, and the familiar contact list. After the official ICQ shutdown, it stopped working with the original servers, so simply installing an old EXE is not enough. QIP can still connect to a compatible server. Download QIP from the download page, create a new account, open connection settings, and set server icq.jimm.fun, port 5190, proxy NONE. If QIP says the server is unavailable, check Windows firewall, antivirus, VPN, proxy settings, and the port number. If it says the password is wrong, make sure you enter the UIN and password from the new account, not credentials from the old official ICQ network. QIP is useful for testing because errors are easier to see on a desktop, settings are easy to change, and the server value can be copied. Once logged in, you can add contacts, change status, and use a client that feels like ICQ from the 2000s.
Jimm is a mobile ICQ client for Java ME phones. In the mid-2000s, people installed it on Nokia, Siemens, Sony Ericsson, Motorola, and other feature phones to stay online in ICQ without a computer. It mattered not only as software, but as part of a culture: short messages, UINs instead of modern usernames, statuses, compact contact lists, and the incoming message sound. In 2026, interest in Jimm is returning because of nostalgia and the desire to revive real old devices. Many phones still power on, support JAR apps, and can access the network through GPRS, EDGE, Wi-Fi, or an emulator. The project does not claim to be official ICQ. The goal is to preserve the old mobile messenger experience and give people a clear way to run Jimm, QIP, and an OSCAR-style connection again. Today, Jimm is not just an old JAR file; it is an entry point into a retro network for people who want the feeling of ICQ back.
In Jimm, open account settings or network settings and replace the default server with icq.jimm.fun. Set port 5190 and choose TCP or a regular OSCAR connection. Use the UIN created during registration as the login, not the email address and not the nickname. The password is the one used when creating the account. If your Jimm build includes proxy settings, keep a direct connection or disable proxy. On old phones, also check the internet profile: carrier access point, permission for Java apps to use the network, and no restriction on socket connections. Some phones ask for network permission every time the app starts; that is normal. If Jimm hangs while connecting, test the same account in QIP on a computer first. That makes it easier to tell whether the issue is the phone or the login data. On Android with J2ME Loader, the settings are the same: server icq.jimm.fun, port 5190, UIN, and password.
Jimm works on phones that can install Java ME / J2ME applications. The best candidates are Nokia Series 40, some Nokia Symbian / Series 60 models, Sony Ericsson K and W series, and certain Siemens, Motorola, Samsung, and LG phones. The model name is not the only thing that matters; the condition of the exact device is important too. Check the battery, charger, memory card support, file transfer method, and internet settings. ICQ on a feature phone needs network access and socket/TCP support because the client connects to the server directly. If your mobile operator no longer provides convenient GPRS/EDGE settings, use a phone with Wi-Fi or test Jimm through J2ME Loader on Android. For a collector experience, choose a phone with a comfortable keypad and readable screen because typing messages is half the fun. If the goal is only to test the client, Android emulation is faster. If the goal is nostalgia, a real Nokia or Sony Ericsson feels very different.
Yes, if the Nokia phone supports Java ME / J2ME, can install a JAR file, and has working internet access. On old Nokia phones, Jimm is usually the best option: it is a mobile ICQ client designed for a keypad and a small screen. On Series 40, installation is often just transferring jimm.jar to the phone and opening the file. On Symbian / Series 60, there may be additional install options, but the idea is the same. After installation, create a new account, open Jimm settings, and enter server icq.jimm.fun, port 5190, TCP/OSCAR. If the Nokia does not connect, check the access point, Java permissions, SIM balance, mobile internet, and socket connection support. Some old WAP profiles are not enough; the phone needs a real internet profile. If the physical Nokia cannot get online, first test the same account in QIP on Windows, then copy the settings to the phone. This helps separate client issues from network issues.
Siemens C65, CX70, and similar models are interesting as nostalgic Java phones, but setup can be harder than on Nokia. First make sure the exact phone can install Java applications and that you have a way to transfer jimm.jar: cable, Bluetooth, IrDA, or memory card if the model supports it. Install Jimm and check that the app starts without a memory error. In the client settings, set server icq.jimm.fun, port 5190, and a regular TCP connection. Enter the UIN and password from the new account. Most Siemens problems are not caused by Jimm itself but by the internet profile: wrong APN, WAP instead of internet, Java network access blocked, or unstable GPRS. If the client shows a connection error, try a different access profile and check whether the phone can open regular web pages. For CX70 and C65, it is useful to look up GPRS setup instructions for your exact firmware and carrier because the menu names can differ.
ICQ was not just a messenger. For many people, it was the first personal number on the internet, a short UIN, statuses, the “uh-oh” sound, late-night chats, QIP on a desktop, and Jimm on a phone. Modern messengers are more convenient, but they are very different: endless channels, reactions, stories, work chats, and a constant stream of notifications. Classic ICQ felt smaller and more personal. The contact list was limited, the status mattered, and simply being online was an event. Returning to ICQ in a retro format is not about fighting modern apps; it is about opening a separate small space. The fun is not only in messaging, but in the ritual: finding a Java phone, downloading Jimm, setting up the server, entering a UIN, adding a contact, and choosing a status. That is why people search for “ICQ nostalgia”, “old ICQ client”, “QIP 2005”, and “jimm jar”. They want not just a chat app, but a specific feeling from a specific era.
The best phone for Jimm is not always the rarest one. A comfortable keypad, stable Java, readable screen, and healthy battery matter more. Many Nokia Series 40 models work well because they have clear menus and simple file management. Nokia Symbian / Series 60 devices are interesting because they offer more settings and often handle files better. Sony Ericsson K and W series phones are pleasant for Jimm because of good navigation and solid Java support. Siemens C65, CX70, and similar models have a strong nostalgia factor, but they may require more work with GPRS and file transfer. When buying an old phone, check more than appearance: does it power on, does the battery hold charge, does charging work, can you send a JAR file, does it support the needed network bands, and is there an internet profile. For “ICQ on a feature phone”, choose a device that is actually comfortable to type on. If you only need a quick test, Android plus J2ME Loader is more practical.
The new retro network needs a new account. Click Register, enter a nickname with Latin letters, first name, email, a unique numeric UIN, and a password with 6-8 Latin letters or digits. These limits matter because old clients and OSCAR-like services are sensitive to login and password format. After registration, use the UIN as the login in Jimm or QIP. The nickname is used for the profile and search, the email is for the website account, and the password is for signing in from the client. If you want friends to add you easily, choose a UIN that is easy to say or copy. After logging in, open the users list, find a contact by nickname or UIN, and add it in the client. If the contact is not found, try both search options because some old clients handle screen names and numeric IDs differently. Old official ICQ accounts are not migrated automatically, so create a new number and share it with friends.
If Jimm does not connect, do not reinstall the client immediately. In most cases the issue is in one of four places: wrong credentials, wrong server, proxy, or the phone internet profile. A connection error often appears when the Java app cannot open a TCP/socket connection: for example, the phone uses a WAP profile instead of a full internet APN, the carrier blocks the connection, or Java network access is denied. Login failed usually means a wrong UIN or password, or an attempt to use credentials from the closed official ICQ network. In QIP, similar symptoms can look like qip cannot connect, icq server unavailable, or server not responding. The fastest diagnostic step is to test the same UIN and password in QIP on a computer. If QIP logs in, the account and server are fine, so debug the phone. If QIP also fails, check UIN, password, port, firewall, VPN, and proxy.