Registering for the AIM service
You must register for the AIM service before you begin using the service. During registration, you select a screen name and password, each of which may contain 3 to 16 characters (numbers and letters).
Using
your existing screen name and password
If you have a screen name that you use with AOL®, Compuserve2000, or AIM
Express on AOL.ca, you can also use it as your AIM screen name for the
AIM service for mobile phones.
If you are an
AOL® or Compuserve2000 member, go to the AOL® or Compuserve2000 registration
page to enable your existing screen name to work with AOL Instant
Messenger.TM
About
screen names and passwords
Changing your AIM password does not change your AOL® password,
even if your AIM screen name is the same as your AOL® screen name.
If you use your
mobile phone to change your AIM password, the new password will work
only with the AIM service for mobile phones and AIM Express. You'll
still have to change the password in the AIM program on your desktop
computer. Likewise, if you change your AIM password from your computer,
you must also change the password on your mobile phone before attempting
to sign on.
Back
to Top
Hints
for creating new screen names to use with the AIM service for mobile
phones
Typing on a mobile-phone keypad can be difficult, so make your
screen name easy to type.
- The
AIM service for Web phones is "space friendly," so you
can use screen names that contain spaces, such as "Space Cadet"
or "i scream dog." You can enter symbols and numbers
by changing from alphabetic, or multi-tap, mode to symbols or numbers
mode.
- The
AIM service for SMS phones is not space-friendly. Don't use spaces
in your screen names.
If your phone
includes T9 Text Input, you may be able to save your screen name in
the T9 user dictionary or database. Click here to learn more about
Typing Messages.
Registration
tips
Consider
the following tips when registering for the AIM service:
- Double-check
your e-mail address. If you enter it incorrectly, your confirmation
e-mail will not reach you, and you will not be able to use the AIM
service.
- If you are an
AOL®
member, be sure that you enter the postal code listed
in your AOL® account information.
- Verify your password
by typing it twice.
If
the screen name you want is taken
Try variations of that screen name, or select another one. You can
use up to 16 letters, numbers, and spaces for your screen name. If
you're using AIM service for SMS phones, your screen name can't contain
spaces.
Confirming
your registration
After you register your screen name and password, the AIM service
sends you an e-mail message, asking you to confirm your registration
within 48 hours. To confirm your registration, you will be asked to
send an e-mail containing only the word OK in the body of your
message.
If you don't respond
within 48 hours, you may have to re-register. As a security precaution,
you will not be able to obtain or change your password or update your
e-mail address until you confirm your registration. Upon confirmation
you will receive a Welcome message with links to FAQs and other helpful
information.
Changing
your screen name
If you don't like your screen name, you can edit how it is formatted—changing,
for example, "im online" to "IM Online"—or
you can register a new screen name. If you register a new one, type
your new screen name and password in the proper fields when signing
on to the AIM service.
Deleting
old screen names
It's currently not possible to delete old AIM screen names.
Back
to Top
If
you forget your password
If you enter an invalid password while signing on, the AIM service
displays an error message asking if you forgot your password. In the
error message window, click Forgot Password. After your browser
opens to the Forgot Password Web Site, enter your screen name and
click Submit.
Your password
will be sent to the e-mail address on record for your screen name.
If you have changed your e-mail address and did not notify the AIM
service, your password will be sent to your old address. Your password
can be sent only to the address on record. If you're unable to access
e-mail at that address, you'll have to register a new screen name
by selecting New User on the Sign On screen, and then clicking Sign
On.
If you have an
AOL® account and your AIM screen name is the same as your AOL® screen
name, you can go to Keyword: AIM Password for assistance.
Resetting
your password
If you've forgotten your password, it cannot be reset. It can however be e-mailed to you at the e-mail address you have on record.
If you cannot get to that e-mail account and are still unable to remember your password, you'll have to register a new screen name.
Changing
your password
You can change your AIM password at any time while you're signed onto the AIM service. In addition,
AIM users who are also AOL® members can change their AIM password while on the AOL® service by going to Keyword: AIM Password.
If
your password doesn't work
There are several reasons why your password might not work:
- The Caps
Lock key is on.
- The password
you entered isn't capitalized correctly. AIM passwords are case-sensitive,
so if your password is "Password," entering "password"
(note the lowercase "p") won't work.
- (For AOL® subscribers
only) You've recently changed your AOL® password and are trying to
use your new password with the AIM service. Even if your AOL® screen
name is also your AIM screen name, changing the password for one
doesn't affect the other. You can always update your AIM password to reflect your new AOL®
password. Keyword: AIM Password.
You can have your
password sent to your e-mail address by submitting your screen name
at the following Web page: http://www.aol.ca/aim/password.adp.
|
