WHAT IS AIM CHAT?

AIM Chat is a destination for public chat. We have a bunch of chats created by the AIM Chat team, and our users have created tons more. You can even create one yourself for you and your friends!

PLEASE BE AWARE - Because this is a public chat, everything you say or do in the chat is being seen by everyone else—so be safe, and be sensible! Do not reveal personally identifying information such as your full name, address, school, workplace, telephone number, mobile number or links to any other online sites that may expose this personal information. If you're not sure if you should share a bit of information with someone in chat - DON'T!

Check out the Community Standards and Terms of Service—they outline more of the "do's and dont's".

How do I sign in?
If you aren't signed in when you go to http://chat.aim.com, you'll see the Sign In link in the upper right corner of the page. You can participate in AIM Chat using your AOL, AIM, or ONS screen name.

If you tried to go directly to a chat (say, someone invited you or you bookmarked your favorite chat) and aren't signed in, there will be a sign in box on the upper right side of the page.

How do I sign out?
From http://chat.aim.com, we display the Sign Out link in the upper right corner of the page. You don't need to sign out to leave a chat - simply close the chat window.

How can I view the profile of another chatter?
Select the username of any other chatter and their info will show up in the Details pane in the lower left of your chat window. Click the Profile button to view the user's AIM Profile.

How do I update the information in my profile?
Edit your AIM Profile by typing the following in your browser: http://profiles.aim.com/[your_screen_name] (replace [your_screen_name] with your actual screen name - no brackets.) Click the Edit Profile button in the upper right of the screen.

How do I upload a picture to my profile?
Type the following into the location bar of your browser: http://profiles.aim.com/[your_screen_name] (replace [your_screen_name] with your actual screen nane - no brackets.) Click the Edit Profile button in the upper right of the screen, then click the "My Photo" link on the left side of the Edit Profile screen. Do not upload images that violate the Terms of Use.

People say they are sending me private messages, but I'm not receiving them. What gives?
Confirm that you don't have a popup blocker running. IE's blocker will inform you that a popup has been blocked, some third party blockers, such as the AOL Toolbar will block without notification.

Can I use AIM to send and receive IMs/private messages in AIM Chat?
Instant messages in AIM Chat are not the same as messages sent through the AIM network. AIM Chat instant messages could be better thought of as private rooms in the chat session between you and one other person. A better name for them might be PM (Private Message). Because these PMs are sent through the AIM network, you don't need AIM to send or receive them.

What equipment do I need to broadcast audio or video in AIM Chat?
Most modern web cameras and microphones will work with AIM Chat. If you're having trouble, click the "Settings" button under your picture in the A/V Dock area and check that you've allowed access to your camera and microphone. Click on the "A" and the "V" under your picture - they should both appear green when you are broadcasting.

How do I get my webcam to work with AIM Chat?

1. Select "Start A/V"
2. Click the "Settings" button
3. In the Adobe Flash Player Settings box, select "Allow"
4. Click the Webcam icon.
5. Once you are in the Camera Settings box, select your camera from the dropdown menu
6. Close the "Settings" box
7. Click on the "V" under yourself in the A/V Dock area (at the bottom of the chat screen)

If your camera is not available, your camera may not be properly connected. Check to make sure that you have the proper drivers installed for your camera and that your device is plugged in and turned on.

Most Web video cameras will work with AIM Chat. If you are having a problem connecting your device, contact your device manufacturer.

Hmm. I have a super cool new Mac with a built-in camera, and that's not working. What now?

1. Ctrl-click inside the chat page.
2. Choose "Settings" from the popup menu.
3. Click the privacy tab (icon looks like a computer screen with an eye)
4. Click "Allow" for the question "Allow static.userplane.com to access your camer and microphone"
5. If you want to keep this setting for the next time you visit AIM Chat, click "Remember"
6. Click on the camera tab (icon looks like an eyeball on a stand)
7. Choose "USB Video Class Video" from the drop down menu
8. Click "Close"
9. Finally, click on the "V" under yourself in the A/V Dock area (at the bottom of the chat screen).

Can you hear me? I said, CAN YOU HEAR ME?! Help! Nobody can hear me!

1. Select "Start A/V"
2. Click the "Settings" button.
3. In the Adobe Flash Player Settings dialogue box, select Allow.
4. Click the Microphone icon.
5. Once you are in the Microphone Settings box, select your microphone (or Built-in Audio, if available) from the dropdown menu.

If your microphone is not available, your microphone may not be properly connected. Check to make sure that your device is plugged in correctly and turned on. Most microphones will work with AIM Chat. If you are having problems connecting your device, contact your device manufacturer.

How do I block another chatter?
Select the chatter's name in the user list to bring their information into the Details pane. Click the Block button. You will no longer see chat entries from this user, and this user will not be allowed to view your video or hear your audio.

How can I report behavior that violates the Terms of Use or Community Standards?
We want to make AIM Chat a nice, safe, place for you to come and have fun. If someone is violating the Terms of Use or Community Standards, please report them by clicking the "Report Abuse" button on the chat screen (it's in the upper right portion just above the where the chat displays). Please select the offending user's name from the drop down. If you feel a user's audio or video is in violation, please check the "Capture video from this user' check box, and a snippet of that user's video stream will be included with the report.

How can I report a chat name that violates the Terms of Use or Community Standards?
To report a chat name that you believe violates the Terms of Use or the Community Standards, please use the 'report chats' link on the chat directory.

What is this 'Send Feedback' link?
Send feedback allows you, the user, to let us know how you feel about AIM Chat. You can give us suggestions, complaints, or even compliments (we love compliments). Our team reads all submissions, but usually can't act on them immediately. If you have an immediate problem with the behavior of someone else on AIM Chat, the report abuse button should be used. Report Abuse submissions go to a different team who has the ability to take action on users who are abusing the chat environment.

How do I become an admin so I can boot these fools out of the chat room?
Right now, only members of the AIM Chat team are assigned admin rights.

What's the difference between an "admin" and a room "owner"?
Room owners are the creators of a chat room and have permissions to "bump" someone from their room.

Any other tips & tricks?
A couple handy dandy shortcuts to enhance your AIM Chat experience:

• You can reorder the user list for a chat room by clicking on the column headers (Time In, A(udio), V(ideo), Name). This is a quick way to see who's broadcasting video, or to locate a specific name in the list.
• You can pull up another chatters information in the Details pane by clicking on the screen name in the chat pane.
• When a chat is popular, it may have several rooms - you can move between rooms by clicking on the room you want to enter to expand the user list. If there is a spot available, you'll see a Join button - click it to change to that room.

How does AIM Chat work with AOL Parental Controls?
The AIM Chat site may be blocked by parents for accounts designated as 'kids', 'teens' or 'mature teens' using the AOL client.

Grrr. You didn't answer my question!
We're sorry about that - please use the Send Feedback link to send in your question. We can't write everybody back individually, but if it seems like a question others might have, we'll post it as an update to this page.

Thanks for checking out AIM Chat - we hope to see you again soon!