How to create new screen names on AOL (America Online)?

I need to create a new screen name in AOL but am not sure how to do so. Can you help me out?

Dave's Answer:

First off, let me say that I don't help kids try to circumvent protections that their parents have put in place: if you're a minor and want to foil the protections your folks have created, then you'd be much, much better off just talking with them and asking for permission. There's a reason that they're watching out for you...

Having said that, let's go through the process of creating a new screen name on AOL, because if you have a parental controls screen name, you won't be able to do this anyway, and if you don't, well, then you're legit.

Log in to America Online (AOL) as usual, then choose Account Settings --> Screen Name. (I'm using a Mac for these examples, but the Windows version is almost exactly the same. On the Mac, the Account Settings option is found on the "AOL" menu).

Now you'll see something like this:

Click on the "CREATE a screen name" and you'll promptly be asked if you're creating an account for a child or not:

I'll choose "NO" here, and then get this:

As you can see, you can take one of their suggested screen names, based on pulling bits out of your profile, or you can enter one of your own. If you enter one, be warned that there are a lot of AOL users, so it's not easy to find a screen name that hasn't already been taken!

From this point, the process is pretty self-explanatory, so I won't step through any further. This should get you started in the right direction, though, and good luck to you!

Additional helpful AOL tutorials:

• Get rid of AOL popup ads!
• How to delete an AOL screen name
• How to change your AOL account password
• How to cancel your AOL account

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Categorized: Computer and Internet Basics (Article 4063, Written by Dave Taylor)
Tagged: america online, aol
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Reader Comments To Date: 449

bill said, on August 16, 2006 6:23 PM:

How can I switch from one screen name to other one so I can read e-mail on both without having to restart computer to get mail. Yes I still have dial up. So it does take awhile to check both. Thanks.

baldwin said, on August 21, 2006 12:20 PM:

i want a screen name becuse ican not sign in my space

john said, on August 24, 2006 1:33 PM:

i got a new pc and a new aol service but i would like to restore my old screenname and i dont no how

rachel said, on August 25, 2006 12:56 PM:

every time i try to change my screen name it comes up blank and i really want to change my screen name

edwardpelham said, on August 27, 2006 10:34 AM:

i want to add a new name it come up with whet is my pets name i forgot what i put how can i find out

Ly said, on August 27, 2006 10:52 PM:

HI !
IM TRYING TO MAKE A NEW ACCOUNT...BUT IT'S ASKING ME WHERE I WAS BORN OR RAISED AT?...I PUT MANHATTAN AND BROOKLYN AND ITS NOT TAKING EITHER OF THEM...I REMEMBER I ALWAYS ANSWER THE WHAT IS YOUR PETS NAME?

WHAT CAN I DO TO GET THE OTHER ACCOUNT?

AOL HAS LOCKED ME FROM GETTTING IT FOR 24 HRS...PLEASE HELP

heather said, on September 2, 2006 8:59 PM:

hey i still dont know how to do a new screen name can you tell me what web site too go on too plleeaaassssseee

taylor said, on September 8, 2006 3:33 PM:

how do i make a aim and aol screen name i read and i could not find it!!!please email me back and tell me how!!!

angel said, on September 9, 2006 9:57 PM:

u no how i do i just let it dew wat it dew

no can say said, on September 14, 2006 8:34 PM:

i want to get a screen name so i can aim my parens gave e the ok but i wont let me et one and keeps saying were sorry for any inconvience we may hae caused you blabla can you help

clara said, on September 17, 2006 9:11 PM:

i am tryng to add a new sn/ to use to pay bills and receive bills only it keeps asking for my question :what is your pet's name and i have no idea what it is cause it has been so long since i used it

austin said, on September 19, 2006 12:56 PM:

i just made a new screen name on aim triton and i want my old buddy list on my new screen . can you please tell me how to do it

Cipriano said, on September 20, 2006 5:45 PM:

im tryen to make a anew account for my friend could u help me out??????

joann said, on September 21, 2006 7:34 PM:

hi im looking for a new screen name can you help me out please thank you

Diane Gibson said, on October 2, 2006 4:58 PM:

I want to create a new free aol.com screen name

carol testa said, on October 5, 2006 6:58 PM:

I WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE MY NAME FOR THE AOL GAMES ONLY...I WANT TO KEEP MY E-MAIL ADDRESS...I HAVE THE SAME NAME FOR THE GAMES AND HAVE BEEN GETTING IM'S FROM PEOPLE I DO NOT KNOW.

Barbara Grove said, on October 6, 2006 7:33 PM:

I want to make a new screen name, but everytime I click create a new screen name it goes to a blank page. Have any links to the page?

Robert Kidd said, on October 12, 2006 11:36 AM:

From what I can gather, I cannot reset Master name. The initial AOL service was set up 7-9 years ago, by either my wife, or an unknown installer while I was overseas. I cannot respod to AOL's Master Name or AQCs, on either their 888-265-8003#, or on line account service.

E. Grubbs said, on October 15, 2006 12:23 PM:

I am trying to create a new screen name, but when I click 'screen names' it takes me to a page where
I click 'create screen name', and then takes me to a page where it wants me to enter the name of my favorite movie. I never remember this as an account question.I never had to do this before. Before it asked if this was for a child and then you proceeded accordingly.s In any case I have logged in with my password to get into AOL, so why am I being asked this?

The screen looks nothing like the screen where we have been creating or deleting screen names for our family the last several years on our master account.

How do I find out what my account question supposedly is to create a new screen name?

I have never heard of or experienced having to do this in my time as an aol customer with the master account.

I am using AOL7 as our system won't support AOL9.

thanks

Karen said, on October 29, 2006 3:36 PM:

Hey there,i have an aol screen name and it's not showing up on the sign in screen. how do i put it on there so i dont have to keep signing in with "guest" ??

Ed said, on October 29, 2006 6:30 PM:

Hi Dave, I when to AOL free about two months ago. I want to restore a deleted one sceen name but can't. I have try to read it all and from what I do see is that i still have seven names but can't restore or add any names. Can you help me plaese? Ed

ashley said, on November 2, 2006 6:12 PM:

hi, i want to change my screen name because i dont like the one i have now, but every time i try to change it, the web link is blank but it says that it's done loading. How am i suppost to change it now?
If you could help that would be awsome
-ashley

Andrew said, on November 3, 2006 1:04 AM:

i wanna start a new account but keep the same aol screen name... can you give a little help?

chris said, on November 5, 2006 8:12 PM:

why can't i get my daughtr her own screen name. i am not trying to chnge the primary name on the account just add another one. please help me.

geli said, on November 6, 2006 3:15 PM:

I have tried one too many times to get a screename
but every time I try I end up with fustration because quite simply it says Aim is not in service. I find it poposturus that that caould happen when quite easily with my old screename it works just fine.

Victoria said, on November 7, 2006 12:01 PM:

Hi, what is HTML, what is AIM and why doesn't my AOL 9.0 screen lokk like your screenshots? Please don't direct me to any help sites, because I have extremely scrict parental controls that don't let me on sites that I know for a fact are fine (like my homework sites!)

Nancy Hawkins said, on November 14, 2006 2:51 PM:

I want to keep my old screen name. I just wanted a new screen name when I go into the chat room. How can I get a crazy chat room name and keep my existing name screen name.

Nancy Hawkins said, on November 14, 2006 3:01 PM:

I want to create another screen name

tiffany said, on November 16, 2006 12:17 AM:

How do I cancel AOL svce but keep my email acct?
THANX

Kassi said, on November 17, 2006 3:30 AM:

hi, i need to know if theres any way possible to find out what your Account Security Question is because i forgot my password and my ASQ so im kind of stuck right now. i would appreciate the help, thank you.

amber said, on November 21, 2006 10:49 PM:

i dont know how to get a screenname and i need help

Carrie said, on November 22, 2006 7:33 PM:

it says the service is not available when i click on 'screen name' on the account settings list....i don't know what to do...

mike said, on November 23, 2006 5:29 PM:

i just made a new screen name on aim triton and i want my old buddy list on my new screen . can you please tell me how to do it

aggie said, on November 24, 2006 2:30 PM:

i created a new screen name but it wont show up on sign in page can you help me i also checked how many screen names have i have six so still have room for one more

alex said, on November 26, 2006 9:00 AM:

i just made a new screen name. how do i get all of my old buddies to my my new screen name?

lauren said, on November 30, 2006 10:18 PM:

how do i add another accout can u show me wat website to go to pplleeaassee

pedro Morin said, on December 1, 2006 7:17 PM:

can I create a screenname here???

lola said, on December 6, 2006 10:25 PM:

when i want to under my master screen name account somebody elses show up how can i get my master screen name back and my account

coda said, on December 14, 2006 6:12 PM:

i want to get a new screename. can you help

Billy said, on December 20, 2006 1:33 PM:

I hope my child enjoys this screen name

toritate said, on December 21, 2006 7:22 PM:

where and how do i create a screen name for aim?

Jay said, on December 23, 2006 8:18 AM:

Where do I find "account settings" after logging into AOL?

You say to log into AOL and then go to Account Settings.

Well I'd like to but you don't explain how to do that, or where Account Settings is.

I'd like to delete my screename. Your directions are not helping at all.

Stephany said, on December 25, 2006 7:43 PM:

I am trying to change my screenname

tiger1445 said, on December 30, 2006 5:38 PM:

i need help deleting a screen name and adding a screen name

Kylee said, on December 31, 2006 9:07 AM:

Hey Dave I am trying to create an account on the new aol free help!!

t lane said, on January 5, 2007 7:08 PM:

How do I get away from my aol when in click on internet explorer...I thought this was microsoft. I am really getting perturbed with aol. I do not want them as my primary when I click on Internet Explorer. How do I change this? When I click on internet explorer I just want to go to Microsoft and not aol or yahoo or hotmail. Please help.

Thanks!

ALISON said, on January 6, 2007 6:31 AM:

i would like my husband to beable to use my computer but in his own name.my 2sons were able to do it but now i want to do the same for my husband i dont seem to be able to.this is so he can have his own email address and sign into web pages that he wants.this may sound daft but i just cant seem to do it

Eileen said, on January 9, 2007 4:02 PM:

Hi, I just gave myself a second screen name. I have had the same screen name for 4 years and I am going to keep it but I want a second one just for certain things. I have a cable hook up and when I try to use my new email it starts to use the dial up and then just ends. Why is this, why can't my new screen name be on my cable network

Dave said, on January 9, 2007 7:18 PM:

I have an old email address thats on another computer is it possible for me to put that on the sign on screen?

brenda said, on January 10, 2007 10:16 PM:

Since I have gotten 9.0 I cannot access the screen name "create" area. Whenever I try, it sends me to an error page. Also, it does not look like your example anymore. The 9.0 version looks very differant then the one you show.

Joan said, on January 12, 2007 8:57 AM:

Hi Dave,
I was having problems with my computer and somehow I can't use my original screen name and password to get on line. Then when I tried to set it up again it would say screen name aready taken. I can't use my computer to get on line but I can use my son's computer with my original screen name. HELP

Tim Swecker said, on January 15, 2007 9:17 AM:

i can not access Settings on my aol screen, i keep getting a blank white screen. i need to contact AOL before the end of my billing cycle on January 15th can you help me please?

Kathy Brown said, on January 18, 2007 11:10 AM:

Hello, i have an email address roomforkids,okay i cancelled from aol , but i kept my email address. i called up aol and got another account. My primary screen name is bro2kat. This doesn't show up at signing up. It shows up roomforkids and elkmontbrown. . The only way i can use my primary name is to use the aol dialer which isn't my default. I need to knop how i can use my existing name roomforkids when i sign on. When i use it aol tells me i have no account with them.But if i have already an screenname why can't i use it>>>>NEEED HELP

jenn said, on January 21, 2007 12:03 PM:

i am the master screen name on my account when i go to create a new screen name for my son it askes me for the answer to my security question the problem is i forgot the answer so now i cannot create him a screen name for AOL can u help me with that,
thanks jenn

Mike said, on January 22, 2007 4:19 PM:

i am not sure how to change my aim screen name because i always tried and it says sorry for the inconvinence im am tring to change it because it sucks?

Will said, on January 27, 2007 11:07 PM:

I want to add a new screen name to my account but i forgot my security answer to the security question. how do i get the help on remembering it?

roander said, on January 29, 2007 11:47 AM:

i have been trying to add on another screen name for a long time. every time i get to my favorite restaurant part,it says its the wrong answere. it is the right answere and this is really annoying me.help! roander.

mark said, on February 2, 2007 8:52 AM:

I saw a question on here and it had no answer. Everytime I try to create a new screen name it comes to a blank page. I dont get the same page that is shown above on this site. I use to, but not anymore.

ashley said, on February 2, 2007 10:18 PM:

i just want new screename

WOLFYOU5 said, on February 7, 2007 7:20 PM:

I am on my master screen name & have tried to go to account settings to add another.I don't have the maximum.I try account settings & then screennames & I get a page saying the page is temporarily available. I f this was the 1st or 2nd or even 3rd time this has happened I would wait.It's been over 2 weeks now & I still can't access the page.It's not like I am new to this.I also have tried several other methods such as keyword & http://www.Aolscreennames.com & http://www.myscreename(s).com.What is going on?

Carolyn said, on February 8, 2007 6:11 PM:

how do I change my secret ?s

sherri said, on February 14, 2007 7:36 PM:

this is cool

maria said, on February 16, 2007 7:37 PM:

hey dave....everytime i try to make a new sceen name it wont let me it say something about blocked

Danny Canterberry said, on February 17, 2007 1:51 PM:

Iwant to change my e-mail to DanCanterberry@aol.com. How do i do it?

Brandy said, on February 17, 2007 6:59 PM:

I can't make a new screen name on aol. Can you help

Robert C Eich said, on February 18, 2007 2:24 PM:

I want to change the security question to allow me to addor remove screen names to my account. the help tech told me to go to keyword asq and follow the prompts it took meto the security question I dont hve an answer for I dont have any pets so why would pets name be the question. How do I change this

james gilliam said, on February 18, 2007 6:07 PM:

i think that it is good that you dontset up for kids

delrena mclaughlin said, on February 19, 2007 5:10 PM:

i need to sit up some screen names but it wont let me.How do i do thats i mean how do i sit up other screen names?

Anita said, on February 21, 2007 12:06 PM:

How can I get an old screen name I had that was under another person account but would like to have that screen name as a account for myself

Stephenie said, on February 26, 2007 9:00 PM:

I have an existing screen name. and an account with AOL... How do I add my existing screen name to my sign on list?

tony rago said, on March 2, 2007 9:14 PM:

Does anyone know why aol members cannot access screen names in order to add or delete info?

been over 2 weeks now,,,

James Doleschy said, on March 3, 2007 7:54 AM:

How do I restore my screen name

Golda Brunhild said, on March 4, 2007 8:37 AM:

Hi... how do I get rid of one of my screen names? It is from my recently deceased husband and when I see it for some reason it depresses me.
Thanks, GB

Briona said, on March 4, 2007 12:42 PM:

I signed up for Myspace using an email address, but my sister deleted the AOL screen name, and now i need to rerieve it the email address. Please tell me there is a solution to my problem.

Bruce said, on March 5, 2007 11:04 AM:

I have a screen name which I haven't used for several years. I have not trouble logging in however, I get an error "sending mail with this account not permitted". I downgraded from a pay to a free version several months ago. Is this my penalty?

sherry vanamberg said, on March 5, 2007 1:49 PM:

i am paying 9.95 for my service but can only have one screen name is this true?
sherry vanamberg

tony said, on March 5, 2007 5:42 PM:

I assume Someone is monitoring this board so,

With all of the aol screen name problems posted here, one re-occuring problem exist's more than others with no one having the answer:

"IS ANYONE HERE ABLE TO ACCESS AOL SCREEN NAMES
in order to add,change delete etc."
If you can, PLEASE POST FOR OTHERS CAUSE THESE SAME QUESTIONS WILL GO ONE FOREVER..

all I get is, "this function is not available at this time" or, redirected to another area or NO area no matter how I try access AOL screen names..
I am an AOL user since 1996 so "don't know how" is not the problem..
I will die a happy man if someone[board monitor?]
has a clue... anything.
Thank you..

Peggy Weldy said, on March 6, 2007 2:41 PM:

All I want to do is add my husband's name to our e-mail. I want to add cww@aol.com. Why is this so difficult?

Cynthia said, on March 7, 2007 8:41 AM:

i get the same thing "feature not available at this time" when i try to access screen names.....this really sucks.....been trying for a few days and can't find an answer anywhere.

Cynthia said, on March 7, 2007 9:02 AM:

you have to have a paid account with aol to add or delete screen names...i just called them. you can't do it with the free account...i guess i will just stay with what we have for now.. i don't want to go back to paying

tony said, on March 7, 2007 9:46 PM:

Thank you Cynthia,

Guess that clears things up..

whay can't we sign up, change screen names,
then cancel account?
aol screws, we screw back.. sorta..
I would pay 9.95 for a month,
do my changes, then cancel paid account..

V J Mclarney said, on March 8, 2007 2:36 PM:

Your assistance(ha ha) in helping us with few computer skills is disgusting. I have wrestled with your system for over an hour and i still have no clue as to how i can add a screen name. Why you changed the method i willl NEVER know.
Please advise me as to how i do it

Bill said, on March 14, 2007 3:17 PM:

Dave,

I want to add an existing screen name that my wife created to my existing account. Is there a way to link her screen name to my account?

Cindi said, on March 15, 2007 5:45 PM:

Help!! I would like to get on my aim mail but it is coming up as invalid screen name or password and I was just on it this morning and now I am really struggling. I don't want to change my exiting screen name or password because I don't want to lose my mail. If I change my screen name and password will I get all my mail from the previous screen name?

Doris Gordon said, on March 17, 2007 1:21 PM:

I just need to add my husband and give him a screenname

robert said, on March 19, 2007 8:19 AM:

can you please tell if there is a program that can be downloaded to find out if a screen name that some one uses has other screen names but maybe its the same person i am chating to a lady but i am sure its the same person.. if that makes sence.many thanks.
robert

robert said, on March 19, 2007 8:26 AM:

ooops i meant to say that i am chating to two ladys but i think they are the same person under differant screen names.
robert

danny said, on March 24, 2007 7:00 PM:

how do i change my screename and still have same buddylist

Christina said, on March 26, 2007 12:10 AM:

I want to spin one of my screennames into a seperate account and I can't figure how to do it. My mom is the master screen name but this is my computer and I don't live at home no more. I really want my own account but I am not willing to get rid of my screen name.

Joe said, on March 29, 2007 7:51 AM:

How do I update screen name "profiles"?

Camille said, on March 31, 2007 5:58 PM:

I want to make an aol screen name, but I don't know how to.

Joe said, on April 1, 2007 1:32 PM:

I recently signed on with aol & set up a few different screen names for different purposes. How do I switch between the different names to send & receive mail

brittney said, on April 2, 2007 2:06 PM:

where is acoount settings????

Melrose said, on April 3, 2007 11:36 AM:

I have an aol account, but how do I get it to go on the drop-down list to sign on? Help Please! A.S.A.P.!

ronnie manning said, on April 3, 2007 12:09 PM:

i DO NOT want to change my master screen name....
but i want to change bigrmanning and add one more screen name as guest ???

Joe said, on April 3, 2007 12:17 PM:

Brittney; Thanks for the tip. I did go to Account Settings & it looks like I need to set up a separate free account for each screen name. A bit cumbersome, but I'll manage

Dee said, on April 3, 2007 4:14 PM:

I too am having screen name issues....or more specifically trying to set up a NEW AOL account with an existing screen name. My children are all grown and out of the house now and would like their own account. However, they don't want to change their screen name. I go to keywork screen name, click on get started with free email, then click "already a member, click here" and when I fill out the form and request the current screen name it says "screen name already in use". Is there a way to get around this!!!!!

Thanks for any help.

Dee

L LANCELLE said, on April 7, 2007 6:57 AM:

I FORGOT MY MASTER SCREEN NAME. HOW DO I FIND IT?

need*to*IM said, on April 11, 2007 6:58 PM:

Okay, I have an AOL Instant Messaging Account on a main computer, and I want to keep my username because a lot of people know it. I recently got a new laptop that I will need AIM services on. How do I switch my AIM to my laptop without destroying my username?

arnaldo said, on April 12, 2007 2:39 PM:

ineed to create a nother email adress where i go

I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you, Dave, for all your helpful information by buying you a cup of coffee!

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I do have a comment, now that you mention it!

How to create new screen names on AOL (America Online)?

Reader Comments To Date: 449

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