Dave, I’ve read through your previous Q&A about how to create an AOL screen name, but it doesn’t apply to the new AOL 9.0 Security Edition. Can you help me figure out how to add a screen name with this latest Windows application?
You’re absolutely right. In typical update fashion, the AOL development team have fiddled with what menus lead to what features and made it either easier or harder to find your overall AOL preferences, depending on how you look at it, making my article on How to create new screen names on AOL obsolete.
To get to the screen name feature in AOL 9.0, forget all the menu options and instead just click on Settings in the AOL toolbar:
Once you’ve clicked on that, you’ll get a large list of different areas you can modify (really, it’s a staggeringly large list, far more than any user, even the most dedicated AOLer, is going to modify. But that’s another story entirely):
The option you want is Screen Names. Click on it and you’ll be at the main screen names area, with options to CREATE a screen name, DELETE a screen name, format a screen name, restore a screen name, and even spawn a new account with one of the existing screen names if you’re so inclined:
Needless to say, click on “Create a screen name” here and the first thing you’ll see, something that is one reason I like AOL, is the following:
Other companies like Earthlink also have parental controls, but most ISPs just ignore the whole affair, making it darn hard for technically unsophisticated parents to help minimize the chance of their children bumping into the, um, less savory corners of the Internet.
Anyway, I’m going to assume you’re setting up a new screen name for an adult, not a child, and click No on this screen.
The next step is the most fun: what screen name do you want to create? AOL has millions of users, though, so it’s rare that you can get a cool screen name. It certainly seems like all the good ones are taken!
Amazingly, AskDaveTaylor is available. The next step is to enter a password, which is pretty easy to do. Remember, a mix of upper and lower case letters, a digit or two and even some punctuation can make a great password.
Next, even though I already said I was creating the screen name for an adult, AOL gives me a second chance to categorize what kind of default limits I want on the account. If you’ve never used America Online, you’ll find this screenshot particularly interesting:
Finally, once you’ve decided what kind of account you want to create, you’re done. Close up all the windows and log out. You should be able to log in with your brand new screen name!
Hope that helps you out with America Online. It might not be the snazziest, but with the addition of its automatic spyware checks, antivirus utility and pop-up blocker, it remains a surprisingly relevant alternative method of traveling on the Internet for a lot of people.
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
Create another name for an e-mail already created.
I opened this account several years ago,using it daily. Today it is no longer recognized and I am supposed to remember the name of a restaurant I selected as a favorite back then.Since several restaurants have closed, I have no idea what it was back then. Couldn’t you require something that isn’t changeable like my husbands middle name?
I’m having trouble creating screen names and passwords everytime i click on it, it says it can’t open.
I can’t make a new screen name every time I try I get
We’re sorry, but due to a problem on our end, your sign-in has gotten stuck.
any ideas?
let’s get the ball rolling
Please i did not get my screen name and my password.please i need them asap.I’m dieing pleaseeee.
Kate
Dave,
I want to add a new screename but have been unable to locate how or where to do so. I have been logging in under guest and this has been frustrating to say the least. I just tried to post this question and received the message stating it did not post due to “too many post recently” which is bogus because it was my FIRST POST! I’m hoping you can help. Thank you.
How do you restore the snmaster.idx database file?
Dave, I just opened a free aol account & added 6 additional screen names to the main one. Now I can’t access any of the additional screen names. there is no drop down box in the upper left corner by my main sceen name to be able to link them as instructed by the help menu. I’ve signed off and then signed in again, but this does not help. I would appreciate any help that you can give me in order to solve this problem.
Thanks, Orlando
Is this windows XP getting in the way of adding another screen name in the sign-on box? This XP set-up is new Just installed this month.Do I need some more sofeware?
Dave, we just got your comments on how to create a new screen name. The first thing you said to do was go to the Aol toolbar and select Settings.
There isn’t a tool bar nor settings on our opening page. How do you suggest we find it?
TKS
Rollin
I CANNOT add a screen name – followed all instructions and it does not work – pls help
I need your help how to add my husband to my screen name to my master account thank you, Jill
hi i would like use my old screen name how do this had old one 8 years ? robert ladewig
Please help me. I’m on Mac OSX 10.4.11 and AOL 10.3.7 and I can’t delete/create new screen name. When I click on Account Settings / Screen Names it takes me to the internet and then a host of pages that go no where and give no information. What am I doing wrong. Or is it AOL??????
i have aol 9.0 VR and i click settings, then screen names, and im trying to get my own aol account, because right now im using hers for everything and i need my own. but when i click screen names it should take me to the screen where it locates the adding and deleting of screen names which is where i want to go but it comes up a different screen and it says welcome aol.
I have a free AOL usage since I have broadband by another service. Please tell me where I can find the Delete a screen name on the system. The instructions you ive on lthe website are for the dialup paid subscribers, but will not take me to the right place.
Thanks,
Duane
My wife and i are seperated, the account is in her name. I would like to keep my screen name, and open a new account. How do i do it ?
My wife and i are seperated, the account is in her name. I would like to keep my screen name, and open a new account. How do i do it ?
HOW DO I DELETE A SCREEN NAME, (NOT MY MASTER SCREEN NAME) Every time I go to keyword AOL SCREEN NAMES I get a window that says OOPPS can’t find this page. WHAT GIVES???
i want to add anouther screen name how do i do it
ii neeD help iin makinG a new sCreen name see my cOmputer blOCkeD all aiim websites & ii neeD a webste that ii Can qo to so that ii Can make a new sCreen name. Do uu have any websites iin minD ?!
I created a business screen name, I know that it
took as I sent an email to it and it went. the question is that I can’t find my screen name anywhere. HELP I need access to this account as I will be using this for my new business.
I just got married and would like to take my wifes AOL screen name from her fathers account and add it to my account. Is this possible and how do i do it if it is?
I need spme answers i had numerous sn on my account from almost 3 years old I have not had my pc hook up for a year now and now that I hook my pc up and switched to verzion dsl and aol free account my other sn keep popping up and they shouldn’t even be on my account how do I delete them they are also popping up on vrizon what goin on can u help me
I don’t have AOL software installed (and really dont want to have it). I need to open new screen name on my current AOL account. Is there a way I can do this going into AOL through internet Explorer? Let me know. I very much appreciate your help.
Regards,
George
i cnt remember my password
can u help me i am dying
i need to create a screen name for my daughter shes 23 years old and she continues to go under mine while your at it she needs a email address as well please help me!
i love aol !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey Dave,
I want to get rid of my original primary account info and make my secondary screen name my master account and delete my old screen name. How can I do this? Thanks!
hey dave i already have a aim acount and my mom wants me to set up a acount for me and we have the new parental guadiance thing and how do i transfer my aim screen name to the new aol account that i am going to make
I need to change my screen name on my welcome sign?
I want to add my husbands already existing screen name from an account i have to this one. How can we do this?
When I went to add screen names it won’t let you add an existing screen name from another account.
If we delete from other account will it then allow?
I have new version of aol 10. not find any for create a screen name How i can find that.
hello
I have a question. I have aol9.0 VR. Now everytime I try to use aol help or go to my settings it instead takes me to my aol welcome screen. I put in my screen name & password so I can use aol help & it takes me right back to the aol welcome screen. I cant get to aol help, settings,billing info.I can’t get it to do anything after I put in my password. This sucks! Please help me!!!
We are trying to reinstall snmaster. can you help us.?