I’m not using Aol, i’m using Aim. How do I delete my AIM screenname from the AIM program and system?
Believe it or not, you cannot delete AIM screen names from the America Online (AOL) computer system. AOL says this in their help system: “Q: Can I delete one of my old AIM screen names? A: No, you cannot delete old AIM screen names at this time.”
They do offer useful advice on ensuring that others cannot find your screenname, however. Let me show you both the Mac and PC solutions, Mac first:
Start up AIM and then click on AIM –> Edit Profile and make sure that it’s blank:
On the PC, you’ll want to do something a bit different. You’ll need to go to Edit –> Edit My Contact Info…. Hopefully, you’ll see this:
You’ll notice that it’s not an issue for me because I refuse to set up my address book “powered by Plaxo” and am pretty appalled that AOL made the decision to take something simple and make it so darn complex. My advice: You shouldn’t set up your Plaxo address book either. If you haven’t, you’re in good shape and that screen name should be impossible to find.
If you’re running earlier versions of AIM, then your Mac instructions might be thus: Edit –> Preferences, then click on the Controls tab and choose “Nothing About Me”. Older Windows versions of AIM have a similar preference you can specify by going to My Options –> Edit Preferences, then click on the Controls tab.
That should make the undesired AIM screen name it essentially invisible.
Another step you might want to take is to delete that screen name from your AIM program itself. According to AOL, you can do that in Windows by selecting the screenname and pressing the DELETE key. On a Mac you should be able to choose “Delete Name…” from the screen name drop-down list:
It’s still rather amazing to me that you can’t just delete AIM screen names properly, even with the latest version of AIM, but I presume there’s some logical explanation. We just don’t know what it is. 🙂
Hwo Do I Cancel My Screen Name?
i need to delete my old screen name! please! please how do i? can u make it so we can delete it now?! please!!!!!!!
I have friend that want to delet that aim too but she does now how to do this the one she want to delet it lovelucy10 and other is lucindagetscrazy she really want to delete it so badly and this one two okay lucindahor she want delete all of them please can you help me.
thats her email send it to her please she want to know how.
The whole 12 months expiration day is not true. I didn’t login to my AIM account for the 3 years that I was in High School and then one day I tried to login and it was still active.
hi dave i have an aim and i need to delete it.to create a new one on http://www.aim.com can you please help me
I have six old screen names that I want to delete.
When I go on to screen names the screen goes crazy and then says its unavailable, since when?
Please tell me how I can at least delete one of my screen names so I can create a new one.
thanks Chris.
I find it amusing that this forum begins with a caveat from the forum owner…
“It’s still rather amazing to me that you can’t just delete AIM screen names properly, even with the latest version of AIM, but I presume there’s some logical explanation. We just don’t know what it is. :-)”
It’s pretty pathetic that this forum owner doesn’t have the gonads to ‘fess up to the fact that once AOL has you by the short hairs… well, you’re basically theirs for the raping.
I’m finding it hard to believe that the gross lack of ethics that surrounds a service like AOL that won’t let you expunge your personal info that they misled you into providing is something that can be glossed over by a forum like this with a stupid caveat like (again) “but I presume there’s some logical explanation. We just don’t know what it is. :-)”
Dream on, dude.
how can you tell if someone is invislible on AIM i need to know!!!
THIS IS WHY HELP pages are created!
Cancel Your Free Member Account
If you would like to cancel your free account, we are happy to help you. We hope you’ve enjoyed being an AOL member and look forward to helping you again in the future.
To cancel your free member account:
1. Go to AOL® Keyword: Cancel, and you’ll be redirected to a Web site where you can send an electronic request to cancel your free member account.
2. After reaching AOL Keyword: Cancel, click the How do I cancel my paid member account or convert it to a free member account? link under Frequently Asked Questions. This FAQ will show you how to submit an electronic cancellation request or download the form for either mail or fax submission.
3. Follow the instructions on the form, and be sure to click the check box next to the statement: If you do not want your account to be converted to free, or if you want to cancel your free account, check here.
Note: If you do not check the box, we will not be able to process your request.
If you’re faxing or mailing your request, please return your completed form to one of the following:
* USPS Mail: AOL LLC, PO Box 65100, Sterling, VA 20165-8800
* Fax: 1-703-433-7283.
Notes:
* In order to process your request, all numbered fields on the form must be completed.
* Your request will be processed within 72 hours of receipt.
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* Please note that AOL reserves the right to charge and collect fees, surcharges or costs incurred before your conversion takes effect.
To speak with one of our Member Services Representatives who can help you with your request, please call us toll-free at 1-888-265-8008.
Ok.. my problem is this.. I have a aim name and someone got the password to it… I have changed the password and for aim it is fine it changed, but when i log into aim mail I still have to use the old password that someone else also has and its making things very difficult. I have changed the password from aim mail more than once, yet everytime i go to sign back in i still have to use the old password that i want changed… Why are the passwords different?? I dont understand what is going on.. HELP
there should be an option to delete names that are no longer desire, so therefore, other people will have the option of using them.
I forgot the answer to my security question on my aim screen name i want to change my password but i need to have the answer in order to.. please help so many people are bringing me own!
how do u change the information on your screen name so stalkers wont find who you are…
hey i have a screens names and i want to get a new 1 so how do i delete them and i am get going to a new 1 if i can delete my 2 screen names
i think that aim is bullS***….i mean come on i just got my computer moved outta my room and i can’t have my parents finding aim! i barely ever talk on it anyway so what is the big Fn deal?…geez…..i think im gonna get netscape
this girl that i dont even know keep’s getting on my old s/n’s and putting stuff in my profile and because of her i’m always fighting with my b/f how do i delete these s/n’s so all this can stop? she’s making my life hell
Please respond by email as I might not be able to find this page again. A long time friend split up with his “girl friend” duing the xmas holidays. She did not let him have his computer back, along with some other personal property. They shared the same computer, using her AOL account but having him as another user. I recently received an email, knowing my friend does not have a computer… how can I report her to aol? The site does not offer any help. TIA
can u delete my aim sceen name its causing conflict between me and my boyfriend so can u do it for me cuz it wont let me i just want it gone
Um I’m sorry to bother you Sir,but I made my AIM account for a friend. But that friend and I are no longer friends. Can you please delete my AIM Account?? And I won’t bother you again.
SOMEONE FOUND OUT MY PASSWORD AND CAN U PLZ DELTE IT? THE PERSON KEEPS GOING ON IT AND THEY CAUS EME SO MUCH DRAMA! PLEASE DELETE THIS SCREEN NAME: ALLabOuT BEACHx5
ok i have a question. ok my niece did a aim screen name right, and she sign in into my aol account as a guess and she gets through , why when i created a aim screen name and i sign in as a guess in my aol account it doesnt go through
I WANTO DELETE AIM PERMANENTLY HOW COME I CANNOT I JUST WANT AOL
i have a s/n aim nD i want 2 cancel it how dO i dO dat?
i want to make a new sn but is there a way to transfer all of my buddies to my new sn???
Windows users can edit the registry to remove unwnated users: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\America Online\AIM6
Select “Userlist” remove unwanted users.
Submitted by aplus@midmaine.com
there is NO way 2 delete ya AIM screename but even if u dont delete it u can still get a new one, u MIGHT jus have 2 create another e-mail address
hi i wanna create another screen name, but i wanted to transfer my buddies over to my new screen name that i have not created yet….how do i do that? please answer me soon i will appreciate it if you answer my question. *~NYCindian4eva*~
Average AZN – try changing your password for AIM so someone else can’t use the account with the password they apparently know. If they continue using it, then you have to assume that someone has access to your computer and can either read your keystrokes as you type to learn your passwords or another way of pulling information from your computer. That will require professional help to locate and delete the offending program they installed without your knowledge. My daughter had to have her hard drive reformatted and all programs reinstalled because someone took control of her computer and began harassing her and threatening her, keying messages to her as soon as they knew she’d logged on. She could do nothing and the police said it wasn’t their problem, so she had the hard drive completely reformatted. No problems since. (If you live in Ogden UT, don’t expect the police to do much of anything to help you, especially if you’re female.)
PEOPLE – PLEASE!!! DID YOU NOT READ THE VERY FIRST ARTICLE ON THIS PAGE BEFORE ASKING YOUR QUESTIONS??? You learned how to read for a reason – it’s amazing the things you learn when you actually APPLY this very valuable skill!!
STOP ASKING IF YOU CAN DELETE YOUR AIM SCREEN NAME!!!! The man said you CAN’T!!!! Read the article and learn that! Stop asking how you can do it when the answer is sitting right there in front of your supposedly educated faces!!
DontWantAim –
the instruction in that link kind of worked ..[only for AIM], though AOL is not erasing anything.
Mr. I want to delete my screen name but it won’t let me ! Please I have AOL and AIM and it’s the AOL screen name but won’t delete it from AIM !
PLEASE, Mr. , HELP !
PLEASE, PLEASE, HURRY PLEASE, THANKS !
i have this wierd person that has been using my aim without permission if i wanted that person to stop how can I
When I try to sign in to my aim email, it says, invalid password. I tried to change the password, and it said it worked and there would be a confirmation email sent to my other email address, but that didn’t happen, and the new password didn’t work either. I’m afraid someone is now reading my email and getting all my info, and, as I see is a common problem, I can’t delete the screename, either. And no way to get help. Isn’t there anyone out there who can help me??? AAAAGGGG!!!!!
how can i delete saved screen names from the sign in screen?
is there anyway of delteting an old AIM screen name. someones been going on my screen name continuosly and harrasing my friends. can you please delete these 2 screen names. xoxjennxox13 and xohazeleyesxo92. pleaseee
SOMEONE KEEPS GETTIN ON MY OLD SCREEN NAME && TRYING TO MAKE MY LIFE HELL I WOULD LOVE TO GET IT DELETED!
Brad, I agree to the part about not allowing reuse of a name for a period of time so it does not get reused too soon, but they don’t need to keep the account active for that. That is the part I have the problem with. My concern is that they leave the accounts active for 12 months which means it could be hacked into and people would think it is you. Ok you can clear out personal details, but the name may still be associated with you still. They should have the ability to deactivate an account until reuse. It’s like having a credit card lying around in a drawer somewhere that you forgot about. It’s still active and the account could be used nefariously without you being aware of it.
It seems the period they keep the screenname reserved (a euphemism for not deleting the account) is now 12 months. It keeps getting longer. First it was 90 days then 6 months, and now 12 months. At this rate, it will soon be permanent. Here is the source of the info: http://help.channels.aol.com/kjump.adp?articleId=219171
I guess they found out too many people were letting their screennames expire and thus reducing their apparent number of subscribers. They probably figured that by keeping them for 12 months the apparent subscriber list is more likely to expand faster than the ones that are being abandoned.
HOW DO I DELETE MY AIM EMAIL ACCOUNT?!!??
What is everyone here complaining about. AOL does not let people randomly change screenames whenever they want, that is the point. So people do not get confused when someone across the country has your screename because you gave it up. What if everyone in the US changed phone numbers whenever they wanted. Its not logical. Also, after 6 months of inactivity, screenames are deleted from the AIM service completely. I hope this made some sense or helped someone.
They there folks. If you are looking to remove/delete a screen name from the AIM client sign-on list then I have a solution for Windows users. Open your run command line and then type “regedit” using the find feature, I use ctrl-F, search for the screen name you would like to remove from the list. Then delete every entry in your registry with that name. You want to be abosultely certain that you delete all instances of the name. Pay close attention to AIM/Users folders/keys, there should be a folder/key with the title of the screen name you want to remove. Removing this folder from the registry will remove the screen name from your computer, the rest is clean up. Happy hunting!
Delete it by uninstalling the software from the uninstaller within the program folder and let it time out unused for 90 days, or else deliberately violate the terms of service until they kill the account. Repeatedly report your deathwished username to the AOL fortress of doom for trying to recruit your funky fresh username into Hezbollah.
If for some reason you have two accounts and want to keep one of them, note your username, password, and any contacts you want to keep, then remove all AOL and AIM software from your computer.
Install Trillian and set up an AIM account with the username that you want to keep. Notify your contacts to delete the old user name, aside from the stalker you got by naming yourself tittybuns14.
There is actually a way delete AIM screen names from the central AIM authentication servers. To do this you would have to get a leaked AIM developer client from sonewhere. I know these still float around on various P2P networks but I can’t recall the name of the program (it has some kind of weird code name).
i am so mad that you cannot delete your screen nmae and get another on, and that if you’re not a member of aim, that you can’t have more than one screen nmae on aim.
I have tried various ways to get my AIM screen name erased permanently and it is impossible. Any email sent to one of their contact email addresess, they blatantly ignore. I bet I know the reason they won’t let you delete it. It’s probably so it looks like they have a huge number of ‘active’ accounts for marketing purposes. There is no reason for them not to have the ability to be able to delete your screenname. This is typical vintage AOL. Thankfully I have never been an AOL subscriber as we all know how hard it is to cancel even an account for which you are paying for! Of course some may say, why all the fuss? When I no longer have any use for an account, I expect it to be deleted for security. While other places may not have an account removal button, quite often they will do so on request to the admin, so why not AOL?
on my AOL profile .. it says that I have AIM but i never ever signed up for AIM. How do I keep it from showing that?
LISTEN I want to keep funsizedhannah23 but my little sister wants her s/n deleted for good.
which is lovesGod89754.
Please sir get rid of it.
Please
Please
Please
COME ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CAN I TELL IF SOMEONE IS JUST INVISIBLE OR REALLY ONLINE
how can i get someones screen name if it won’t
let me
how do i delete