kichat: How Can I Check My iChat Password ?

by: Ralph-Johns-UK

Last modified: Sep 30, 2024 4:07 AM

1 3206 Last modified Sep 30, 2024 4:07 AM

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How Can I Check My iChat Password ?

(Edit 2024: as iChat will no longer work without the AIM servers the whole of this Tip is moot. However I will leave it for now with some removal of outdated links.)

For iChat 2.x and iChat 3

If you can not log on to the AIM server with iChat you may need to check your account name and password.

First Steps

In iChat.

Checking the name is right is as simple as going to the iChat Preferences in the iChat menu and from there to the Accounts section.

Accounts names from @mac.com will need to be typed in full.

AIM account/screen names do not need the suffix (@AIM.com).

Check with AIM or @mac.com. (Edit 2024: AIM has been closed down and Apple have changed form .Mac to MobileMe to iCloud registrations and neither page listed exists anymore)

At this point is is best to return to a web page, where the account/screen was issued, to test the name and password work. (You may have mistyped it)

(Edit 2024: at this point a Link to the .mac Registration page has been removed). Trial account users with accounts older than 60 days would have got a "Your Account has expired" message. It would have at least told you by this that the details you entered were correct. Normal paid for accounts will get through to the next page.

(Edit 2024: AIM ceased to exist as service in 2017 so there is no registration page to check with. Link removed). At the time it would have caused your password to be emailed to you.

Next step

The Keychain holds all your Passwords. You can not check they are correct without opening Keychain Access

You will probably need to look in Keychain Access to reset the password.

Open Key Chain Access (In Applications/Utilities)

1a) Scroll down the list for a Key shaped icon with your AIM name, if using AIM.

1b) Scroll down list for a Blue globe icon and the word "iTools", if a @mac account.

2) Click on it. The rest of the details will fill in (except the password)

3) Put a tick in the "Show Password" box near the bottom

4) A window opens asking for your ADMIN password.

5) Type your ADMIN password in.

6) Hit the "Allow Once" Button.

7) The window should close and your password for your iChat account should appear in the last text field.

8) Correct as required. (Check carefully your spelling)

9) Close/Quit Keychain Access.

10) Try iChat again.

If your @mac password is longer than the max for AIM (16 chararters) you will not be able to log on.

Hope this at least informs.

Ralph

Editted 30th September 2024

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