How do I use yahoo messenger?

How do I use my new profile on Yahoo Messenger?

• I have created a new profile that I would like to use on Yahoo Messenger instead of my Yahoo ID. I have made my new profile name the default name but when I log into Messenger my ID still comes up. When I go into my profile under Messenger it says my primary profile is always active, even though I have my new profile as active. Can someone tell me how to change this to show my new profile whenever I go into messenger to IM my friends

• Answer:

  There are a few steps you can take: (1. Change your display name in Messenger. A quick fix in your 'My Contact Details'. (2. Change the details in your main Yahoo! Account Information. The once and for all method if you'd like to completely kill off all references to your First and Last Name from your main Yahoo! Account Info. (3. I've also included instructions for creating Chat ID's (aliases). Use these features to protect your identity and prevent random contact with people you do not know or trust. It's up to you as to which level of security you feel comfortable with, you should study all of your options before deciding which is best for you. -------- (1. To change your display name in Messenger: A quick fix: (a. Login to Yahoo! Messenger. (b. Click on 'Messenger'. (c. Click on 'My Contact Details'. (d. At the top is 'Name:' *Complete all three name fields to stop Yahoo! Messenger from accessing the details in your main Yahoo! Account Information. *If you only edit your Nickname nothing will change, your first and last name will be displayed from your Account Information. *If you only edit your First Name, your Last Name will be extracted from your Account Information. *If you only edit your Last Name, your First Name will be extracted from your Account Information. If you change your 'My Contact Details' within Yahoo! Messenger you must edit all 3 required fields (First, Last and Nickname) to prevent both your First and Last Names showing, or a mixed combination of them. Just because you can't see your First and Last Name details in Yahoo! Messenger doesn't mean other people can't. Add yourself to your own friends list, right click on your username in the list, select 'Contact Details' and see what information is being sent out or head to Messenger > Preferences > Appearance (category) under 'For each contact on the messenger list show their:' and select 'Nickname' or 'First' and 'Last Name', hit 'Apply', hit 'OK' and recheck what your friends list displays. If you have accepted or sent out, requests to add to friends lists, and your First / Last Names are showing, the user will need to delete you from their Yahoo! Messenger friends list AND their address book to remove this information, you are not able to do this yourself, nor does updating your own details impact on what they already have. Visual Tutorial http://www.wackyb.co.nz/yahoo!_first_and... ----------- (2. To change your name in your main Yahoo! Account Information: The once and for all method using 'My Account Info' (Yahoo! Account Information)... By default, Yahoo! uses and accesses the First and Last Name fields completed when you signed up for your Yahoo! ID, these details are stored in your Yahoo! Account Information, if you'd like to completely kill off all references to your First and Last Name then you can edit your Yahoo! Account Information, simply head to http://edit.yahoo.com/config/eval_profil... or use any link to My Account (often visible in blue text) at the top center of most Yahoo! Services pages, or click on your first name on the Yahoo! home page - e.g., - Hi, yourname. Or directly from within Yahoo! Messenger via Messenger > My Account Information, which will open your main Yahoo! Account Information in your browser window. Once there... (a. Ignore the first instance of your Names, scroll down the page until you see Address / Contact Information, click 'Edit'... (b. At the top of the page should be Your Name, edit both fields. (c. Hit Finished, if prompted confirm your password. (d. You will be redirected back to your Yahoo! Account Information page where you can see the changes. (e. If you're happy with the results click 'Finish' again. (f. Exit out of your browser and log back into Yahoo! Messenger. Problem solved, now all your requests to add will contain the information you submitted in your main Yahoo! Account Information. Visual Tutorial http://www.wackyb.co.nz/yahoo!_messenger... ----------- (3. Creating an ID for Chatting: Each person who ventures online needs an ID - a unique nickname (or alias) that allows him or her to be recognized while participating in the Internet community. Yahoo! Chat offers members the ability to chat under aliases, which allows them to hide their email addresses. We encourage you to use these features to protect your identity and prevent random contact with people you do not know or trust. ------- You can create up to six additional aliases that you can use instead of your Yahoo! ID. Each alias that you create has a corresponding profile page that you can customize to let people know about you. Setting up your profile is a great way to increase your presence on the Web. When you enter a chat room in Yahoo! Messenger, the Yahoo! ID you choose as your identity will be visible to other Yahoo! users that are in the same room. If you do not wish to display your primary Yahoo! ID in a chat room, we recommend that you create an alternate profile for your Yahoo! account. To get started, click on the Messenger menu and select My Profiles. To create/edit an alias: (a. Click the "Messenger" menu in Messenger and select "My Profiles." (b. Click the "Create/Edit My Profiles" button and follow the directions of the Yahoo! Profiles page. To control the online/offline presence of your aliases: (a. Click the "Messenger" menu in Messenger and select "My Profiles." (b. Select "Active" or "Inactive." Please Note: Inactive modifies the alias to appear offline. Further, please try the updates below: (a. Log into Messenger. (b. Select "Messenger" menu from the top of your Messenger client and then select "Yahoo! Chat" from the drop down menu. (c. Click on "Join a Room..." from the available options. (d. Select an Alias that you would like to enter the room as. ------- Remember, your alias is one way that the Yahoo! online community will be able to identify you; let them wonder. You don't want strangers to know too much about you just from reading your ID. Online IDs can communicate something about the person behind them, so be certain of what you are willing to share. For example, the name "Butterflyfan" communicates that this user might be fond of butterflies. There is little risk of someone being able to distinguish one fan of butterflies from the millions of others who exist in the world. On the other hand, the name "Butterflies4Jane" may go too far. It provides someone with a name - both a conversation starter and a misguided sense of familiarity. When creating a new online ID, you may want to leave out the following personal information: * First and last name * Address * Phone number * Family names Whatever you choose, remember that your ID should be suitable, not too revealing, and (most important) fun. Using an Alias Use following steps to pick your alias before entering Yahoo! Chat: (a. Click the File menu in Yahoo! Messenger and select select "Yahoo! Chat" and then "Join a Room." (b. Select the Alias that you would like to use from the "Enter Chat room as" menu. (c. Select a Category on the left and a Room on the right. (d. Double click the room that you would like to enter. A Chat window will pop up with your ID on the right side of the screen. You will also see a list of all the people that are currently in the room. Creating an ID for Chatting http://chat.yahoo.com/chatsafetymodule.h... Yahoo! Chat allows people from all over the world to chat, make friends and build communities. Chat can be an enriching experience but everyone should be aware that, like in any public area on the Internet or the "real world", there are people who want to take advantage of people’s trust. To help create a safe chatting experience, we have put together this guide to help our customers protect themselves while online. Creating an ID for Chatting Each person who ventures online needs an ID - a unique nickname (or alias) that allows him or her to be recognized while participating in the Internet community. Yahoo! Chat offers members the ability to chat under aliases, which allows them to hide their email addresses. We encourage you to use these features to protect your identity and prevent random contact with people you do not know or trust. Remember, your alias is one way that the Yahoo! online community will be able to identify you; let them wonder. You don't want strangers to know too much about you just from reading your ID. Online IDs can communicate something about the person behind them, so be certain of what you are willing to share. For example, the name "Butterflyfan" communicates that this user might be fond of butterflies. There is little risk of someone being able to distinguish one fan of butterflies from the millions of others who exist in the world. On the other hand, the name "Butterflies4Jane" may go too far. It provides someone with a name - both a conversation starter and a misguided sense of familiarity. When creating a new online ID, you may want to leave out the following personal information: First and last name Address Phone number Family names Whatever you choose, remember that your ID should be suitable, not too revealing, and (most important) fun. Using an Alias Use following steps to pick your alias before entering Yahoo! Chat: Click the File menu in Yahoo! Messenger and select select "Yahoo! Chat" and then "Join a Room." Select the Alias that you would like to use from the “Enter Chat room as” menu. Select a Category on the left and a Room on the right. Double click the room that you would like to enter. A Chat window will pop up with your ID on the right side of the screen. You will also see a list of all the people that are currently in the room. Tips for Safe Chatting Don’t chat about things that could enable a stranger to locate you. That includes your last name, the name of your school or work place, the city you live in, and where you hang out. Protect your info. Don’t put identifiable information in your user profile, including photos. What's uploaded to the Internet can be downloaded and shared by everyone. Avoid posting photos that allow people to identify you, especially sexually suggestive images. Before uploading a photo, think about how you'd feel if it were seen by a parent, friend, or future employer. Never meet with someone you encounter in a chat room unless you already know who they are. Be honest about your age. Yahoo Chat is restricted to users who are 18 years of age or older. If you are too young to sign up, do not attempt to lie about your age. Talk with your parents about alternative sites that may be appropriate for you. Additional Resources For more information about online safety, as well as how to handle and report abuse on Yahoo! Chat, please visit the following Yahoo! sites: Online Safety http://family.yahoo.com/ Acceptable behavior on Yahoo! http://docs.yahoo.com/info/guidelines/community.html Handling abusive chatters http://help.yahoo.com/help/us/chat/abuse/abuse-01.html If you encounter abuse in a Chat room http://help.yahoo.com/help/us/chat/abuse/index.html Reporting Chat abuse http://add.yahoo.com/fast/help/chat/cgi_abuse