Ask Leo! by Leo A. Notenboom

Can I use Yahoo or MSN messenger without Yahoo or MSN mail?

Search First! Then browse: Categories | Full Archive | By Date | Newsletter

Home » Instant Messaging

Summary: The email address use for your instant messenger account doesn't have to be the email address that belongs to the same service.

Can I use Yahoo or MSN messenger without Yahoo or MSN mail?

Yahoo, MSN, and AOL all supply both email and instant messaging programs. Yahoo's email is free, MSN provides both free email with Hotmail and paid services with MSN itself, and AOL requires a subscription for email. But they all have different and incompatible instant messaging programs.

Can you mix and match? Sure!

Yahoo requires that you create a Yahoo account to use their instant messaging service and with that account comes an email address. But there's nothing that says you have to use it. You can happily ignore your Yahoo email and use Yahoo instant messenger all you want. I do.

MSN requires that you create a Passport account to use MSN Instant Messenger, and a passport account requires an email address. The most common addresses used for happen to be Hotmail accounts. Year ago that was the only option but passports can now be created for any email address. So you can get a free Hotmail account like I did, or not. You can use an MSN email account or something else. It doesn't matter.

AOL Instant Messenger does not require an AOL account. If you have an AOL account, you're set. But if you don't then you can create an AOL sign-in name at any time. And keep using whatever email you use, AOL or not. I do.

And yes, I have instant messaging accounts on all three services and often run all three instant messaging clients at the same time. Again, no problem.

And my email? Not related to any of them. It's completely separate.

Article C1979 - June 2, 2004

Helpful? Get new articles weekly by email in my FREE newsletter!

Your Name:
Your Email:


Why Subscribe?

Recent Comments
62 Comments

everytime i try to log in my yahoo email, it tells me page cannot be displayed.

Posted by: norma arellano at January 14, 2008 10:33 AM

Hi, I use MSN messenger and my cousinin Australia uses Yahoo! messenger. We can text chat but cannot seem to video link. Further more her icon does not turn green when we are online! If as your statement says, we can mix and match, then how can we chat using video link? We both have webcams set up.

Posted by: chris lloyd at February 4, 2008 6:35 AM

HI,
I have yahoo ID and want to use in MSN messanger, but when ever i try it does not allow. Its says, Windows Live ID you put is incorrect.

So how do i fiz this problem?
THnx

Posted by: Dragon at February 25, 2008 8:15 PM

Hi,
You can use all of the messenger protocole all in once with pidgin, an open source programme that support msn, yahoo messenger, google talk, icq, jaber, facebook chat, etc

Posted by: Francois at September 26, 2008 12:23 PM

hi
Is it possible that i can use my two different yahoo id on one single messenger if yes then plz tell the process

Posted by: Amit at January 11, 2009 8:51 AM

Can i include my Yahoo,rediff or gmail account with AIM? is it possible for me to chat when i am in AIM account using yahoo id chatting with other friends...

Posted by: novic at January 14, 2009 11:08 PM

i have a AOL email but i want to use it on windows live messenger 8.5 betta because i dont like the newst version out but would it be possible to use a aol email on it?
i tryed but it says you must have forgotten your password..Please hel[[!

Posted by: Will at February 7, 2009 12:46 AM

hello i have not new msn version so how can i use msn new version by web messeger??

Posted by: soha at February 10, 2009 10:36 AM

I want to add my friend and she has an account on aol. would i add her under Lotus Sametime, LCS, Yahoo!, or Windows Messenger???? PLEASEE HELP ME THIS IS SO IMPORTANT AND URGENT!!!!!

None of the above. I don't believe AOL instant messenger interfaces with any of the other services. You'll need to create your own AOL/AIM account. (http://www.aim.com) It's free.
- Leo
04-May-2009

Posted by: Olivia at May 3, 2009 11:36 AM

I had to uninstall the new version of msn messenger as it was causing problems to my PC & was unable to open hotmail. Now I cannot sign into hotmail I think because I don't have messenger but I still need a hotmail, are you able to help. Thanks Lois

Posted by: Lois Burgess at June 21, 2009 9:45 PM

Post a comment on "Can I use Yahoo or MSN messenger without Yahoo or MSN mail?":






(Email Address will not be published.)

Remember Me?

By popular demand...
my tip jar
Cuppa Joe
Buy Leo a Latte!

(you may use HTML tags for style)

RSS feed Subscribe to the RSS Feed specifically for comments on this article.

Before commenting, please...

Please wait. Your comment is being processed ...


Question? Ask Leo!