General preferences

Default IM application

Choose the default messaging app.

Keep messages

Choose how long to keep message conversations in your account. For example, if you choose 30 Days, your conversations (and all attachments) are available in Messages for 30 days. After that, they are automatically removed.

For more information, see Save or delete conversations.

Save history when conversations are closed

Select to save your conversations when you close them. If you don’t select this option, closing conversations deletes them. Quitting Messages or closing the Messages window doesn’t close individual conversations.

Notify me about messages from unknown contacts

Select to receive a notification whenever anyone contacts you. If you don’t select this option, you get a notification only if you’re contacted by someone who is listed in Contacts, is in a buddy list, or is someone you previously received messages from.

Notify me when my name is mentioned

Select to receive a notification whenever your name is mentioned in a conversation.

Play sound effects

Play the default sound effect for when any event occurs. For more details, see Play sound effects.

Message received sound

Choose the sound that plays when a message is received.

Save received files to

Choose where you want to store files sent to you by friends in Messages.

Text size

Move the slider to adjust the size of text in Messages.

Show all my accounts in one list

Select to list all your buddies in a single window when you have multiple accounts active.

Animate buddy pictures

See animated buddy pictures.

For more details, see View your buddy lists.

Show status in menu bar

Select to add the Messages status menu to the menu bar at the top of your screen. The menu appears as an icon. For more details, see Add Messages to the menu bar.

When I quit Messages, set my status to Offline

Stay logged in to Messages after quitting Messages and control whether your friends see your status as Offline or Available.

If you select this option, your status is set to Offline, and you can’t receive messages unless you use the menu bar status icon to make yourself available.

If you don’t select this option, your status is set to Available, and you can receive messages even though Messages isn’t open.

When your status indicates that you’re available and a message arrives, click the message to open Messages.

Auto-reply with my Away message

Select to have Messages automatically reply to messages for you when you’re away from your computer. The reply includes your status, for example, “Auto-reply: Out to Lunch.”

Set my status to Away after the computer is inactive

Select to set your status to Away when you haven’t used your computer for more than 15 minutes. For more information, see Have your status change automatically.

When I return

If Messages changes your status to Away because your computer is inactive, you can choose what your status should be when you return.

When switching users

If you have fast user switching enabled, more than one person at a time can stay logged in to your computer, letting users quickly switch between accounts. You can choose to have Messages change your status while another person is using your computer.