Messages (Mavericks): Set up your accounts
Before you start, have on hand your user names and passwords for existing accounts.
For iMessage, you need an Apple ID. If you set up an iTunes or iCloud account, you already have an Apple ID. If you don’t have an Apple ID, you can create one in Messages.
To retrieve your information or sign up for AIM, Jabber, Google Talk, or Yahoo! accounts, go to their websites.
You can set up Internet accounts for AIM, Google Talk and Yahoo!, which you can use just for Messages, or also for apps such as Mail, Calendar, and Contacts. After setting up an Internet account, you can automatically set up those apps to use the account. Instead of setting up Internet accounts, you can also set up accounts just for use in Messages.
If you received configuration profiles from a network administrator, you can install those to automatically set up Messages accounts.
Use configuration profiles
Set up iMessage
- Choose Messages > Preferences, click Accounts, then select iMessage in the Accounts list.
- Enter your Apple ID and password, then click Sign In.
If you don’t have an Apple ID, click Create Apple ID. If you forgot your password or Apple ID, enter anything in the Apple ID field, then click Forgot Password?
- After signing in, you can do the following:
Option Description Send and receive iMessages: Select “Enable this account.” View your Apple ID account information: Click Details. Receive messages sent to email addresses and phone numbers: Click Add Email, then enter email addresses. Select the email addresses and phone numbers you want to use to receive messages. If you add a new email address for your Apple ID, a validation email is sent to that address. Follow the instructions in the email so that the address can be used with Messages.
If you have a phone number associated with your Apple ID, it is automatically added to the list. When you set up your iPhone to use your Apple ID, your phone number is associated with your Apple ID.
Enable Read Receipts: Select “Send read receipts.” If you enable read receipts, people who send you messages will see when you’ve read them.
Sign out: Click Sign Out.
Set up Internet accounts
You can enter your messaging account information in Messages, or in the Internet Accounts pane of System Preferences.
Set up iCloud, Twitter, Facebook, and other Internet accounts
- Choose Messages > Preferences, then click Accounts.
- Click Add (+), choose the type of account you want to add, then click Continue.
- Enter your name, email, and password, then click Continue.
- Select the apps you want to set up to use this account, then click Done.
Set up other accounts just for use in Messages
- Choose Messages > Preferences, then click Accounts.
- Click Add (+), choose “Other messages account,” then click Continue.
- Click an account type from the pop-up menu, then enter your account information.
Option Description AIM: Enter your AIM user name (for example, dbecker3), or your full me.com or Mac.com user name (for example, dbecker3@me.com or dbecker3@mac.com) and password. Jabber: Enter your Jabber account name (for example, dbecker@jabber.org) and password. If your Jabber service provider gave you specific server information, click the arrow next to Server Options, then enter the information.
Google Talk: Enter your Google Talk account name (for example, dbecker3@gmail.com) and password. Yahoo!: Enter your Yahoo! user name (for example, dbecker) and password.
Send messages without using an account
You may be able to use Bonjour to chat with Messages users on your local network without setting up an account with a service provider.
Choose Messages > Preferences, click Accounts, select Bonjour in the list, then select “Enable Bonjour instant messaging.”