kichat: How Can I Check My iChat Password ?

How Can I Check My iChat Password ?

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.
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)

Go to this page for @mac.com for instructions. Trial account users with accounts older than 60 days will get a "Your Account has expired" message. It will at least tell you by this that the details you entered are correct. Normal paid for accounts will get through to the next page.

Go to this page to check your AIM name. This will cause you 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 helps.

Ralph