Problem with Messages on Mac

HI:


My Messages app isn't working correctly. I've traditionally used it as a portal for my AIM screen name (preferring to use Gchat directly through the google website) but sometime in the last month it just stopped connecting and refuses to bring up my buddy list. I use Macs at work and routinely have to switch machines and normally have no issue deleting the account of whomever was using that mac right before and enter my information and pulling up my AIM information in Messages. For whatever reason on my own computer at home, however, it just stopped connecting, and instead of letting me delete the account out of Messages and re-adding it as a troubleshoot, the minus ➖ is grayed out and I'm unable to delete the information as it exists. I feel like if I could reset Messages to its default state and re-add the various accounts I use that it would work, but it's not letting me delete anything, and it just hangs on "connecting" when I restart the app and hit "enable." It won't even let me alter the password for the AIM account, which is also grayed out. What am I supposed to do to correct this?

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X El Capitan (10.11.3)

Posted on May 20, 2016 8:33 PM

Reply
6 replies

May 22, 2016 12:08 PM in response to grinningdoubt

Hi,


Two others have apparently marked this with "Me Too" s


IF deleting the account in System Preferences > Internet Accounts does not work check if you can login here

https://settings.aim.com/ This only works fro AIM registered Names. It will not work for Apple ID used as valid AIM Screen Names.


This site will sometimes tell you if your Account has been suspended.


If it is an Apple ID used and an AIM Screen Name it will only show in Internet Accounts as a separate item (none of the boxes to enable other sync functions).

If this is the case then try deleting it. (I had a Google account like this that took work in the Keychain as it could not be doe in System Preferences).


Also try opening a Finder window

Use the Go Menu whilst holding down the ALT Key and selecting the Library that appears in the list.

Navigate to Preferences.

Find com.apple.iChat.AIM.plist and Drag it to the Trash

Restart Messages.

This will recreate the .plist which may help if it is the corrupt item.



User uploaded file

8:08 pm Sunday; May 22, 2016


 iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (El Capitan)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 iPhone and an iPad (2)

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Problem with Messages on Mac

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