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Alerts

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	Get the latest news, weather, stock price changes, sports scores, and more. After signing in to MSN Messenger, click a tab to view your alerts. To set up your alerts: Go to MSN Alerts. Click the Add Alerts tab, and then sign up for the alerts you want. Your alerts will appear in the MSN Messenger main window the next time you sign in.

Block spam

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	In the main MSN Messenger window, click the Tools menu, and then click Options. Click the Privacy tab. Select the check box next to Only people on my Allow List can see my status and send me messages.

Chat instantly

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Send an instant message to a contact

In the main MSN Messenger window, double-click the name of an online contact.
In the box at the bottom on the Conversation page, type your message.
Click Send.

—or—

In the main MSN Messenger window, click the Actions menu, and then click Send an Instant Message.
Click the name of an online contact, and then click OK.
In the box at the bottom on the Conversation page, type your message.
Click Send.

Load new display pictures

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	In the main MSN Messenger window, click the Tools menu, and then click Change Display Picture. Select a picture from the list and then click OK —or— Click Browse, select one of your own pictures on your computer, and then click Open.

Load new emoticons

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In the main MSN Messenger window, click the Tools menu, and then click Create Emoticons.
On the My Custom Emoticons page, click Add.
On the Add a custom emoticon page, type the file name of the image on your computer you want to use.
—or—
Click Find Image to locate the picture.
On the Select a custom emoticon page, click Open.
Type a keyboard shortcut for the new emoticon.
Type a name for the emoticon (optional).
To add the image to your list of emoticons, click OK.

Mobile phone text messaging

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To receive messages on your mobile phone, create a Messenger profile by following the instructions below.

In the main MSN Messenger window, click the Tools menu, and then click Edit my mobile settings.
On the Options page, click the Phone tab, and then click Mobile Settings.
Follow the instructions on the screen to obtain a confirmation code sent to your cellular phone.
Enter the confirmation code into your computer where indicated.

Note: Your service provider may charge you for text messages. For more information, refer to your service plan or contact your service provider.

Parental controls

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You can control who your child communicates with in MSN Messenger. This helps to ensure that your child exchanges instant messages only with people you approve.

This feature requires MSN 8 or later. Learn more about subscribing to MSN 9.

In MSN, click Help & Settings, point to Parental Controls, and then click Set Parental Controls.
Set parental controls for the child, if you haven't already.
In the Change parental controls for a member account section, click the child's name.
In the Communication section, click MSN Messenger.
Do one of the following:
- To completely prevent your child from using MSN Messenger, click No access.
- To allow your child to use MSN Messenger only with approved contacts, click Restricted access.
- To give your child to use MSN Messenger with no restrictions, click Full access.
Click Save Changes.

Notes

By default, only the pre-teen and young child age groups require approval to use MSN Messenger. Other age groups do not restrict the use of MSN Messenger.
Parental control restriction levels apply to MSN Messenger only, not Windows Messenger.
The changed settings take effect the next time your child signs in to MSN or checks for settings updates, or at the next periodic interval, which is set by MSN.

View and save conversations

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In the main MSN Messenger window or the Conversation window, click the Tools menu, and then click Options.
Click the Messages tab.
Under Message History, check Automatically keep a history of my conversations.
Click OK to save your messages in the default folder location.
—or—
Click Change, and then select the location where you want to save your messages.

Note: The first time you close a conversation window after talking with a contact, a dialog box will appear, asking if you want to keep a history of all of your messages. Selecting Yes in this dialog box will automatically save your instant message conversations in a folder on your computer.

Set a custom background

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	In the MSN Messenger Conversation window, click the Tools menu, and then click Create Backgrounds. Select a background from the list and then click OK. —or— Click Browse, select one of your own pictures on your computer, and then click Open. To display the background in all conversations, click its name in the list, and then click Set Default. Click OK.

Change background while exchanging messages

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	In the MSN Messenger Conversation window, click Backgrounds. Find and click the background you want to use while exchanging messages with your contact. (Until you change it, the background will appear whenever you exchange messages with this contact.)

Share background while exchanging messages

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	In the MSN Messenger Conversation window, click Share Current Background. Click the background you want. Your friend will be sent an invitation to share your background. Your friend must accept to see the background you've chosen.

Set your online status

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In the main MSN Messenger window, click the File menu, and then click My Status.
Select your current status.

Online	Lets senders know you're available for exchanging instant messages.
Away	Lets senders know you're unavailable for exchanging messages. You can still receive messages. Your Online status switches to Away when you're inactive on Messenger for a short while.
Out to Lunch	Lets senders know you'll be gone for an hour or so. You can still receive messages.
Busy	Lets you receive messages without being interrupted by pop-up alerts or tones on your computer. Select this status when you're in meetings!
Appear Offline	Turns off MSN Messenger so you can neither send nor receive messages.
Be Right Back	Lets senders know you'll be gone for only a few moments. You can still receive messages.
On the Phone	Lets senders know you are having a telephone conversation and may not immediately return messages. You can still receive messages.

Webcam

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	With a webcam, you can send your image in real-time while exchanging messages. If you don't have a webcam but your friend does, you can still see him or her. In the main MSN Messenger window, click the Webcam button while you are exchanging messages with a contact. Follow the instructions that appear. Need a webcam? Get one here.