How to set up third-party messaging services in Messages for Mac
- sep
- 30
How do you set up third-party messaging services on your Mac? Like this!
While many Mac owners primarily use Messages on macOS to chat with iMessage and even sometimes SMS, the app is capable of connecting to more services. You can link your Google, Yahoo, and AOL accounts to Messages and chat with your friends using the messaging systems built by those companies. Here's how you do it.
How to set up a third-party message service in Messages
- Open Messages.
- Open Preferences.
Click the Accounts tab.
Hit the Add button. (Looks like a '+').
Choose the type of account you want to set up.
Hit Continue.
Enter account credentials.
Choose which apps will be able to use the account, making sure the Messages is checked.
Hit Done.
How to set up your Jabber account in Messages
If you have an account with the Jabber messaging service, you can use it with Messages just as you would any other account. However, adding it to Messages requires a couple additional steps compared to a standard messaging account.
- Open Messages.
- Open Preferences.
Click the Accounts tab.
Hit the Add button. (Looks like a '+').
Choose Other Messages Account.
Hit Continue.
Click the drop-down menu next to Account Type and select Jabber.
Enter your username and password.
- If necessary, enter your server and port information.
Hit Sign In.
How to set up your AIM account in Messages
You can set up an AOL Instant Messenger account independent of your standard AOL account if you so choose.
- Open Messages.
- Open Preferences.
Click the Accounts tab.
Hit the Add button. (Looks like a '+').
Choose Other Messages Account.
Hit Continue.
Click the drop-down menu next to Account Type and select AIM.
Enter your username and password.
Hit Sign In.
How to choose a default IM application
- Open Messages.
- Open Preferences.
Next to Default IM application, click the drop-down menu and select your application of choice.
