Screen Name Service

Help

What is a Screen Name?
A screen name is your online identity by which you are known to everyone who uses the Screen Name Service, AOL ® Instant Messenger™ service, America Online ®, CS2000, and other services. A screen name must be between 3 and 16 characters long, using letters, numbers, and spaces and must begin with a letter. Alternatively, you may create a screen name using your exist e-mail address (e.g., johndoe@domain_name.com).
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What is the Screen Name Service?
The Screen Name Service is a FREE service which allows anyone with a Screen Name to easily and more securely access a variety of Web sites. Using this service will eliminate your need to remember multiple screen names and passwords for all the different sites that you visit within the Screen Name Service network. More and more sites are accepting your screen name.
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Do I have a Screen Name?
If you are an existing member or subscriber of any of the following services, you are ready to use the Screen Name Service. To use your screen name, simply type in the same screen name and password that you are currently using for any of these services:
- America Online ®
- AOL® Instant Messenger ™
- CompuServe® 2000
- Netscape®
- AOL Anywhere® services like My AOL, My Calendar, or AOL Hometown
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My Screen Name and Password don't work.
If you are having problems signing in, please be sure that:
- You have a valid screen name.
- You have entered your screen name correctly.
If you are still having problems, you may not be using the correct password. Please see the next section if you continue to have password problems.
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I forgot my password.
If you do not know the correct password for your Screen Name, we can help you.

Here's what to do:

Web users: Click the "I forgot my password." link on the Screen Name Service Sign In screen. This link will take you to the "Forgot Password" screen. Enter your screen name on this screen and click "submit." Soon after submitting your screen name you will receive an e-mail from the Screen Name Service asking you to confirm your request to reset your password. Enter your new password in the fields provided and click "submit."
AOL Members: If you have a broadband connection to the AOL service including DSL, cable, or satellite, you need to call Member Services to reset your password.
To reset your password if you connect to the AOL service with a dial-up modem
1. Start the AOL software and on the Sign On screen choose the screen name for which you have forgotten your password from the Select Screen List.
2. Click Forgot Password.
3. Click Yes, confirm that you have the information listed on the Verifying Your Account window, and then click Continue.
4. Type information requested to verify you are an authorized account user, and then click OK
5. Type your new password twice in the spaces provided, and then click OK.
Notes
- This password reset feature is currently available only to members who connect with a dial-up modem. If you use a broadband connection, which includes DSL, cable and satellite, the billing contact for your account needs to call Member Services. The billing contact for your account is the person whose name appears on the method payment.
- You have two opportunities to provide the correct information to verify that you are an authorized account user.
- If you have had the AOL software remember your password, you need to remove the stored password so you can sign on with your new password.
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How do I get a free Screen Name?
If you don't have a Screen Name yet, it only takes a couple minutes to get one for free. To get a free screen name, click on the "Get One Free" link found on the Sign In page and follow these easy instructions.
1. How do I create a Screen Name?
  First, enter the Screen Name that you would like. We recommend picking a name that is unique to you. For example, combine some part (or parts) of your name words related to your city, favorite team, sport, hobby, profession, etc. Some examples:
  
  Lilkid65
  Joe2Doe
  Jacksmith25
  - Your screen name must be between 3 and 16 characters long
  - A screen name must always start with a letter
  Alternatively, you may create a screen name by simply using your existing email address (e.g., johndoe@domain_name.com). This must be a valid e-mail address no longer than 97 characters in length.
  If your desired Screen Name happens to be taken, don't worry. The Screen Name Service can recommend one for you or you can submit another selection. If you would like us to recommend one, enter some words that describe you (e.g., your name, your hobbies, your occupation, your area code) and then click "Next." Then simply choose the screen name you want. You can also see additional choices based on the words you provided or by changing the words you supplied to us. Remember your password and guard it as you would the pin to your ATM card.
  
  If you attempt to use your e-mail address to create your screen name and receive a message that the address is already in use, click the "Confirm Ownership" on the message page. You will receive an e-mail at this address which will include instructions on how to claim the e-mail address.
  
  You will receive an e-mail confirming that you selected a screen name. Please reply to this confirmation within 48 hours to ensure full access to your favorite services. If you created a screen name using an existing e-mail address, you will receive an e-mail requesting that you confirm the use of that e-mail address as a screen name. To submit a confirmation you must click on the confirmation link within that e-mail before your e-mail address will be activated as your screen name.
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How do I change my password?
You can change your password by taking the following steps

Web users:
1. Go to https://my.screenname.aol.com and click on the "Manage Your Account" link. If you have not already signed in using your screen name, you will be prompted to do so.
2. Click the "Edit" button next to the password.
3. Enter the information requested and hit "submit."
AOL Members:
1. Sign-in into the AOL client using your screen name and password
2. Go to Keyword: Password
3. Click on "Change Password" and enter current password once and new password twice
4. Click on the "Change Password" when you are finished to save the changes.
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How do I sign into another web site?
Whenever you want to sign into a web site or service, look for the "Screen Name" Sign In button and click on it.

(Netscape or Internet Explorer users only: If you have not yet signed in with your Screen Name and Password, you will need to do so first.) You may be prompted to confirm that you want to sign into that web site. If you wish to avoid that confirmation in the future, simply check the "Don't show me the page again" check box on the page. When you sign into a site, the site receives your screen name so that it can remember you while you are using that site. Once you are finished browsing the Web, click "sign out" to sign out of all the places you visited using the Screen Name Service.
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What does "Remember me" mean?
When you sign in using your screen name and password, your browser can "remember" this information. Check the box and you will not have to sign in each time you come back to the same site. For your convenience, this option keeps you signed in to the site at all times from the computer you are using even if you disconnect from the Internet, close your browser, or turn off the computer. That means you can choose to sign in to any participating site with one click, without having to retype your sign-in with screen name and password.
1. What if I check this option?
  If you are concerned that other people might accidentally see your personalized pages, do not check the "Remember me" box. Be sure to close your browser or click "Screen Name" Sign Out when you leave your computer. This will ensure that the service will ask for your Screen Name and password the next time you access the site. If you use a shared computer (in a library, internet cafe, university, airport or kiosk) please DO NOT check the "Remember me" checkbox.
2. What if I change my mind?
  You can always sign out of the Screen Name Service at any time by clicking the "Sign Out" button found on each site within the network. Once you have signed out, you can sign in again and choose whether your browser "remembers you" or not.
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Why is my Screen Name recognized?
Your screen name is recognized at the Network if you did not click on the "Sign Out" button or by not closing your browser application completely without signing out. The next time you visit any site in the Network, you will be recognized by your screen name and will be asked to authenticate by entering your password. You are not authenticated until you enter your password. If the screen name you are greeted with is not yours, please click on "Sign-in with a different screen name" and you will be taken to the Sign-In screen where you can enter both your screen name and password to authenticate to the Network.
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What information do I need to provide to register for the Screen Name Service?

For the purposes of the Screen Name Service, AOL only collects and stores the information required to create your screen name, include screen name or e-mail ID, password, contact e-mail address (if applicable), display name, and date of birth. Some sites in the Screen Name Service Network may also require the creation of an Account Security Question. This information will also be collected and stored by AOL.
Some sites within the network will require that you provide additional profile information. This information will be collected and stored by each of these sites. You should review the privacy policy and terms of use for each of these sites when prompted to provide this information.
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How do I sign out of web sites?
When you are finished browsing web sites, look for a "Screen Name" Sign Out button.

When you click on this button, you are signed out of the Screen Name Service. Be sure, however, to look for a pop-up screen that confirms that you have signed out. To be sure that sensitive information about you does not stay in the computer's memory, close your AOL, Compuserve, Netscape, or Internet Explorer program(s) completely when you leave the computer. You will still be signed into sites where you chose to be remembered. In order to sign out of those sites you need to go to each site and click the sign out button.
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What is "Manage Your Account"?
Manage Your Account is a central location for your Screen Name Service account information. This page will allow you to view your current account information including your screen name or e-mail ID, display name, Account Security Question (if applicable) and contact e-mail address (if applicable). Links are provided to make edits to this information.

If you are an AOL member, you should sign-in into the AOL client using your screen name and password. Go to Keyword: Billing and select this option for the information you wish to edit.
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What should I do if I cannot sign in because the page is "looping" (not going anywhere)?
If your browser continuously reloads the page without stopping, you may be caught in a loop. To stop the loop and correct this problem, take the following steps:
During looping, hit the Stop button in your browser.
1. Make sure your browser is set to "Accept All Cookies."
2. Make sure you remove the following two domains from your "Cookied Sites" list: my.screenname.aol.com and the domain you are trying to login to. (This list is available by clicking the "View Stored Cookies" button.)
3. Make sure JavaScript is enabled in your browser.
4. If your browser supports P3P privacy settings (for example, Internet Explorer 6.0 or Netscape 7.0), make sure your P3P setting is medium or low (not high).
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What should I do if my password isn't working?
If you are an AOL user, make sure you use the password associated with your AOL account. It is possible to have different passwords for the same screen name (for example, one password for AIM and another for AOL).

If you do not know your password, see "I forgot my password" above.
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