What is a Buddy List
FAQs What is a Buddy List®?
The Buddy List displays the screen names of your friends and family members who are online when you're online, allowing for easy, real-time communication. You can add, remove, or rearrange buddies in your Buddy List whenever you wish.
Note: To perform any of the actions listed below, you will need to be signed on to AOL® Desktop for Mac® software. If you are unable to see your Buddy List, click the Window menu, and then click Buddy List.
FAQs
Add a Buddy
Add a Buddy Group
Search for Buddies
Send and receive instant messages
Change the message font
Access your AOL mail
Edit Buddy's Information
Ignore/Block a buddy
The Recent Buddies Group
Delete a Buddy
Delete a Buddy Group
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Add a Buddy
1. Ensure that you are signed in to the AOL Desktop for Mac software.
2. On the bottom of the Buddy List window, click the Add Buddy icon.

3. In the Screen Name box, type the screen of the person you wish to add.

4. In the Nickname box, type a nickname by which you identify your buddy.

5. Click the Buddy Group drop-down menu to open it, choose a group you wish to add the buddy to, click it, and then click Add.

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Add a Buddy Group
1. Ensure that you are signed in to the AOL Desktop for Mac software.
2. On the bottom of the Buddy List window, click the Communicate with Buddies drop-down menu, and then click Add Group.

3. In the Group box, type a name for the new group you wish to create, and then click Add.

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Search for Buddies
Do you have a lot of people on your Buddy List? Now you can search within your Buddy List by typing the name of you buddy in the Find in Buddy List® box.

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Send and receive instant messages
With AOL Desktop for Mac, sending instant and receiving instant messages is a breeze.
To send an instant message:
1. Ensure that you are signed in to the AOL Desktop for Mac software.
2. On the Buddy List window, double-click the name of a buddy you wish to communicate with. An IM window comes up.

3. Type your message in the box above the Send button, and then click Send.

To receive an instant message:
1. Ensure that you are signed on to AOL Desktop for Mac. Your buddies will be able to see you on their Buddy List, and can send you a message.
2. When you receive an instant message from a buddy on your Buddy List, you will see the instant message pop-up box, with the text sent by your buddy.
Note: If a user is not added/listed on your Buddy List, the instant message will be hidden. You will see a pop-up box asking you to confirm you know the person before you can receive instant messages from them. You can choose to Accept or Decline the instant message. If you know the person, and wish to add them to your Buddy List, you can do so by checking the Add this user to my Buddy List® box, and then clicking Accept.

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Change the message font
You can personalize the text of your instant message by choosing a font, font color, background color and more. You can even insert emoticons. Personalize your message by using the tools provided in the toolbar right above the message box.

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Access your AOL mail
Accessing your AOL mail just got easier! Just click the Go To Mail button on the bottom of your Buddy List window.

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Edit Buddy's Information
1. Ensure that you are signed in to the AOL Desktop for Mac software.
2. Hold down the CTRL key on your keyboard, click the buddy whose information you wish to edit, and then click Edit.

3. Click the Buddy Group drop-down menu to open it, and then choose a group where you wish to move the buddy.

4. In the E-mail box, type the e-mail address of the buddy.

5. In the Nickname box, type a nickname for the buddy, and then click Save.

Note: You can choose to update any information about the buddy. It is not mandatory to update any field. For example, if you do not wish to move the buddy to different Buddy Group, but only want to update the Nickname or E-mail, you can do so.
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Ignore/Block a buddy
You can protect your privacy, and Ignore or Block a buddy.
To Ignore a buddy:
1. Ensure that you are signed in to the AOL Desktop for Mac software.
2. Hold down the CTRL key on your keyboard, click the buddy whom you wish to ignore, and then click Ignore.

Note: When you Ignore a buddy, you will see a yellow icon against their name. Your buddy will be able to see that you are online, but you will not receive any messages that they send. To unignore a buddy, hold down the CTRL key on your keyboard, click the buddy whom you wish to unignore, and then click Unignore.

To Block a buddy:
1. Ensure that you are signed in to the AOL Desktop for Mac software.
2. Hold down the CTRL key on your keyboard, click the buddy whom you wish to block, and then click Block.

Note: When you Block a buddy, you will see a red icon against their name. Your buddy will see you as "Offline", though you are signed on to AOL. Your buddy will be unable to send you instant messages. You will be unable to send instant To unblock a buddy, hold down the CTRL key on your keyboard, click the buddy whom you wish to unblock, and then click Unblock.

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The Recent Buddies Group
The Recent Buddies group provides a quick and easy reference for recent interactions (chat sessions) you have had with other members of either the AOL® service or AIM® service. If you interact with a person who is not on your buddy list, the screen name of that person is added automatically to the Recent Buddies group.

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Delete a Buddy
1. Ensure that you are signed in to the AOL Desktop for Mac software.
2. Hold down the CTRL key on your keyboard, click the buddy you wish to delete, and then click Delete.

3. Click the Delete button to confirm.

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Delete a Buddy Group
1. Ensure that you are signed in to the AOL Desktop for Mac software.
2. Hold down the CTRL key on your keyboard, click the buddy group you wish to delete, and then click Delete.

Note: You cannot restore a Buddy Group once you delete it.
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