Technology in terms you understand. Sign up for the Confident Computing newsletter for weekly solutions to make your life easier. Click here and get The Ask Leo! Guide to Staying Safe on the Internet — FREE Edition as my thank you for subscribing!

How can I keep Windows Instant Messenger from signing on automatically?

How can I keep Windows Instant Messenger from signing on automatically?

[/al_question]

My approach would be to turn off the option that starts Windows Instant Messenger when you login . That’s at Options, Preferences, Run Windows Messenger when Windows Starts.

Then just run Windows Instant Messenger when you want to, and exit it when you’re done.

Do this

Subscribe to Confident Computing! Less frustration and more confidence, solutions, answers, and tips in your inbox every week.

I'll see you there!

36 comments on “How can I keep Windows Instant Messenger from signing on automatically?”

  1. When I am in outlook express my and try to open a link on an email my instant messanger prompts me to sign on. It will not let me open the link. How can I correct this.

    Thank you.
    Chuck

    Reply
  2. That’s odd. Are you sure it’s not the standard connection dialog as opposed to messenger sign-on? Its it true for any link or just some? I’d also turn off the “automatically log on to Windows Messenger” option in OE’s Tools.Options.General .

    Reply
  3. how do you stop windows messenger from giving the option of signing me in automatically… i accidentaly pressed the “sign me in automatically” button at a friends house and i don’t know how to reverse it!

    Reply
  4. Was the article at the top of the page you entered yoru commend on unclear? It answers your question.

    I’d really appreciate knowing if I’m missing something. Thanks,

    Reply
  5. If you are running Windows XP you could install service pack 2, this effectively stops windows messenger auto signing in. I have just installed SP2 and my problem is I cant get it to auto sign in anymore…sob~!!
    Miles

    Reply
  6. to not sign urself in automaticaly jus go to sign in with another name and put in a bogus password and check sign in automaticaly and it wont sign u in anymore

    Reply
  7. i hav taken off the auto login for windows messenger at startup and also untick the option allow program to run in the background but it still secretly(background) logs on to main user account
    any ideas ppl?

    Reply
  8. Click on Tools >> Options >> Accounts >>

    Highlight Communications Services instead of Net Passport.

    Remove your login info from the window.

    If you like using the Windows Messenger use MSN Messenger instead. It doesn’t have this problem It looks better and has more options.

    Good Luck.

    Reply
  9. This is the way to stop any version of MSN to log on automatically.
    Go to CONTROL PANEL, and then to USER ACCOUNTS, once there click on ADMINISTRATOR and inside there you will see a tab where it say RELATED TASKS, click in the first one, which is MANAGE MY METWORK PASSWORDS and delete the account who is loging on automatically.
    If it doesn’t work, delete the one which say PASSPORT NET.

    SORRY ABOUT MY ENGLISH…I HOPE I CAN HELP YOU GUYS LIKE YOU HELP ME IN MY BEGININS IN THIS COUNTRY

    Reply
  10. CARLO,the option of deleting the account who is loging automatically dose not resolve.You are correct to say to remove the one which says PASSPORT NET.Thank you.Victor Riquelme

    Reply
  11. everyones talkin to my mates on msn cause it signs me in atomaticly iv tryed every thing but i dont no how to stop it can u help me plz.

    Reply
  12. Go to

    * Control Panel
    * User Accounts
    * Computer Administor
    * Manage my network password (this is one the top left hand corner, under Related Tasks)
    *click on the email address that is signing in automatically then remove it.

    Reply
  13. hi there ive got a problem with my msn sometimes randomly when im talkin to my friends it suddenly signs me out. and when i sign back in again after couple of mins it happens again. it normally happens around like 5-6 times a night or more if sumthings wrong with it. ive uninstalled and reinstalled msn messenger like 10 times and still no change and now its really frustrating me. please help me.

    Reply
  14. sometimes i leave my computer without logging off, so i just leave it on standby so that other people can use there accounts, but when i sign back onto my account later, windows messenger (not msn live messenger) has signed itself in. how can i stop it from doing this?

    Reply
  15. hi, my windows live messenger keeps signin me out every couple minutes randomly when im talkin to friends, i tryed uninstalling it a reinstalling it, and also tryed repairing it but nothing seems to work, it getting quite annoying, any help would be much apreciated

    Reply
  16. hi, my windows live messenger keeps signin me out every couple minutes randomly when im talkin to friends, i tryed uninstalling it a reinstalling it, and also tryed repairing it but nothing seems to work, it getting quite annoying, any help would be much apreciated

    Reply
  17. That was a crappy crappy suggestion, Leo. That’s like saying the best way to protect your PIN when it’s 1111 is to only pull out your bank card when you need it, NOT MAKE A SECURE PIN.

    Reply
  18. I will bump Carlo’s comment as it helped me a lot. Leo, your answer was totally worthless.

    This is the way to stop any version of MSN to log on automatically.
    Go to CONTROL PANEL, and then to USER ACCOUNTS, once there click on ADMINISTRATOR and inside there you will see a tab where it say RELATED TASKS, click in the first one, which is MANAGE MY METWORK PASSWORDS and delete the account who is loging on automatically.
    If it doesn’t work, delete the one which say PASSPORT NET

    Reply
  19. Tom, that was the answer I was looking for!!! As you cant stop IM from logging in automatically, once you have accidentally signed in with the ‘remember me’ ticked, this is the only solution to stop it from signing in with your details. Of course, you might not be the admin account, in which case, just do the same in the account that you want to stop the IM auto sign in.
    Thanks TOM!

    Reply
  20. I had to go about it a very very slightly different way:
    Control Panel > User Accounts > Then change the Tab from Users to Advanced > Manage Passwords > Delete the one called Passport Net

    Reply
  21. my windows live messenger keeps signing me out every couple of minutes saying that i’ve signed in to another computer what can i do about this problem?

    Reply
  22. Hi

    My wlm keeps signing me out every minute and its really annyoing as i want to chat to my friends.
    i havr tried evrything in the book.
    nothing seems to work
    what can i do
    please help :(

    Reply
  23. Does this apply to windows 7? and if so where is options? Internet options? I dont see preferences under internet options…please help windows live is automatically starting up on login and I dont use it…it takes too long to load…thanks

    Reply
  24. I have windows live messenger. I always appear offline when I sign into my account. But after a few minutes, my status changes to online automatically, my display name changes to my first name and my display picture is gone.
    I’ve tried to change my password, but the problem still remains.
    Please help!!!

    Reply

Leave a reply:

Before commenting please:

  • Read the article.
  • Comment on the article.
  • No personal information.
  • No spam.

Comments violating those rules will be removed. Comments that don't add value will be removed, including off-topic or content-free comments, or comments that look even a little bit like spam. All comments containing links and certain keywords will be moderated before publication.

I want comments to be valuable for everyone, including those who come later and take the time to read.