Nov
27

Aim 6.9: Connection Timed Out Workaround

By WBMike  //  AIM Problems  //  597 Comments

Connection Timed Out

Periodically throughout the year, AOL’s servers may be down or blocking connections. When this occurs, every time you sign on, you’ll receive the message: 

“Connection Timed Out.”

The details of why a server may be down is never revealed, because of this, only AOL’s staff can fix it.

AOL Staff usually calls this an “AOL HOST ISSUE”. This means it is an internal problem occurring inside of AOL’s facilities.

Since I and everyone else does not work for AOL, its unlikely you’ll be able to do anything to fix it. In the meantime you can comment below whenever you receive this message. If its a big server outage, others will join in and comment about a similar experience.

While a server is down, you may be unable to connect to AIm 6.9, Aim 5.9, Aim Express, AOL.com, and AOL Forums. However, you may have other screen names that can connect. Don’t panic! Some AOL servers may be down while the rest are up. All you can do in the meantime is wait until the server comes back online. You can think of these server outages like a rolling blackout.

Workaround to connect to AIM

Try out these suggestions when you receive this error message:

  • Try signing onto another screen name
  • Try signing onto another AIM client like Aim 5.9
  • Try signing onto another AIM service like Meebo, E-buddy, and others.
  • Try checking your firewall if it’s blocking connections to AIM
  • Try contacting your IT department to allow connections to AIM

 

597 Comments to “Aim 6.9: Connection Timed Out Workaround”

  • I have been unable to sign into my AIM screen name since Monday or Tuesday. I can sign onto AIM Express or Meebo, but I can’t message my mobile contacts from Meebo. Any idea of how long this will last? I’m getting pretty irritated. All I get is the Connection Time Out message.

  • I just tried to sign into AIm @ 7:54Pm Feb: 26, 2010 and it says numerous things such as

    1 – Invalid screen name or password, which I know Are correct.

    2 – Connection Timed Out

    3 – I have to Check my manually settings for my host server or something??

    - I can connect to my brothers AIM, but not mine? Whats the problem, we use the same computer..

  • My AIM is saying connection timeout and sometimes it says invalid password. This is happening from last 1 hour. Looks that server is down or something else.

  • I just got screwed today…

  • uh yea so this is bullshyt

  • this is really frustrating. i keep getting this connection timed out message on my aim. it was working this morning and now it wont work. i was able to sign on through another account but all my friends are on the account that isn’t working.

  • I can’t long onto my account, but I can on my husbands. This is crazy, we live in the same house, on the same computer.

  • All three of my accounts for AIM 7 won’t work on my laptop computer- they haven’t in months. Yet they work on Meebo or my desktop computer. And all my friends in the US, Peru, England etc. can access their AIM?! It’s really beginning to get me irate, and I’ve checked my firewall to make sure it’s not blocking, I’ve uninstalled and reinstalled the software, restarted my computer and done everything that’s ‘supposed’ to fix it. Anyone else got any ideas? ;~;

    • using aol, my new scrn wont work, sign in doesnt work and it says “connection timed out” go on my old scrn..works just fine

      • Same as you Brady, and seeing as I tried at 12:30 and have been ever since, I assume its an outage.

  • I have been trying multiple times, but it wont allow me to get access to aim. “connection times out” keeps popping up.

  • I have been trying multiple times, but it wont allow me to get access to aim. “connection times out” keeps popping up.

  • its down.

  • Fios connection. AIM 7.3.6.4
    7/6/2010 2:09pm EST
    Error message: Connection timed out

  • Aim is down i hate this crap.

  • AIM is down I am getting a connection timed out error…

  • Connection is timed out. I was in the middle of a batshit crazy message too. C’MON.

  • it’s currently down… :/

  • currently down for me.

  • keeps telling me connection has timed out.

  • it keeps giving me the message too

  • oh come on!……………… i was going to a huge event and i wanted to update my livestreem but i guess not . (sigh) ……….. *thanks allot aim!

  • AIM is at it again = keep getting a message saying CONNECTION TIMED OUT – yet I can still access email by going to http://www.aol.com

    What a pain in the a**

  • “Connection Timed Out” Been getting this now for a couple hours.

  • AIM timed out is getting annoying.
    It usually happen to me once in a blue moon, today it is going on like every 1 and 4 minutes. I try yo restart computer it work then went back to time out after the 1 and few minutes. Now, I just normally wait 15-20 minutes and sign back on again with success.
    I’m hopping this won’t happen again more.

  • It won’t let me or any of my friends make group-chats. It says “an operation timed out”. We can all talk to each other fine and sign on and all of that but we can’t group chat. It’s lame. D: >

  • It won’t let me or any of my friends make group-chats. It says “an operation timed out”. We can all talk to each other fine and sign on and all of that but we can’t group chat. Haven’t been able to since yesterday D: >

  • I will be signed in and I will lose my connection it will try to restart but just freeze like that and then when i try to sign in again it says connection time out before allowing me to connect this has been happening for the last 2 weeks

  • boo its not letting me sign on today, didnt work last night either

  • My screen name is unable to join chats. I’ve uninstalled and reinstalled, and have tried other computers. I made an alternate screen name that is able to join chats, but my main is still unable.

  • I cannot connect to my AOL Mail from within AOL. Using the Windows version of AOL is not a problem, However, connecting to AOL using a MAC is a problem. I can browse using AOL, Safari, Firefox. BUT i cannot sign to AOL it keep giving me: TCP/IP: Socket – HostTimeout

    Is is an issue with Etisalat (UAE Internet Provider)? or is it a Mac Setting issue?

    Thanks,

    Yshage

  • It does this to me when I try to register a new screen name and a few hours afterward. >.< It's so frustrating.
    I can USE AIM, but I can't access AOL.com or AIM.com

  • I’ve been unable to talk to anyone for over 4 days now. But my sister is able to talk to people. I haven’t been able to log in until today. I can’t i.m. text anyone either. Nothings working. Even on all the other sites I’ve tried. It’d be great if it could get working again.

  • I can’t sign onto any of my four screennames, nor can I visit the AIM website or load Express.

    I tried downloading Trillian/Pidgin and so forth, but am unable to connect via those either.

  • ITS NOT WORKING!!!!

  • I’m dead today…

  • I’ve been out a few days. THis blows.

  • I can’t use my e-mail to any account using my laptop but i can visit any website my problem is that I can’t connect when using e-mail to sign in or create new account,,It is always says Connection Timed Out,,But I can use my e-mail to other computer,,What’s the problem??

  • connection timed out 9/2/2011 – arg!! Can get on my iphone just not my pc

  • 9/1/11 – 9/2/11 Still down, I’m going to create another account and see if it works

  • My connection is “timed out”

  • my connection timed out :[

  • I also got the error message that my connection timed out. i went to aol.com and there is a “chat” icon there. I am able to sign in at way.

  • Anyone getting the problem right now for what seems like no reason? This just started about an hour ago for me I believe. Can’t figure out whether or not it’s on my end or AIM is having issues.

  • I’ve been getting it since 8am this morning. It’s now 2pm, and is’t still ongoing…

  • Connection timed out 8[

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