Deleting an AIM or AOL Screen Name Account
Posted 7 months, 3 weeks ago at 6:00 pm. 24 comments
Many people ask if its possible to cancel or remove your AIM or AOL screen name and account.
Depending on which account you have, you may or may not be able to completely cancel your account
If you have..
- A Free AIM Account: You WILL NOT be able to cancel.
- A Free AOL Account: You WILL be able to cancel.
- A Paid AOL Account: You WILL be able to cancel.
You can however take steps to ensure that your account is canceled down the road by following the suggestions
Remove Your Screen Name in Aim 6.8
- Open AIM 6.8
- Click Aim then Sign Out (If your Online)
- Click on a Screen Name
- Uncheck Remember Me
- Uncheck Remember Password
- Press Delete On your Screen Name
Canceling your Paid AOL Screen Name
- Head over to Cancel AOL
- Look for “Free AOL / Cancel My AOL Bill”
- Press Continue
Canceling your Free AOL Screen Name
- Visit Cancel AOL
- Find the Frequently Asked Questions at the Right
- Click “How do I cancel my free member account”
For Aim Users only: If you followed the first step, your screen name will now be removed from Aim’s drop down list. However, there are few important things you should remember. Screen names will eventually become deactivated due to inactivity. This means you should never log into the screen name at all. This includes checking Email and posting on AOL’s message boards. Each time you sign on, you initially reset the clock for the screen name to become deactivated.
Another way to getting your AIM Screen Name deactivated is a bit more nefarious as it requires you to do a Terms of Service violation. Essentially once you have done a Terms of Service violation your account will most likely become suspended and nobody will ever be able to sign on or use it again. This is until AOL dumps the inactivated and suspended screen names, which can take years before its placed back into rotation. Most of the time this never happens for suspended screen names.
