How to How to Add an Away Message in iChat

All new Mac computers come installed with the latest version of Apple's messaging software, iChat. With iChat, Mac users can set up either an AOL Instant Messenger or MobileMe chat account, then add contacts to a buddy list and began communicating. In addition, iChat allows users to set "Away" and "Available" messages to notify contacts of their current status. This article explains how to add a new "Away" message to your status list.

Things You'll Need

• Mac running OS X 10.5 or later

Instructions

1. Open the iChat application by clicking the dock icon.

2. Open the "Status" drop-down menu at the top of the main buddy list window and select "Edit Status Menu."

3. Click the plus sign under either the "Available" or "Away" message lists to create a new status message.

4. Enter your desired status message in the new text box. This is the text your contacts will see next to your screen name.

5. Click the "OK" button to save your custom status message. The newly created text will now permanently appear in your "Status" menu.