Is There a Way to Sign Into Windows Messenger Appearing Offline As a Default?

You can appear offline to your friends when using Windows Live Messenger.

As much as you like and value your friends, you may not always want to chat with them. One of the disadvantages of using online instant messaging applications is that your friends can usually see when you're online and start a conversation with you. Windows Live Messenger users can solve this problem by setting the online status to "Appear Offline" before logging off. Windows Live Messenger always opens with "Appear Offline" status by default if the user chose this option before signing off from the last session.

Instructions

1. Launch Windows Live Messenger on your computer and sign in to your account with your Windows Live ID and password.

2. Click your username in the top right-hand corner of the Windows Live Messenger program window.

3. Select "Appear Offline" from the list of online status options in the drop-down menu.

4. Close Windows Live Messenger by clicking your username again and selecting "Exit Messenger" from the drop-down menu.

5. Launch Windows Live Messenger again. The program will start with your status showing as "Offline."

Tips & Warnings

• Your Windows Live Messenger status will continue to display "Offline" until you change to another status from the available options of "Available," "Busy" or "Away."

• You can appear offline to only certain contacts, groups or categories of contact by right-clicking the contact and selecting "Appear Offline to This Person," "Appear Offline to This Group" or "Appear Offline to This Category."

References

• Windows Live Messenger Help Center: How do I Appear Offline to Some People and not Others?

Resources

• Windows Live Messenger Help Center