Windows Live Messenger Part of Windows Essentials

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  1. Instantly in touch

    Connect to your favorite people or groups and send IMs in a flash! With lots of ways to personalize your experience, Messenger is the ideal way to chat, play games, or share photos.

    PCMag.com Editor's Choice Award

    December 8, 2008
    Windows Live Messenger*
  2. Screen capture demonstrating Fun personalization

    Fun personalization

    Make Messenger yours by updating your status message, changing backgrounds, adding dynamic photos, and more.

    See how
    step-by-step
  3. Screen capture demonstrating Favorites is “speed dial” for your contacts

    Favorites is “speed dial” for your contacts

    Easily connect with the people you IM most. With Favorites, your most important contacts are anchored at the top of the Messenger window.

    See how
    step-by-step
  4. Screen capture demonstrating “What’s New” feed

    “What’s New” feed

    See your friends’ status messages, new photos they posted, and blog comments. You can also see what they’re up to on other social networks.

    See how
    step-by-step
  5. Screen capture demonstrating Easy photo sharing

    Easy photo sharing

    View and comment on photos with a friend in real time. Simply drag and drop pictures into the conversation window and watch as your friend flips through the pictures.

    See how
    step-by-step
  6. Screen capture demonstrating Groups of up to 20 people

    Groups of up to 20 people

    Chat simultaneously with a group to keep everyone up-to-date at once. Each Group in Messenger gets its own home page and group calendar so the whole gang is in sync. Messenger groups can include up to 20 people.

    See how
    step-by-step
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Messenger for Mobile

Take IM on the road so you can chat when you can't talk.

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Get personal with Messenger

Get personal with Messenger

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Messenger features

Basics

Just getting started?

Messenger makes it easy to stay in touch with your favorite people in real time. These helpful videos and step-by-step instructions will show you how to make the most of Messenger.

Get cool stuff to make Messenger more personal
Personalize

  • Background scenes

    Customize Windows Live Messenger to suit your mood

    See how
    step-by-step

  • Display pictures with moods

    Use your webcam to take display pictures that show the real you

    See how
    step-by-step

  • Personal status message

    Post a personal message that all your contacts see

    See how
    step-by-step
Socialize

  • “What’s New” feed

    Get updates on the friends in your Windows Live network

    See how
    step-by-step

  • Shared games

    Play games while you chat with your friends

    See how
    step-by-step

  • Shared contacts

    Get started by adding all your friends from Windows Live Hotmail and your Windows Live network of friends.

    See how
    step-by-step

  • Photo sharing

    Share photos with your friends while chatting

    See how
    step-by-step
Simplify
Connect

  • Voice conversations (PC to PC)

    Call your friend’s PC for free

    See how
    step-by-step

  • Turn your IM into an SMS (PC to mobile)

    IM your friends on their mobile phones

    See how
    step-by-step

  • IM on multiple devices

    Connect to your Windows Live Messenger from multiple locations at once

    See how
    step-by-step

  • Video chat (PC to PC)

    Chat face-to-face in real time using your webcam

    See how
    step-by-step
IM and Windows Live

Learn more from people like you

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