Upload Your Own Buddy Icons
Posted on Jul 10th 2007 12:36PM by Erin Bush
Filed under: AIM Help, AIM 6, Expressions Factory, AIM Buddy Blog, Community Info
Here's a quick rundown on how to upload custom or user-created Buddy Icons that you want to use, but aren't in our library.
Uploading a Custom Buddy Icon Using AIM 6.x:
1. Create your personal Buddy Icon, or download one from off the Web. Either way, save it your computer, to a place where you can easily find it again.Important Note on Buddy Icons:
* Buddy Icons have to be sized 48x48 pixels
* Supported file types are GIF (including animated GIF), BMP and JPG
* Buddy Icons must be under 7K in file size
2. Open the AIM 6.x software
3. Under the Edit menu, choose Settings... (or press F7):
[Click the Read More link for the full instructions after the jump.]
4. In the Settings window, choose the Expressions tab (item A). You'll get the Expressions screen. Under My Expressions, you will see your current Buddy Icon; below it, there's a link labeled "Browse..." (item B). Click "Browse":
5. A file chooser window will open up. Find the Buddy Icon you want to use (that you saved on your computer), and click "Open":
6. You'll get a window that asks if you have the usage rights for the photo you're choosing as your icon. If you do, click "OK":
7. Click the "Save" button. That's it -- you should see your new custom Buddy Icon.
Now, don't forget that the AIM default settings do not allow you to see your buddies' homemade icons. If you want to see other people's custom buddy icons:
Go to the Edit menu > Settings > Expressions, and in the section marked Display the following Buddy Icons in IMs, choose either: "Official Buddy Icons and Icons from buddies on my Buddy List" or "All Buddy Icons"
See more info and screenshots on the AIM help article, Did You Know You Can See User-Created Buddy Icons?
Thanks, and have fun!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1. The other major IM clients that support user icons automatically resize pictures for you. Why doesn't AIM?
As a photoshop user I'm getting tired of being asked to resize pictures for my friends :P
Posted at 11:52AM on Jul 14th 2007 by robot rock
2. Thank you! I've been trying to upload a Potter Puppet Pals Icon! :D
Posted at 9:34PM on Jul 26th 2007 by Brandon
3. I'm new here- Where do I find the AIM 6.x? I am using 9.0 Security Edition SE and find nothing like the picture I see here. I would love to use one of my own pics for a buddy icon. Thanks in advance for any help. B.
Posted at 8:26PM on Jul 31st 2007 by Bonnie
4. Bonnie -- you can get the latest version of AIM (which is 6.1 right now) at http://www.aim.com/download.adp
. Right now, only other AIM users can see your custom Buddy Icons, though this will probably be an option in a future release of the AOL software (not sure when, though)
Thanks -- Joe (posted & mailed)
Posted at 11:28AM on Aug 1st 2007 by Joe Loong
5. How do Ichange my icon on the email page when sending out messages??
Posted at 12:15PM on Aug 1st 2007 by ron benson
6. Ron -- If you're talking about the Buddy Icon that shows up when you send using AOL Webmail, it uses the same icon that you have in IMs. You can change it at Keyword: Buddy Icons -- Joe (posted & mailed)
Posted at 12:52PM on Aug 1st 2007 by Joe Loong
7. What if I have the Aol internet service so it's not like aim 6.0?
Posted at 3:21PM on Aug 8th 2007 by Joey
8. I downloaded the new version of aim [6.1], but when I look at the settings and expressions, I don't see my current icon or browse...clear, I really want to upload my own personal icon, but I can't find anyway to change it.
Posted at 12:00AM on Sep 2nd 2007 by someone
9. Im currently using Aim 6, and i've just figured out how to split and convert some sounds into .wav files. I went into settings-sounds and i chose "play this sound when i send an IM" and i uploaded my .wav file. I can hear it whenever i send someone an im, but they can't hear it at all, all they hear is the regular incoming message sound (and i checked they have selected "play the expressions buddy sound of any user"
How can i have other buddies hear my sound when i IM them??
ive been pulling my hair out over this and it would be great if you can help :))) thanks!
Posted at 10:10AM on Sep 2nd 2007 by Maggie
10. Someone please help me. I recently got a new computer and went to download aim. It says I successfully logged onto Aim express but it won't launch my my Buddy List because I have Popup enabled. So I disable the popup blocker or add the aimexpress.aol.com domain to the allowed white list.
Can someone PLEASE tell me what this all means?
Posted at 11:07PM on Sep 3rd 2007 by Lauri
11. Maggie -- if you customize your Buddy Sounds via adding a custom .wav file to your computer, you're the only person who's going to hear it (unless you send that .wav to the other person and have them do what you did) -- if you choose a regular Buddy Sound from the Expressions menu, though, both you and the person on the other side will hear it.
I'll ask the team to see if what you're asking for could be put on list of possible future features.
Thanks -- Joe (posted & mailed)
Posted at 1:36PM on Sep 4th 2007 by Joe Loong
12. Lauri -- sounds like you're using AIM Express, which is a version of AIM that runs inside a Web browser window that pops up: http://www.aim.com/aimexpress.adp
Some popup blockers (that primarily block popup ads) may also block popups that you want (like this one).
You can add the AIM Express domain to your allowed list -- also, if you want to download the full AIM client (which is a program you install on your computer), you can get it here:
http://www.aim.com/download.adp
Thanks -- Joe (posted & mailed)
Posted at 1:44PM on Sep 4th 2007 by Joe Loong
13. I need a buddy icon for AOL. I have one for AIM. May I have assistance on this issue please? I'm having a problem with this.
Posted at 4:13PM on Sep 18th 2007 by Theresa Prochko
14. How do I get a buddy for AOL? I already have one for AIM. I want a buddy for AOL corresponce.
Posted at 4:18PM on Sep 18th 2007 by Theresa Prochko