Windows Live Messenger on Xbox 360
Using Xbox 360, you can connect with your Windows Live Messenger community directly from your TV. Text chats with friends and family are integrated between the Xbox 360 console, PCs, and mobile devices.
The integration of Windows Live Messenger lets you:
- Combine your Xbox LIVE friends and Windows Live Messenger contacts on your console, and see where they overlap.
- Add a Messenger contact from the Xbox Dashboard.
- Broadcast what you're up to on your Xbox console to your contacts.
- See which contacts play Xbox 360.
- Have as many as six multiparty conversations at a time.
- Participate in a conversation within the Xbox Guide or while watching video, navigating the dashboard, or playing a game.
Note
Children ages 13 to 18 can use Messenger on Xbox LIVE, but children under 13 can't.
The following topics are covered:
You can set up Windows Live Messenger on Xbox 360 with the Windows Live ID associated with your Xbox LIVE account.
To set up Windows Live Messenger
- Go the Xbox LIVE area of the Xbox Dashboard.
- Select Chat and IM.
- Select the Messenger tab.
- Select Continue.
- Select Sign Up for Messenger. The Windows Live Messenger welcome screen appears.
Warning
If you sign up for Messenger on Xbox LIVE, your gamertag will be visible to your Windows Live Messenger contacts.
- Select Continue. The Windows Live ID field automatically populates with the Windows Live ID that's associated with your Xbox LIVE account.
- Type your password and select Done.
- Select Save Password or Don't Save.
Note
If you decide not to save your password, you will need to enter it each time you sign in to Messenger on Xbox LIVE.
- Select Continue.
If you have Windows Live Messenger contacts who also have signed up for Messenger on Xbox LIVE but are not already on your Xbox friends list, a list appears with contacts who you can invite to become Xbox LIVE friends. - Choose which contacts you want to invite to your Friends list, and select Done.
You can sign in to Messenger by opening the Xbox Guide or going to the Xbox LIVE area of the Xbox Dashboard and selecting Chat and IM.
Auto sign-in to Messenger on Xbox 360 is enabled by default. See Disable Auto Sign-In to change the setting.
To sign in to Windows Live Messenger
- Go the Xbox LIVE area of the Xbox Dashboard.
- Select Chat and IM.
- Select the Messenger tab.
- Select Sign In to Messenger. You will automatically be signed in to Windows Live with the Windows Live ID associated with your Xbox LIVE account.
Your password is saved on the Xbox 360 console when you set up Windows Live Messenger. If you want to change your password or remove it from the console, see Modify Your Billing/Personal Information.
You can add a contact to Messenger from the Xbox Dashboard. Contacts who already use Messenger will receive your invitation in Messenger. If they don't use Messenger, they'll receive an email invitation to sign up for Messenger.
To add a Messenger contact
- Go to the Xbox LIVE area of the Xbox Dashboard and select Friends.
- Select Add Friend or Contact and enter a Windows Live ID.
- Click Send Request.
You can carry on IM conversations within the Messenger tab.
To have an IM conversation
- Go the Xbox LIVE area of the Xbox Dashboard.
- Select Chat and IM.
- Select the Messenger tab.
- Select New Conversation.
- Select a contact from the list.
- Enter a message into the chat box.
While you are chatting, you can select Invite Contact to add another person to the conversation. Select Add Text to launch the virtual keyboard on which you can type a message using your controller. When you are finished chatting, select End Conversation.
When you sign in to Windows Live Messenger on Xbox 360, your status message is broadcast to your Messenger contacts in the following format: "Xbox 360: [Xbox activity], ([your gamertag]). For example, your status message may show "Xbox 360: Watching a Video (Bracktanus)."
You can broadcast your presence to everyone on Xbox LIVE or just your friends and contacts. You also can block everyone from viewing your online status and activity.
To change your online status
- From any area of the Xbox Dashboard, select your gamer profile.
- From the Gamer Profile screen, select Edit Gamer Profile.
- From the Edit Gamer Profile screen, select Privacy Settings.
- From the Privacy Settings screen, select Online Status. Select from the following online status options:
- Select Everyone to let everyone on Xbox LIVE plus all of your Windows Live Messenger contacts see your online status.
- Select Friends Only to let only your Xbox friends and Windows Live Messenger contacts see your online status.
- Select Blocked to prevent everyone from seeing your online status.
Warning
If you select Everyone or Friends Only, your gamertag will be visible to your Live Messenger contacts.
For information about determining the visibility of your child's online status, see Online Status with Xbox 360.
When you create a new Xbox LIVE account or set up Messenger on Xbox LIVE with an existing account, the contacts associated with that Windows Live ID are added automatically to your Xbox LIVE friends list. If a contact is also an Xbox LIVE friend with a gamertag, the Friends tab lists that friend once only and displays both his or her gamertag and his or her Messenger contact name (for example, "Bracktanus | John Doe").
Select a friend from the list to view his or her profile page. From there you can start a conversation.
To send an IM from your friends list
- From the Xbox LIVE area of the Xbox Dashboard, select Friends.
- Select a friend and click the Personal Profile tab.
- Select Send Instant Message.
For more information about your friends list, see Friends with Xbox 360.
You can use the Xbox 360 Chatpad (sold as part of the Xbox 360 Messenger Kit) for in-game text messaging, instant messaging, and other text entry.
Chatpad features a dedicated Windows Live Messenger button 
for instant access to in-game text messaging and Windows Live Messenger instant messaging on Xbox 360.
- Press the Messenger button to access the Messenger area in the Xbox Guide, where you can start a new conversation.
- If you have any open conversations, press the Messenger button to open the chat box right on top of your game or movie. Press the button again to hide it.
- If the Messenger button is flashing or you receive a new chat notification, press the button to open the chat box. Press the button again to dismiss a conversation.
- If the chat box is already open, press the GREEN key followed by the Messenger button to open the Messenger area in the Xbox Guide.
- The Chatpad lets you move easily between multiple conversations by pressing the RIGHT ARROW key.
For more info, see Xbox 360 Chatpad.
When you're having an IM conversation on Xbox 360, it's possible to use a USB keyboard while you're engaged in other activities, such as watching a video or playing a game. Simply attach the USB cable from your keyboard to one of the USB ports on the Xbox 360 console.
You can use some of the following keyboard shortcuts to interact with the chat box:
- Sign in to Messenger. When you are not signed in to Messenger, press Windows + M to take you to the Messenger tab where you can sign in.
- Start a conversation. If you are signed in but don't have any open conversations, press Windows + M to take you to the Messenger tab where you can start a new conversation.
Note
If you have an open conversation in Messenger and want to go to the conversation area, open the Xbox Guide and select Chat and IM or press the Windows key on your keyboard.
- Open the chat box. If you have any open conversations, press Windows + M to open the chat box right on top of your game or movie. You can see the last few lines of any active conversations and enter a message. This is good for exchanging quick messages.
- Close the chat box. You can close the chat box the same way you brought it up, by pressing Windows + M.
- Switch between conversations. You may have more than one open conversation. Cycle between conversations by pressing CTRL + RIGHT ARROW.
- Open the Xbox Guide while in the chat box. Press the Xbox Guide button on your controller or the Windows key to close the chat box and open the Xbox Guide.
Note
If you using a Mac keyboard, substitute the Apple key for the Windows key.
Auto Sign-In for Messenger on Xbox 360 is enabled by default.
To disable Auto Sign-In
- Sign into Xbox LIVE with the profile whose gamertag you want to change.
- Select your gamer profile in the Xbox Dashboard.
- Select Auto Sign-In.
- In the Windows Live Messenger area, select Disable.
For More Info
To learn about other Xbox 360 communication options, see Messaging with Xbox 360.
To manage communication tools for your child's Xbox LIVE account, see Introduction to Family Settings.
