Remove all of the messages recorded in a chat in iChat
01/31/2012
In iChat, to remove all of the messages recorded in a chat, choose Edit> Clear Transcript.
Move through chats in a multi-chat window in iChat
01/06/2012
In iChat, when using a multi-chat window, press Control-Tab or Shift-Control-Tab to move downward or upward through each chat.
Search a buddy list in iChat
11/28/2011
In iChat, to search a buddy list for a buddy's name, email or status message, select the list then press Command-F and type a search word or phrase.
Share a webpage with iChat Theater
11/18/2011
In iChat, to show a webpage via iChat Theater in a video chat, choose File> "Share a Webpage with iChat Theater", type a URL, then click Share.
Show a buddy in your buddy list in iChat
11/08/2011
In iChat, to show the buddy you are currently chatting with in your buddy list, select the chat window and choose Buddies> Show in Buddy List.
Change the size of the text you see in iChat
10/18/2011
In iChat, to change the size of the text you see in the selected chat window, choose View> Make Text Bigger, or View> Make Text Smaller.
Use a custom image for a chat window’s background in iChat
10/04/2011
In iChat, to use a custom image for a chat window’s background, select the window and choose View> Set Chat Background.
Quickly close all chats in iChat
08/23/2011
In iChat, to quickly close all open chat sessions, all at once, press Option and do File> Close All Chats.
Place all existing chats into one multi-chat window in iChat
08/12/2011
In iChat, to place all existing chats into one multi-chat window, choose Window> Merge All Chat Windows.
Preview a URL in iChat using Quick Look
08/05/2011
In iChat, to preview a URL sent or received in a chat using Quick Look, hold the pointer over the URL address then click the arrow to the right of it.
Show buddies for all active accounts in one window in iChat
07/28/2011
In iChat, to show buddies for all active accounts in one window, do iChat> Preferences> General and select "Show all my accounts in one list".
Open a buddy's card in Address Book from iChat
07/12/2011
In iChat, Control-click a name in your AIM Buddy List, then select "Show in Address Book" to open that buddy’s card in Address Book.
Save a picture clipping of a video chat in iChat
06/07/2011
In iChat, to save a picture clipping of a video chat, press and hold the Command key then click, drag and drop the image out of the chat window.
Use the name of the current iTunes song as your status in iChat
05/26/2011
In iChat, to use the name of the iTunes song you’re currently hearing as your status, choose "Current iTunes Song" from the pop-up status menu.
Open an item previously transferred in iChat
04/15/2011
In iChat, to open an item you previously transferred, do Window> File Transfers, then double-click the file's icon in the File Transfers list.
Save text chat transcripts in iChat
04/08/2011
In iChat, to always save a copy of text chats to read later, do iChat> Preferences> Messages, then choose "Save chat transcripts".
Pause your video during an iChat video chat
03/07/2011
In iChat, to pause your video during a video chat, Option-click the microphone button at the bottom of the video chat window.
Start a multi-person text chat in iChat
02/12/2011
In iChat, to start a multi-person text chat, Command-click some buddies in your AIM Buddy List to select them, then do Buddies>Send Instant Message.
Adjust the volume for spoken alerts in iChat
01/30/2011
In iChat, to adjust the volume for spoken alerts that announce events, do iChat> Preferences> Alerts, and adjust the "Speech volume" slider.
Use a different status message for each account in iChat
12/24/2010
In iChat, to use a different status message for each of your accounts, do iChat> Preferences> General, then uncheck "Use the same status for all accounts".
View an iChat video chat full screen on a Mac with Multi-Touch
12/06/2010
In an iChat video chat on a Mac with a Multi-Touch trackpad, do a 2-finger reverse pinch over the video window to view it full screen.
Always show AIM status as "available" in iChat
11/12/2010
To always show your iChat AIM status as "available" (and never "idle") do iChat> Preferences> Accounts> Security> Block others from seeing my status as idle.
Insert a line break into an iChat text message
10/26/2010
While typing text into a message in iChat, press Option-Return to insert a line break.
Set an alert for an individual buddy in iChat
10/19/2010
To set an alert for an individual buddy in iChat, select the buddy in your buddy list, then do Buddies> Show Info, then click Alerts and set the alert.
Use shapes to show the status of buddies in iChat
10/09/2010
To use shapes instead of colored dots to show the status of buddies in iChat, do iChat> Preferences> General and check on "Use shapes to indicate status".
Auto-reply in iChat using your away status message
09/30/2010
To have iChat reply back to a new chat with the text of your Away status, do iChat> Preferences> Messages> Auto reply with my Away message.
Show a slideshow of images transferred in an iChat session
09/07/2010
To view all images transferred during an iChat session as a slideshow, Control-click one of the images, choose "Quick Look Image", then press Play.
Rotate your buddy picture in iChat
08/26/2010
When changing or editing your iChat buddy picture via the iChat> Change My Picture menu, Option-click and drag the image to rotate it.
Record an audio or video chat in iChat
08/08/2010
To record an audio or video chat in iChat, start an audio or video chat with a buddy then do Video > Record Chat.
Place a timestamp into an iChat text chat
07/30/2010
While in an iChat text chat on a Mac running Snow Leopard, do Edit> Mark Transcript to place a timestamp into the text transcript at that point in the chat.
Quickly change the view options for an iChat window
07/20/2010
To change the view options for an open iChat chat window, simply Control-click anywhere in the window and select the options from the pop-up menu.
Use a tabbed window for multiple chats in iChat
05/23/2010
To configure iChat to use a single, tabbed window for multiple chats, do iChat> Preferences> Messages> Collect chats in a single window.
Test the iChat video and audio capabilities of your Mac
05/08/2010
In iChat, test the video and audio capabilities of your Mac and the network it is connected to, via Video> Connection Doctor> Show Capabilities.
Send an email to a buddy in your iChat buddy list
04/19/2010
In iChat, Control-click a name in your buddy list and do "Send Email...", to open Mail and create a new message addressed to them.
Do a Spotlight search for a buddy's name from iChat
04/03/2010
In iChat on a Mac running Snow Leopard, select a buddy then do Buddies>Search in Spotlight, to do a search with Spotlight for that buddy's name or email address.
See when messages were transmitted during an iChat
03/18/2010
Hover your mouse over any text balloon in an iChat chat session to show the exact date and time that text passage was sent or received during the chat.
Hide your video display in iChat
03/12/2010
During an iChat video chat session, to turn off the small display of yourself seen in the corner of the chat window, do Video> Hide Local Video.
Reformat font and color settings for incoming messages in iChat
02/23/2010
In iChat, to override your buddies' font and color settings on all incoming messages, do iChat> Preferences> Messages> Reformat incoming messages.
Share files using iChat Theater
02/02/2010
In an iChat AV video conference drag and drop any file to the bottom half of the video window to share it using iChat Theater.
Bypass automatic login into iChat when it opens
01/18/2010
If "Log in automatically when iChat opens" is on in iChat>Prefs>Accounts, hold Shift & open iChat, to temporarily turn it off.
