Lion Issue - Buddies not in Buddy List

I can see my Buddies in the menu bar drop down but not in my buddy list. Any ideas?

Hi,
If you have several Buddy Lists that Login to AIM then the Menu Bar iCon drop down will show all those that are On line.
There may be some that are Not in a Buddy List when you view it.
It does similar thing with multi-Jabber Buddy lists
The Drop down will show All but lets say you have Google List, that will only show you your Google Buddies (Buddies added to the Google List)
Of course the other thing is that the Drop Down can display Jabber Buddies whilst you look at a AIM (Login) Buddy list or vice versa)
8:14 PM Monday; November 28, 2011
Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"
 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Lion 10.7.2)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

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New Buddies not appearing in list

Starting a new thread for this problem I have..
I have this problem with the 3 new people I have added over the past 2 days.
When I add them, their name comes up briefly but "flashes/fades in and out" and then disappears all together from my Buddy list, weather they are online or offline. They are nowhere to be found..
Yet if they are online, they can see me and chat with me, but i cant see them to start a chat..
So far this problem has really only been with new the buddies i have added.
Any help?

Hi,
Welcome to the  Discussions
It does seem there has been an issue with the AIM servers recently.
However it is also fair to say that iChat seems to sometimes do this.
Start by Going manually to your Home Folder/Library/Preferences and deleting com.apple.iChat.AIM.plist and restarting iChat
You can also try changing the Login port
(iChat menu > Preferences > Accounts > Server Settings)
to 443 (the default is 5190)
You have to be Logged out to do this.
9:36 PM Wednesday; August 26, 2009
Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"

Buddies not showing in list when logged into single account & logged out of others

BUG
I have multiple iChat accounts (AOL, ME.com, Mac.com, Jabber). When I change the default behavior to log all accounts in at the same time with the same message (basically setting all but one acocunt to "offline") my buddies all disappear. It appears there are now separate buddy lists for each account - but now way to populate those lists from the other accounts (no ability to import/cut-paste).
Often I use my Me.com account for work related issues and only logon to AIM when I am available for distractions/Family/etc. Having to hand enter a large list of potential buddies across mutiple accounts seems unreasonable and was not an issue under previous iChat versions.

Hi,
There is a way to "Transfer" Buddies Wholesale to a new Buddy list (my best to 292 Buddies)
Option (Preparation)
In the Address Book create Group of those Buddies you want in the new List.
Action (the Deed)
Highlight the Buddies/Contacts that you want to move
If you are not using the Option use the CMD and Click method to highlight many but leave others.
Now Drag the highlighted list to the New Buddy List.
Tidy up by dragging those with Screen Names only from one list to the other.
Re-organzie in to Groups you want/need.
NOTE.
This can be done from AIM Logins names (AIM, @mac.com and MobileMe) to other AIM Login Buddy lists
It can also be done between Jabber and GoogleTalk lists (or Jabber to Jabber as GoogleTalk is a Jabber server)
Although both type of Buddy List can have Screen Names that look like emails - so therefore have the same Format- which causes them to look like they will be Buddies, they will always appear Off line in the New list and you will not be able to Contact them.
Optional Method
Highlight (Using CMN Click if required) the Buddies you want to move and just drag from one list to the other.
Overall note.
When you drag they will be put in the Group that you happen to be hovering over when you let go. (place them in the new list
You may want to Add a new Group first then drag them into the Right groups afterwards (you are likely to have to do the moves anyway)
8:23 PM Friday; August 5, 2011
Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb( 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Buddies disappearing from buddy list

A buddy list for my friend keeps losing names from it every couple of days. It's an AIM screen name, so not a .Mac issue.
ie at log-in, the list is missing a few names. After putting those names back in, a day or so later some more will be gone.
Any thoughts?

Hi benjamin,
Do you shut your computer down at all ?
Do you have near 200 Buddies ?
If not then delete com.apple.ichat.AIM.plist and restart iChat
Ralph

HT2515 I am having trouble keeping one of my buddies in my buddy list. Any suggestions?

I was able to add all my buddies, but one. I have no idea why the buddy will only flash for a second and then disappear. Any suggestions on what the problem may be?

HI,
Yep.
This Buddy is already in your Address Book.
Lets say the Buddy's "Real" name is Albert Longshanks.
The Buddy tells you their Screen Name and you enter this and try to fill in the First name, Last name spots with Albert Longshanks.
You cannot have two Albert Longshanks in your Address Book without making a distinction between the two.
In iChat the Buddy will appear to Flash On and Off before finally not appearing.
See http://www.ralphjohns.co.uk/page15.html#_Can_not_Add
You will see on this page that iChat used to tell you in a Audio manner that the name did not work and in some cases tell you it was an Feedbag error. (iChat has not done this since iChat 4)
It will be easier to open the Address Book, select the Person and Add their Screen name to the Card.
9:52 PM Monday; July 9, 2012
Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"
 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Lion 10.7.2)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Messages menu status does not match Buddy List window

Using Messages in Yosemite, the status of my logged-in buddies listed in the menu bar does not match the status of my buddies in the Buddies window. I have buddies listed in the window that are not in the menu bar and vice versa.
It seems that the menu bar list may not be updating correctly--when I try to message them, the chat window sometimes says they are "idle"
MacBook Pro, 15", early 2011
10.10.1
Core i7
8GB ram
Buddies are using Messages as well as google talk.
Thanks!

Hi,
Sending Feedback to Apple rarely (if ever) gets a response. At iChat 3 release with OSX 10.4 there was an issue that I gave feedback for.
I also happened to mention the issue in the Lounge Area for "New Technical Issues" and the Host linked to the iChat forums there were back then contacted me about it and had me run some stuff for Engineering. (that's a possible once in 10 years like you).
iChat 5 in Snow Leopard
The process on how to display a particular Set of Buddies is different (as you will see with the next pic)
However I only see those "Available" in a full sense in the Menu Drop Down.
Idle (Amber) is technically Available + (a second level of Available if you like)
Yosemite/Messages 8+ (Mavericks is also listed as Messages 8)
The whole thing as I have several Accounts Logged in does fill my screen top to bottom.
These pics agree with your first paragraph.
I will let my MacBook Pro go Idle as it has one Account in iChat there that is not on my iMac and see if the Menu Drop down changes when it does.
I will have to wait for this to happen.
7:57 PM Wednesday; November 26, 2014
 iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad

Can not add buddy

ok let me explain this again.. I am not able to add buddy,
I get into Ichat, click on the buddy tab that drops down several options (add buddy, change my picture, invite buddy to chat etc..) everything on this pull down menu is in light grey except .. change my picture.. in other words.. I can not access those options.. I can only access the change my picture option. I though ICHAT was easy to use.. we can not figure this out!

Hi Billy,
If you don't remember the Set Up Screens (Pics here) or clicked through the screens with out adding anything you will need to set up either an AIM account or .mac account name. (see link above)
After that you will need to Add Buddies
Once you have Buddies in the Buddy list you will be able to Text chat to them at least depending on how you have set up your modem for iChat.
If you can not see the Buddy List Window use the Apple key and 1 together (Apple and 2 for Bonjour Apple and 3 for Jabber).
Ralph

Online buddies not showing as online

A while back my ichat would show online buddies, but could not connect with them. Now, even buddies that I know are online and available show up as offline. How can I fix? I've tried trashing the cache and preferences, and changed the AIM port to 443. nada.

Hi,
If the setting on one or other to the computers does not allow the other she will not show up even when chatting.
If you do not have someone in your Buddy list you can use the File Menu > New chat to start a Text Chat.
To see if the Screen Name is in the Buddy List at all go to the View Menu and select Show Off Line Buddies (If there are not many buddies then Show them as a separate group).
If your Daughter's real name shows up (As they have her in their Address Book) mouse over her name and check the spelling of the Screen Name.
(Use the Apple Key (CMD) and I to alter if required)
IF her scree Name shows up on it's own then checking the Spelling is easy.
Notes:
ralphjohnsr
[email protected] and
[email protected] are three Different Buddies and only one will work.
This counts as a Misspelling. The AIM Servers only allow Valid names they don't tell you whether the name exists so it is possible to enter all three of the above in a Buddy List but only one will show as On-line.
As I said before this can be complicated by the Allow and Block setting at either computer.
Allow All is a Better Test.
Second Level Things.
Parental Controls.
IF the Mac User Account on the Buddy has Parental Controls Enabled then they have to Add your Daughter's Screen Name to the iChat Settings as well.
A Complication on this is if you have a test Mac User Account and try iChat there with the regular iChat Screen Name then set Parental Controls.
This first stage blocks All Buddies from All Buddy Lists (entered in iChat).
Buddies are Unblocked as they are Added to the Allow List in Parental Controls.
If you only test with a Few Buddies returning to your Regular Mac User Account and iChat there you will find the Security Settings of iChat have changed to Block Specific People and everyone who was not allowed in the Parental Controls test will be Blocked.
If you find that the Security Settings are set to Allow All and the Buddy is not Blocked and your daughter is not using Parental Controls and has never had her iChat Name used in another Mac User Account (i.e Nothing I have said applies) then try deleting com.apple.ichat.AIM.plist on both Macs and then restart iChat This recreates the .plist as iChat uses Defaults and the Keychain info to Log In again afresh.
10:29 PM Saturday; June 26, 2010
Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"

Possible to streamline all buddy lists (jabber+aim+bonjour) to single?

Is it possible within leopard iChat to streamline all of my account buddy lists to a single list rather than having multiple windows - similar to the way Adium allows?

Not the Buddy Lists in iChat 4.
The Chats (text) yes.
However you can use the Jabber side and arrange for a AIM transport and put all your contacts in the Jabber Buddy list.
11:33 PM Sunday; November 4, 2007

Online buddies not showing up in buddy list

so, for some reason, i only have one "buddy" that will show up on my list as online. this is not a coincidence....for some reason the rest of my buddies who are online are not showing up in the ichat column.

So you changed the Quicktime setting
And the Port Change to 443 and had no luck.
You repeated these steps in a new Mac User Account ?
And got the same result with the same Buddy List ?
IF you have no other computer or application using the same Buddy List then the problem is with the AIM servers.
In iChat > Preferences > General Section there is a choice to "When I Quit iChat, Setmy Status to Offline" Are you using this option checked or Unchecked ?
If Unchecked can you check it and Quit iChat.
When you start up iChat again have things changed ?
This will be the limit of what you can do on the Mac.
Try rebooting your modem (If you have the Log on details for the ISP just in case).
8:31 PM Thursday; October 4, 2007

Buddies are online, but show up in my buddy list as offline

I have kept my OS and all Apple software up to date. I am not sure when this changed, but now in iChat, even though I know my buddies are online, and I am logged in and my statuus is set to available, they all show up as offline in my buddy list. I show up as offline in their buddy list. We can chat and video chat, which I do not think should be the case, but we cannot share screens which we used to be able to do.
Any ideas what is happening?

HI,
It would seem that one end or the other is somehow signalling that it is set to Invisible.
If, with AIM Logins (AIM, @mac.com and MobileMe), you set the status to Invisible you should be able to "See" your Buddies as On-line where as they cannot (they see you as Off Line if they display Off Line Buddies).
However at this point you can Send Text Messages (invites) and Audio Only and Video Invites and chat in all methods if they accept.
(I must admit to not having tried Invisible and Screen Sharing)
It could be that both ends have set Invisible.
More likely it is a "flagging" issue against each account on the AIM Server.
I would go to iChat > Preferences > General Section and Unlink the Buddy list you have logged in
Check the Status of each (And where it is set in any to "Be the Same in All Buddy Lists")
It seems the Yahoo account if you have one will do "Invisible" but will also tend to override the settings of other Buddy Lists.
After that I would rotate the status of all the AIM logins you have from whatever it is now to Invisible and then back to Available.
10:03 PM Monday; March 5, 2012
Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"
 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Lion 10.7.3)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Buddy list not showing up in window

So I logged onto ichat and my buddy list is gone. Its just a blank window, no groups or anything just a blank window, any advice? I already tried restarting my computer and turning on and off my account

The Original Poster said they were using Snow Leopard and therefore iChat 5.
For some reason this does seem to happen to AIM names.
There tends to be two fixes.
1) deleting the Account/Screen Name in iChat and then re-adding it. (the refreshes trhe Login at a very deep level)
2) In iChat > Preferences >Accounts untick the box "Use this "Account" (Log out)
In the server setting tab disable the SSL option
Log back in again. Sometimes AIM have issues with there SSL server and you need to manual reset iChat.
8:08 PM Tuesday; March 27, 2012
Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"
 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Lion 10.7.3)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Ichat not working-grey buddy lists

Hi, ichat is not working. Grey buddy list all the time. Is this normal? Looking around it was suggested that I look into firewall issues. There, a surprise. First, my firewall is on. After, I have Personal file sharing, Aol IM, Ichat Bonjour, UDP 554, UDP 7070, and Network Time all checked.(Don't know what some of these do.) BUT, I see no ichat av choice. Don't I need this? Did I lose this and how do I get it back.
Under accounts I have a aim account, MSN friends(don't understand this one), a mac account and Bonjour. The Aim and Bonjour are checked. If someone could walk me through my errors, I'd really appreciate it.
Final question. Does it make a difference whether I use the mac account or the aim? I just want to be able to talk to people on ichat and msn. Video for ichat on macs/chat only msn and video for pc through Skype.
Thanks in advance.

Hi,
Sorry is what I posted was unclear.
Starting or making iChat go back to the Start Up Screens does not do what I think you want to do. (get rid of the mass of incorrectly added Buddies).
This is what I Posted before.
If you can Log On to the AIM servers for yourself but think that some of the Buddies have been added incorrectly it may pay to select all of them and then press the Backspace to delete them. (It will ask you to confirm).
You can delete the Buddy List one at a time or by selecting All of them and then use the BackSpace/Delete key.
However if the Buddies also have an Entry in the Address Book that needs to have the screen name delete as well otherwise you have problems with Feedbag errors when adding Buddies back again.
So,
Re 1. No, Do not delete iChat.
re 2. Do not bother as it does not do what you want.
Re 3. If you want to start from the Start Up screens then Delete the .plists
+NOTE: This does not delete your Buddy List which is kept on the AIM servers.+
+You have to delete each buddy that is spelt or entered wrong in iChat whilst Logged in to AIM to delete them. Adding Real Names to the Buddy List Name entry card adds them to your Address Book as a Back up to the AIM servers.+
I hope that make things clearer.
9:02 PM Monday; October 1, 2007

New Mac -Mountain Lion - Messages- Empty buddy list

Hi Everyone,
Got a new Macbook air that I updated straigt to Mountain Lion before opening any software.
Everything is syncked happily under the Icloud, but with "Messages" replacing Ichat, I endup with an empty Buddy list.
Any reason why AIM and .Mac buddys are not imported ?
Thanks
Sophia

Hi,
IN the Window menu do you have an item for "Buddies" with the CMD + 1 keystrokes listed ?
IF so go to Messages > Preferences > General section and untick the item that Gathers the "Accounts" to one list.
Now from the Window Menu you should have individual CMD + # keystrokes listed fro as many Account (Screen Names and IDs) as are logged in.
Can you see them ?
8:40 PM Thursday; August 30, 2012
Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb( 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriouslyo
Message was edited by: Ralph Johns (UK)

Buddy list not showing

When I open my iChat, the offline buddies appear but will not display as online. I know that people are online and using their chat, but I cannot seem to get Chat to display available contacts. Have I done something wrong?

Hi,
GO to iChat > Preferences > Accounts > Server settings tab and change the port to 443
This is for the TCP login.
iChat also uses this port on the UDP protocol to get feedback for the Buddy list so this port needs to be open on UDP in the Mac Firewall IF ON and in any routing device.
10:57 PM Monday; October 29, 2007

Lion Issue - Buddies not in Buddy List

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