AIM Client Setup Guide
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Server Info

Server: aim.tsurette.com   Port: 5190

macOS Setup

AIM for macOS Recommended

Runs the classic AIM 5.1 client natively on macOS (Intel & Apple Silicon) via a Wineskin wrapper. No VM needed.

  1. Download the latest .zip from GitHub Releases
  2. Unzip and remove the quarantine flag: 
    sudo xattr -d com.apple.quarantine ~/Downloads/AOL\ Instant\ Messenger.app
  3. Move to Applications and launch it
  4. It will prompt to download the AIM installer from archive.org — click Yes
  5. Complete the AIM install wizard

Connect to this server

  1. On the sign-on screen, click Setup
  2. Go to Sign On/Off → Connection
  3. Set Host to aim.tsurette.com
  4. Set Port to 5190
  5. Click OK and sign in with your screen name

Alternative: Adium

Adium supports AIM but may try to use AOL's auth servers. If it doesn't connect, add this to /etc/hosts:

sudo sh -c 'echo "aim.tsurette.com    login.oscar.aol.com" >> /etc/hosts'

Windows Setup

AIM 5.1 Recommended

The classic AIM experience. Works on modern Windows.

  1. Download AIM 5.1.3036 from Internet Archive
  2. Run the installer with default settings

Connect to this server

  1. On the sign-on screen, click Setup
  2. Go to Sign On/Off → Connection
  3. Set Host to aim.tsurette.com
  4. Set Port to 5190
  5. Click OK and sign in

Alternative: Pidgin

Pidgin is a free, open-source multi-protocol chat client.

  1. Download and install from pidgin.im
  2. Accounts → Manage → Add
  3. Protocol: AIM
  4. Enter your screen name and password
  5. Click the Advanced tab
  6. Set Server to aim.tsurette.com
  7. Set Port to 5190
  8. Click Add and connect

Linux Setup

Pidgin Recommended

Pidgin has native AIM support and is available in most package managers.

Install

sudo apt install pidgin        # Debian/Ubuntu
sudo dnf install pidgin        # Fedora
sudo pacman -S pidgin          # Arch

Connect to this server

  1. Open Pidgin
  2. Accounts → Manage Accounts → Add
  3. Protocol: AIM
  4. Enter your screen name and password
  5. Click the Advanced tab
  6. Set Server to aim.tsurette.com
  7. Set Port to 5190
  8. Click Add and connect

Alternative: Wine + AIM 5.1

You can also run the Windows AIM client via Wine:

sudo apt install wine
wine aim51.exe

Then configure the server host as described in the Windows tab.

aim.tsurette.com — Client Setup Guide