https://github.com/mk6i/aim-for-macos
Run classic Windows AIM on modern MacOS.
https://github.com/mk6i/aim-for-macos
aim aol aol-instant-messenger millennials retrocomputing wine wineskin
Last synced: 11 months ago
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Run classic Windows AIM on modern MacOS.
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/mk6i/aim-for-macos
- Owner: mk6i
- License: mit
- Created: 2024-03-17T02:16:35.000Z (about 2 years ago)
- Default Branch: main
- Last Pushed: 2024-10-16T00:16:51.000Z (over 1 year ago)
- Last Synced: 2025-06-04T00:17:15.860Z (about 1 year ago)
- Topics: aim, aol, aol-instant-messenger, millennials, retrocomputing, wine, wineskin
- Language: Shell
- Homepage:
- Size: 21.5 KB
- Stars: 26
- Watchers: 4
- Forks: 4
- Open Issues: 3
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- License: LICENSE
Awesome Lists containing this project
README
# AIM for MacOS
AIM for MacOS brings classic Windows AOL Instant Messenger to modern MacOS for both Intel and Apple Silicon platforms.
## Overview
MacOS users who want to run Windows AIM typically do so on a clunky virtual machine. **AIM for MacOS** provides a MacOS
wrapper `.app` that runs Windows AIM natively on the MacOS desktop environment via [Wine](https://www.winehq.org/).
> Wine (originally an acronym for "Wine Is Not an Emulator") is a compatibility layer capable of running Windows
> applications on several POSIX-compliant operating systems, such as Linux, macOS, & BSD.
The wrapper `.app` is generated using [Wineskin](https://github.com/Gcenx/WineskinServer), a tool for packaging Wine and Windows apps into one runtime.
Releases are currently generated for AIM 5.1.3036 (year 2002) only, but additional versions can be added if there's
demand.
## Installation
The following explains how to configure the wrapper `.app` and install AIM inside of it.
1. **Download the Latest Release**
Navigate to the [Releases](https://github.com/mk6i/aim-for-macos/releases) page of this repository and download the latest `.zip` archive.
2. **Unzip the `.app` File**
Locate the downloaded file in your `Downloads` folder (or wherever you chose to save it) and double-click to unzip
the archive.
3. **Remove Quarantine Flag**
As the app is not notarized with Apple, you'll need to remove its quarantine flag before running. Open a terminal and
run the command below. Adjust the file path to the `.app` extracted in the previous step as necessary.
```sh
sudo xattr -d com.apple.quarantine ~/Downloads/AOL\ Instant\ Messenger.app
```
4. **Relocate Application**
Drag `AOL Instant Messenger.app` to your `Applications` folder.
5. **Download AIM**
Open `AOL Instant Messenger.app`. On your first startup, a prompt appears asking you to approve downloading the AIM
installer from archive.org into the wrapper app. Click `Yes` to proceed and wait a few moments for the download to
complete.
6. **Run Installer**
Once the download is complete, the AIM installation wizard appears. Complete the installation wizard, leaving the
default installation path untouched.
7. **Configure AIM Connection**
Once installed, AIM should start up. Before you sign in, configure AIM to connect to your server of choice (see
[Modern AIM Providers](#modern-aim-providers)).
1. From the sign-on screen, click `Setup`.
2. In the Sign On/Off category, click `Connection`.
3. Enter the server address in the `Host` field.
4. Click `OK` and exit the preferences manager.
## Modern AIM Providers
Some new services have taken the place of AOL's AIM network after it shut down in 2017.
- [Retro AIM Server](https://github.com/mk6i/retro-aim-server) - Run your own server for AIM 5.0-5.9!
- [AIM Oscar Server](https://github.com/ox/aim-oscar-server) - Run your own server for AIM 3.0 and older!
- [AIM Phoenix](https://iwarg.ddns.net/) - AIM service with a small, active community.
- [Running Man Instant Messenger Network](https://runningman.network/) - AIM service for AIM 3.0 and older (not
currently supported by this project's AIM client version).
- [NINA](https://nina.chat/) - Classic Client Revival service that has support for AIM, including this version.