Devices
Local Navigation
Yahoo! Messenger
Yahoo!® Messenger for BlackBerry® smartphones allows you to chat in virtual real-time with your instant messaging (IM) contacts when and where you want to – not just when you’re in front of your computer1.

It has many of the same features you already use with Yahoo! Messenger on your desktop, including2:
- Fast and reliable messaging
- Your contacts' presence updates (e.g. 'Available' or 'Offline'), in virtual real-time
- The ability to customize your own status messages (e.g. ‘Back in 5 mins’, ‘On the Phone’)
- Complete access to your existing Yahoo! Messenger contact list
- The ability to invite multiple users into one conversation
- New! The ability to make it your own with avatars, emoticons and custom ringtone alerts3
Now you can also send and receive pictures right from your BlackBerry smartphone3.
Download From Your BlackBerry Smartphone
If the Yahoo! Messenger icon is already on your home screen after you register your BlackBerry smartphone, all you have to do is click the icon and follow the instructions to install the service4.
If you don’t see the icon on your home screen, browse to http://mobile.blackberry.com on your BlackBerry device and select Yahoo! Messenger from the list.
Download From Your Computer
First, check the system requirements to ensure your smartphone will support Yahoo! Messenger. Then you're ready to download!
Learn More
- Get the system requirements
- Learn how to get started with Yahoo! Messenger on your BlackBerry smartphone
- Get support for Yahoo! Messenger on your BlackBerry smartphone
- Visit the Yahoo! Mobile site
1 Yahoo! Messenger for BlackBerry smartphones is currently not available for customers of AT&T or customers whose wireless service providers are based in China, Croatia, Egypt, Guernsey, Israel, Pakistan, Russia, Slovakia, South Africa, Sri Lanka or United Arab Emirates. These customers may download the software but will be unable to log into Yahoo! Messenger from their BlackBerry smartphones.
2 Check with service provider for roaming arrangements, service plans and supported features and services. Certain features may require a minimum version of BlackBerry Enterprise Server Software, BlackBerry Desktop Software, BlackBerry Internet Service and/or BlackBerry smartphone software.
3 Only available for BlackBerry smartphones running a 4.1.0 operating system or above.
4 Your smartphone must be in an area of wireless coverage and connected to the wireless network.
Getting Started
Once Yahoo!® Messenger is installed on your BlackBerry® smartphone, all you need to get started is your Yahoo! ID.
It’s the same name you chose when you signed up for your Yahoo! Mail account or other Yahoo! service, like My Yahoo! or Yahoo! Personals.
And if you already use Yahoo! Messenger on your desktop, you can use the same ID and password to sign in using your BlackBerry device.
Need a Yahoo! User ID? Get one Now!
To sign in:
- Click the Yahoo! Messenger icon on your BlackBerry device Home screen
- Enter your Yahoo! ID and Password
- Click the sign in button
How do I...?
Add a contact:
- On the Yahoo! Contacts screen, click the trackwheel or trackball
- Click Add a Contact
- In the Group drop-down list, select a group
- In the Yahoo! ID field, type your contact’s Yahoo! ID
- Click OK
Note: When the contact you’ve just added accepts your invitation, their name and status will appear in your contact list.
Set my availability status:
- On the Yahoo! Contacts screen, click the trackwheel or trackball
- Click Change My Status
- Click Available, Busy, or Invisible.
- Click OK
Note: To prevent your contacts from sending you instant messages, set your availability status to Invisible. You’ll appear to be offline in their contact lists.
Start a conversation:
- On the Yahoo! Contacts screen, click a contact
- Click Start Conversation
- Type a message.
- Press the Enter key.
View my calendar while having a conversation:
- Click the trackwheel or trackball
- Click View Calendar
Note: To return to your conversation, press the Escape button.
Insert an emoticon to express a feeling:
- While you’re typing an instant message, press the Symbol key twice (three times on a BlackBerry® 7100 Series device).
- Click an emoticon.
Customize my sign-in process:
Choose the sign-in option that works best for you:
- “Remember my ID & password” means you don’t have to enter your details every time you sign in
- “Automatically sign in” logs you on to the service whenever you turn on your BlackBerry device in a wireless coverage area
- “Sign in as invisible” allows you to appear offline when you sign in so you can see who’s online, then decide when you’re ready to chat
Learn More
- Download Yahoo! Messenger for your BlackBerry smartphone
- Get the system requirements
- Get support for Yahoo! Messenger on your BlackBerry smartphone
- Visit the Yahoo! Mobile site
System Requirements
Before downloading Yahoo!® Messenger for your BlackBerry® smartphone, check to see that you meet the below requirements:
- 16 MB BlackBerry smartphone with a color screen (BlackBerry® 7100 Series, BlackBerry® 7200 Series, BlackBerry® 7500 Series, BlackBerry® 7700 Series, BlackBerry® Pearl™ smartphone, BlackBerry® Curve™ smartphone, BlackBerry® 8700 Series, or BlackBerry® 8800 series), and BlackBerry device software v3.6.0 or higher. (Go to Options -> About to find your device's software version. If you are not running software v3.6.0 or higher, visit your service provider's website to upgrade
- 301 kB (301000 bytes) of free memory (Go to Options -> Status to find your device's free memory)
- A Yahoo! ID and password (You can obtain a Yahoo! ID by visiting http://edit.yahoo.com/config/eval_register)
- BlackBerry data service*
- If your device is connected to a BlackBerry® Enterprise Server, your IT Department must have IT Policy set to allow Yahoo! Messenger functionality
Learn More
- Download Yahoo! Messenger for your BlackBerry smartphone
- Learn how to get started with Yahoo! Messenger on your BlackBerry smartphone
- Get support for Yahoo! Messenger on your BlackBerry smartphone
- Visit the Yahoo! Mobile site
* Yahoo! Messenger, designed for BlackBerry devices, is currently not available for customers of AT&T or customers whose Wireless Service Providers are based in Algeria, Bahrain, Bolivia, China, Croatia, Egypt, Fiji, Guernsey, Honduras, Isle of Man, Israel, Japan, Jersey, Jordan, Kuwait, Macau, Mauritius, Morocco, Netherlands Antilles, Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tunisia or United Arab Emirates. These customers may download the software but will be unable to log into Yahoo! Messenger from their BlackBerry devices.
Yahoo! Messenger Support
Need help with Yahoo!® Messenger on your BlackBerry® smartphone? A variety of resources are available for support.
Important: Customer Support for Yahoo! Messenger for BlackBerry devices is not provided by wireless service providers. Please consult the resources below for product support information.
Find the Answers
Get answers to your questions by searching the BlackBerry® Technical Solution Center
BlackBerry Support Community Forums
Get help from other users in our support community forum
Get Yahoo! Messenger Support from Your BlackBerry Smartphone
A full help section is available from inside the application by pressing the Menu key on your BlackBerry smartphone (depending on your smartphone, this may be the key to the left of your trackball, or the trackwheel on the right hand side of the device).
Additional Support
IT Administrator Support
- View white papers and reference documents
- Learn about IT Administrator control of Yahoo! Messenger for BlackBerry devices from the BlackBerry Enterprise Server (PDF)
Learn More