This article explains how to start a new chat instant message within Yahoo! Mail.

You can use Yahoo! Messenger from within Yahoo! Mail to send instant messages to contacts who are online and available.

To send an IM to an existing contact:

1. From the left side of the page, click the triangle to the left of Messenger. A list of your online contacts appears.
   Note: If you are signed out of Yahoo! Messenger in Mail, no list of contacts appears. To sign in, click the lightning bolt icon () next to "Messenger."
2. Click the contact that you want to instant message in the list. An IM window or tab appears, depending on your Messenger options settings.
3. Enter a message into the text entry box and then press the Enter key.

To send an IM to someone not yet added to your Address Book:

1. In the upper-left corner of the page, beside the "Compose" button, click the down arrow, then select Instant Message. A new instant message dialog box appears in the lower-right corner of the page.
    

   

2. Enter the person's Messenger ID or email address, then press Enter on your keyboard.
3. Type your message, then press Enter to send it.

Please note that by default, Yahoo! Messenger in Yahoo! Mail is enabled when you are signed in to Yahoo! Mail. However, if you sign out of Yahoo! Messenger while you're using Yahoo! Mail and then exit Mail, you will still be signed out of Yahoo! Messenger the next time you sign in to Yahoo! Mail.

For more information about starting a chat in Yahoo! Mail, please see our video.