Y2K Messenger
Buddy List & Away Messages
Only for iPhone
Free · Designed for iPhone. Not verified for macOS.
iPhone
Your buddy list is back. Away messages, door sounds, and the sign-on screen you remember.
Y2K Messenger brings back the buddy list, away messages, and door sounds of 1999 instant messaging. It connects to community-run servers that speak OSCAR, the protocol behind 1999 instant messengers, so friends on retro desktop clients can see you too.
WHAT YOU GET
- A buddy list with online, away, and idle states, saved on the server so it follows your screen name
- Instant messages with typing notifications and delivery acks; messages sent while you are signed off wait for you
- Away messages: pick a saved one or write a new one, and buddies who IM you get it once
- Get Info on any buddy: their away message and profile
- Original sounds for the door, the chime,e and the tick (drawn from scratch, not recordings)
- Light and dark desktop looks
WHAT IT IS NOT
Y2K Messenger is a client, not a service. There is no account with us and no server on our end. By default, it signs on to logon. Chat, a free community revival server, and you can point it at any other compatible server, including one you run yourself. Create your screen name on the server's own website; the app links you there.
PRIVACY
Your screen name, password, and messages go only to the server you choose. Sign-on uses a challenge-response digest, so the password itself never crosses the wire. Messages on community servers are not encrypted, so use a throwaway password. The app sends anonymous usage counts (never screen names or message text), and you can turn that off in Settings.
SAFETY
18+. For accounts without an existing server privacy setting, the app requests "Allow only people on my Buddy List." Check the Privacy screen to confirm which setting the server has accepted. With that setting, strangers cannot message you unless you add them. Block anyone in one tap. Report a user from the app by email. Offensive language is masked by default.
Not affiliated with AOL, Yahoo or any server operator.
Ratings & Reviews
The developer, Mike Watson, indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .
Data Not Linked to You
The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:
- Usage Data
- Diagnostics
Accessibility
The developer has not yet indicated which accessibility features this app supports. Learn More
Information
- Seller
- Mike Watson
- Size
- 26.9 MB
- Category
- Social Networking
- Compatibility
Requires iOS 15.1 or later.
- iPhone
Requires iOS 15.1 or later. - iPod touch
Requires iOS 15.1 or later. - Mac
Requires macOS 12.0 or later and a Mac with Apple M1 chip or later. - Apple Vision
Requires visionOS 1.0 or later.
- iPhone
- Languages
- English
- Age Rating
18+
- 18+
- Contains
Messaging and Chat
User-Generated Content
- Copyright
- © 2026 Mike Watson