Instant Messaging (IM) FAQ

This article is part of the Extended Second Life Knowledge Base that includes advanced and specialized information. This information was originally provided by Linden Lab, but is not actively maintained nor guaranteed to be accurate. Linden Lab does not certify nor assume any responsibility for this information.

See the official Second Life Knowledge Base for the most current information.

This article answers some frequently asked questions about IM communication inworld.

Is there a cap or limit on IMs?

There are two that you might find yourself concerned with:

• The number of IMs an object can send in one hour is 5000.
• The number of incoming IMs we store for each Resident is 25. This number includes inventory transfers, group invitations, and group notifications as well as instant messages.

What happens if I'm offline and I get more than 25 IMs?

Incoming IMs over the 25-message limit are bounced; you won't be able to read or retrieve them inworld. If you have IM to Email forwarding turned on, however, incoming IMs will be forwarded to your email regardless of whether you've hit the cap.

Is there a way to get rid of a backlog of IMs without going inworld?

Currently, there is not. You'll have to log in and clear them out by hand.

How long are my IMs stored?

IMs are retained for 31 days. If you have not logged into your account within 31 days to view your IMs they will no longer be available.

Are IMs encrypted?

IMs between Residents inworld aren't encrypted. Text chat is not encrypted, either.