Fix Windows Live Messenger Sign-in Errors

Steps to fix the sign-in error 80048820-80048412 for Windows Live Messenger

If you are receiving error 80048820 when trying to sign into Windows Live Messenger you should also get an extended error code. If this extended error code is 80048412 the problem often occurs because the time and date settings on the computer are incorrect. The error will appear like below:

You cannot sign in to Messenger. Additionally, you may receive the following error message:
We were unable to sign you in to the Messenger at this time. Please try again later. To let us try and troubleshoot the problem, click the Troubleshoot button.

Error code: 80048820
Extended error code: 80048412

The following steps may help resolve your issue:

To troubleshoot the problem on a Microsoft Windows XP-based computer:
1. Click Start, click Run, type control timedate.cpl, and then click OK.
2. In the Date and Time Properties dialog box, confirm that the date and time settings on the computer are correct, and then click OK.

To troubleshoot the problem on a Windows Vista-based computer:
1. Click Start, type control timedate.cpl in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.
2. In the Date and Time Properties dialog box, confirm that the date and time settings on the computer are correct, and then click OK.



Error: 80048820-80048416

When you try to sign in to Messenger, you receive the following error message:
We were unable to sign you in to the Messenger at this time. Please try again later.
To let us try and troubleshoot the problem, click the Troubleshoot button.
Error code: 80048820
Extended error code: 80048416

PROBABLE CAUSE
This problem occurs because the Microsoft Internet Explorer SSL settings are incorrect.

TROUBLESHOOTING STEPS
1. In Internet Explorer, clear the Check for Server certificate revocation (requires restart) check box.

To do this, follow these steps:
a. Start Internet Explorer.
b. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
c. Click the Advanced tab.
d. Under Security, clear the Check for Server certificate revocation (requires restart) check box.
e. Click OK.
f. Exit Internet Explorer.

2. Sign in to Messenger again.



Error: 80072EFD or 80048820-8004840F

If you are receiving error 80072EFD or 80048820:8004840f when trying to sign into Windows Live Messenger there are several possible network issues that may cause this problem. The errors will appear like below:

Sorry, we were unable to sign you in to the Messenger Service at this time.
Please try again later.
80072EFD

Sorry, we were unable to sign you in to the Messenger Service at this time.
Please try again later.
80048820

Extended error code: 8004840f
This problem occurs because one of the following conditions are true:
• A firewall is blocking connectivity of Messenger to the Internet.
• Security libraries are corrupted.
• Proxy settings are incorrect.
• Spyware is blocking connection to the Messenger service.

TROUBLESHOOTING STEPS
Note: Verify that you can connect to the Internet before you follow these steps.
1. Visit the Windows Update Web site, and then verify that you have the latest updates installed:
1.a. Verify that the computer requires updates, and then install the updates if necessary.
1.b. Restart the computer after you apply the updates.

2. Verify that Messenger is enabled through the firewall:
2.a. If you are using MSN Messenger, visit the following Web site, locate the FAQ section, and then click the How to enable MSN Messenger through a Firewall topic. This topic describes how to enable MSN Messenger through the most common firewalls.
2.b. If you are using Windows Live Messenger, visit the following Web site, locate the FAQ section, and then click the How to enable Windows Live Messenger through a Firewall . This topic describes how to enable Windows Live Messenger through the most common firewalls.
2.c. If you disabled the firewall in the past, it still may be blocking Messenger, try to restart the firewall. After the firewall software is running, follow the steps in 1.a to make sure that Messenger is enabled through the firewall. Also try removing the firewall program that is installed to verify that it is not causing a problem even if it is disabled.
Note: This is only a temporary workaround and you may have to reinstall the firewall software again.
2.d. If you are not sure which firewalls you have installed on the computer, click Add Or Remove Programs in Control Panel, and then scroll through the list of installed programs. Some popular firewall vendors include Norton, McAfee, and Zone Alarm.

3. Clear the Domain Name System (DNS) Cache:
3.a. Click Start, click Run, type cmd , and then click OK. For Windows Vista, click Start, and then type cmd in the Search box. This command will open the command window.
3.b. At the command prompt, type the following command, and then click OK:
ipconfig /flushdns
Note This command flushes all the DNS entries that have been cached.
3.c. Type exit , and then press ENTER to close the command window.

4. Clear the proxy settings in MSN Messenger to establish a direct connection to the Messenger service.

Note If you are connecting from a private network either from a school or a company, ask the network administrator about the settings that are appropriate for the proxy settings in MSN Messenger.

• MSN Messenger version 7.0:
a. Delete the entries under SOCKS Version 4.
b. Delete the entries under SOCKS Version 5.
c. Delete the entries under HTTP Proxy Server.
d. Click OK two times to save the settings.
e. Try to sign in to Messenger again.

• Windows Live Messenger:
a. On the Tools menu, click Options.
b. In the left Navigation Pane, click Connection.
c. In the Connection Settings section, click Advanced Settings.
d. Delete the content in the SOCKS field.
e. Click OK two times to save the settings.


5. Reset the proxy server settings for Microsoft Internet Explorer:
a. Start Internet Explorer.
b. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
c. Click the Connections tab, and then click LAN Settings.
d. Clear the Automatically detect settings check box.
e. Click OK, and then click OK again.

6. Reregister the security .dll files that may be conflicting with Messenger. To do this, click Start, click Run, type the following command, and then press ENTER:
REGSVR32 softpub.dll initpki.dll wintrust.dll
Wait until you see three pop-up windows that state that the files were successfully registered.

7. We are aware that some spyware such as IMPlus may affect your connectivity to the Messenger service. To determine whether you have IMPlus installed on the computer, open Control Panel, and then select Add or Remove Programs. Scroll through the list of installed programs to find whether IMPlus is installed. If you find it, click Remove to remove the program.

8. If you cannot find an entry in Add Or Remove Programs, determine whether the IMPlus program is running on the computer:
8.a. Click Start, click Run, type taskmgr , and then press ENTER. For Windows Vista, click Start, and then type taskmgr in the Search box.
8.b. In the Task Manager window , click the Processes tab.
8.c. Click the Image Name column header to order the list of program names.
8.d. Scroll through the list to determine whether IMPlus.exe is running on the computer. If you find the process, select the entry, and then click End Process.
8.e. Confirm that you want to stop the program.

9. Sign in to Messenger again.



Error: 80072ee7 or 80048820 - 8004840a

The following issues may cause this error:

You may not have Internet connectivity.
Messenger relies on the internet connection settings found in Microsoft Internet Explorer and as a result the Microsoft Internet Explorer web browser needs to be able to connect to the internet. You may have internet connectivity with other web browers, but not have internet connectivity with Microsoft Internet Explorer.
You may have a firewall that is blocking connectivity to MSN Messenger.
The Messenger Service may be experiencing difficulties.
If you are encountering this error, try the following:

1. Determine whether you have Internet connectivity using the Microsoft Internet Explorer web browser:
1.a. Start Microsoft Internet Explorer. 1.b. Click here and check if you can browse to Microsoft website.
1.c. If you are using a wireless Internet connection, repair your wireless Internet connection to re-establish connectivity.
1.d. Refresh your IP address by following the steps below that are appropriate to the operating system version that you are using:
For Windows Vista:
i. Click Start , click All Programs, click Accessories, and then right-click Command Prompt.
ii. Click Run as administrator. If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Continue.
iii. At the command prompt, type the following commands and then press ENTER after each of them:
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew

iv. Type exit , and then press ENTER to close the Command Prompt window.
For Windows 2000 and Windows XP:
i. Click Start, click Run, type CMD and then click OK.
ii. At the command prompt, type the following commands, pressign ENTER after each of them:

ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew

iii. Type exit , and then press ENTER to close the Command Prompt window.For Windows 98 and Windows ME:
i. Click Start, click Run, type WINIPCFG and then click OK.
ii. In the IP Configuration dialog box that opens, click Release All, and then click Renew All. After both commands are executed successfully, a valid address will appear in the IP address box.
iii. Close the IP Configuration dialog box.

1.e. In case the steps for refreshing IP address failed you may have problem with internet connectivity and will need to contact your Internet service provider (ISP) for additional assistance.

2. After confirming that you have Internet connectivity try to sign into Messenger again. If you are still recieving the same error, follow the steps below.

3. Clear the cached DNS entries. To do this, follow the steps for the operating system that you are using:
Windows Vista :
i. Click Start , click All Programs, click Accessories, and then right-click Command Prompt. ii. Click Run as administrator. iii. If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Continue. iv. At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:
ipconfig /flushdns
v. Type exit , and then press ENTER to close the Command Prompt window.
Windows XP:
i. Click Start, click Run, type cmd , and then click OK to open a Command Prompt window. ii. At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:
ipconfig /flushdns
iii. Type exit , and then press ENTER to close the Command Prompt window. Windows 2000:
i. Click Start, click Run, type cmd , and then click OK to open a Command Prompt window. ii. At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:
ipconfig /dnsflush
iii. Type exit , and then press ENTER to close the Command Prompt window.
Note: Windows 98 and Windows Millennium edition do not have cached DNS entries.

4. Configure your firewall to enable Messenger to work.
4.a. If you are using MSN Messenger, go here to find steps for most commonly used firewall.
4.b. If you are using Windows Live Messenger, go here to find steps for most commonly used firewall.
4.c. After you reconfigure the firewall settings, sign in to Messenger again to determine whether the issue is resolved.