In this tutorial you will learn how to activate multiple messenger instances.

Many users who have multiple Live ID accounts, accuse Windows Live Messenger to prohibit the launch of multiple instances. Microsoft has actually planned such a feature, but it keeps it hidden as it might be too disturbing for most of the users. Here is how to activate the “multiple instances” in Windows Live Messenger.

Over the years, Microsoft prohibited the launching of multiple instances in Messenger. And all this time, there were all sorts of downloadable utilities that circumvent these limitations. The last version provides the first official improvement: the ability to simultaneously connect multiple locations with the same account, office and home for example (messages are then transmitted to both activated areas).

However, it is still not possible “in theory” to launch multiple instances of Windows Live Messenger on a single machine to take advantage of your various Live ID accounts, a feature often referred to as the “Messenger Multiple Instances.” In practice, however, Microsoft has provided such a feature. A hidden parameter is in the registry.

Here’s how to activate the Messenger Multiple Instances:

- Run Regedit (press [Windows] + [R] , type Regedit and click OK )

- Deploy the key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows Live

- Right-click on the Messenger key

- Select New and then DWORD value

- Name the new entry MultipleInstances

- Double-click it and change the data field by typing: 1

Note to users of Windows Vista 64-bit:

On Windows x64 editions Messenger, change the key in the following location: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Wow6432Node \ Microsoft \ Windows Live

I hope this tutorial was helpful for you in creating multiple messenger instances.