Tips & How-tos

Getting Started

  • Three Ways to Start a Message
  • Attach Files
  • Add Contacts
  • Import Contacts
  • Online Contacts & IM

Tips and Tricks

  • Photo Slideshows and Videos
  • Decorative Themes
  • Show Preview Pane
  • Tabs and Multi-tasking
  • Attach Large Files
  • Automatic Organiser
  • Advanced Search Tips
  • Three Ways to Start a Message

    Three Ways to Start a Message

    From your Inbox, you can send messages via email or IM.

    1. 1To write an email, click the compose message button. A new, blank email will open in a new tab.
    2. 2For IM, click the down-facing arrow next to the button. From the menu, select the type of message you want to send.
    3. 3Contacts who are online will appear in the left column of your Inbox. To start an IM, click on a contact's name. Right-click for more options.
  • Attach Files

    Attach Files

    Send multiple photos, documents, and files safely and easily from your Inbox.

    1. To send attachments, click the Attach Files button in an open email.
    2. A dialog box pops up that lets you locate files on your computer.
    3. You can attach up to 50 files at a time; up to 25MBs in total. For sending large files up to 100MB, click Attach Large Files in the Applications Menu on the left of your Inbox.
  • Add Contacts

    Add Contacts

    Now it's easier to manage your Contacts.

    1. People who are not in your Contacts will have a '+' sign displayed next to their name or email address.
    2. Click the '+' sign to add that person to your Contact list. A dialog box will appear for you to fill in the contact's information.
  • Import Contacts

    Import Contacts

    Your Inbox comes equipped with tools to help you import your contacts from other sources.

    From a Web Email Service
    1. Click on the Contacts tab.
    2. On the Contacts page, select Import Contacts, then follow the instructions.
    From a Desktop Mail Program (such as Microsoft Outlook™)
    1. Go to your desktop mail app and export your contacts to a file.. (Make sure the file is in .csv or .vcf format.)
    2. Then follow the instructions for "From a Web Email Service," above.
  • Online Contacts & IM

    Online Contacts & IM

    Chatting with friends is just one click away.

    1. Make sure you're signed in to Yahoo! Messenger by clicking on the Flash icon next to Online Contacts on the left. Your top online contacts will appear below.
    2. Start a conversation by clicking on an online contact. Right-click on the name for more options.
    3. In the Conversation Window, type your message in the text entry field, then press the Enter key to send your instant message.
    4. Change your online status by clicking on the triangle next to your name at the top of the page. You can choose Available, Busy, or Invisible.
  • Photo Slideshows and Videos

    Photo Slideshows and Videos

    Yahoo! Mail detects photos in your incoming emails, so you can view slideshows right from your Inbox.

    1. An incoming email that contains photos, or a link to a photo service like Flickr, displays thumbnail images at the bottom of the message.
    2. To view the photos in a slideshow, click the View Slideshow button below the thumbnails. The slideshow will start automatically.
    3. Click the arrow buttons to advance or review photos at your own pace. Clicking the image itself will advance you to the next photo.
  • Decorative Themes

    Decorative Themes

    Yahoo! Mail has a gallery of themes you can use to customise the look of your Inbox.

    1. Click Options on the upper left of your Yahoo! Mail page and select Themes from the dropdown menu.
    2. The Themes Gallery opens in a pop-up window. Click on a theme that you like and your Inbox will appear as it.
  • Show Preview Pane

    Show Preview Pane

    The preview pane lets you view emails quickly without leaving your Inbox.

    1. You can enable the preview pane by clicking on the Switch View button in the top toolbar of your Inbox.
    2. Select from one of the options to change your settings and click OK when prompted.
    3. You can change the size of the preview pane by dragging the bar up and down. Click to hold and drag the bar.
  • Tabs and Multi-tasking

    Tabs and Multi-tasking

    Tabs let you easily jump back and forth to different tasks without losing your work.

    1. New tabs can automatically open when composing a new message, replying to email, performing search results, or using certain applications.
    2. Just click any tab to view it.
    3. To close a tab, mouse over the tab header and click on the X icon that appears.
  • Attach Large Files

    Attach Large Files

    Send up to 100MB in a single email.

    1. Click on the Attach Large Files app in the left-hand column of your Inbox.
    2. A new tab will open with instructions for selecting, uploading, and sending large files.
  • 18 Organize

    Automatic Organiser

    Automatically organises incoming email in your preference.

    1. Click on the Automatic Organiser application in the left-hand column of your Inbox under Applications.
    2. Automatic Organiser will open in a new tab and follow the instructions to organise your Inbox.
  • Advanced Search Tips

    Advanced Search Tips

    Yahoo! Mail's search can locate what you're looking for in a flash. Here are some tricks to get the results you want, quickly:

    Search within Subjects of messages

    Looking for an email titled something like Dave's Birthday Bash? Let's say you're not sure if those were the exact words, but you feel strongly that "Bash" was in there somewhere.

    You can type
    subject:bash ...or, subject:dave ...or, subject:"dave's birthday"

    Find messages from a person or company

    Example: Search for messages from Roger by typing:
    from:Roger

    Find messages about a person (or a company) through a third party.

    Example: Search for messages that mention Laura but aren't from Laura by typing:
    laura -from:laura

    Attachment file types

    Example: Search for jpeg attachments.
    attachmenttype:jpg

Need More?
Check out the Yahoo! Mail Blog for news and information or check out Yahoo! Mail Help for even more details.