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No. You cannot register for ICQ today, with or without installing the app: the messaging service shut down on June 26, 2024. Its old browser pages and installers are not a working way to create an account or use ICQ.
Can you create a new ICQ account from a browser?
No official, functioning registration route is available. ICQ once offered web access and account pages, but a page that loads is not proof that its registration system or messaging servers are still operating. The Australian eSafety Guide says ICQ was no longer operating as of June 2024: eSafety Guide: ICQ.
An old ICQ registration page remains visible and says email registration is temporarily closed. That wording can sound like a short-lived pause, but it is legacy page content, not evidence that signup is coming back: ICQ registration page.
Why do old ICQ pages and downloads still appear?
Search engines can continue listing pages after a service closes, and an operator’s domain may retain older product, chat, or download pages. ICQ’s legacy pages include Windows product information and chat-related copy, but their presence does not establish that the service is supported: ICQ Windows page and ICQ chat page.
#1 Best Overall
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
VK announced in May 2024 that ICQ would stop operating on June 26, 2024; reporting after that date confirmed the service had ended. The reports described VK Messenger and VK WorkSpace as successor directions, not as automatic transfers of ICQ accounts: TASS announcement, May 2024 and TASS report on the shutdown.
Can you use an old ICQ account or UIN?
There is no dependable official login or recovery route for the discontinued consumer service established after its shutdown. Remembering a UIN, password, email address, or phone number does not by itself provide access to a live ICQ account. Historically, a UIN was an ICQ user identifier; it should now be treated as historical information, not a usable account or an identity that transfers automatically to another messenger.
Rank #2
- Carrier: This phone is locked to Tracfone, which means this device can only be used on the Tracfone wireless network. Tracfone plan required, activating is easy, just 3 steps.
- DISPLAY: Immersive viewing on a 6.7-inch super-bright 120Hz display with powerful stereo speakers and Bass Boost for cinematic entertainment.
- CAMERA SYSTEM: Advanced 50MP Quad Pixel camera captures sharp, detailed photos and videos in any lighting condition
- PERFORMANCE: Lightning-fast 5G connectivity paired with a powerful processor and RAM Boost for smooth multitasking.
- BATTERY LIFE: Long-lasting 5000mAh battery with TurboPower charging technology delivers hours of power in minutes.
Do not enter old credentials or verification codes into third-party pages that claim to restore an ICQ account or recover a UIN. The available shutdown information does not establish a supported post-shutdown recovery program.
Will installing an old ICQ client work?
No. Installing an old client does not bring back the service infrastructure needed to register or message other users. Official or archived installers may be outdated, while unofficial downloads and patched clients add risks such as malware, credential theft, compatibility problems, and exposure of old passwords. Do not download software solely to try to create an ICQ account.
Rank #3
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
What should you use instead?
For personal messaging, ask the people you want to reach which currently supported service they use, then choose one that works in your country and on your devices. Check the practical differences before signing up:
- Contact reachability: Whether your intended contacts already use it.
- Account requirements: Whether signup requires a phone number, email address, or username.
- Access and devices: Whether it has a usable browser client and supports your desktop and mobile platforms.
- Privacy and security: Its encryption approach, account-recovery options, and data practices.
- Purpose: Whether it is designed for personal conversation or workplace administration and compliance.
- Migration: Whether contacts or chat history can actually be transferred; do not assume that an ICQ UIN or history will move.
VK pointed users toward VK Messenger for personal communication and VK WorkSpace for business use. Those services should be understood as alternatives proposed by the operator, not guaranteed one-click replacements; availability and suitability can vary by country and use case. Independent reporting also covered the shutdown and successor direction: ITmedia report.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Carrier: This phone is locked to Tracfone, which means this device can only be used on the Tracfone wireless network. Activating is easy, just 3 steps.
- ACTIVATION Promotion: Includes 1500 min, 1500 texts & 1500 MB Data + add more as you need it
- CAMERA SYSTEM: 50MP Quad Pixel camera. Capture sharper, more vibrant photos day or night with 4x the light sensitivity.
- PERFORMANCE: Blazing-fast Qualcomm performance. Get the speed you need for great entertainment with a Snapdragon 680 processor and 4GB of RAM.
- 64GB built-in storage. Get plenty of room for photos, movies, songs, and apps. Made for US
Rank #4
- PRIVACY DISPLAY: Automatically hide your screen from those beside you. The built-in privacy display can be preset¹ to turn on when receiving notifications, typing passwords, or using specific apps
- TYPE IT IN. TRANSFORM IT FAST: Enhance any shot in seconds on your smartphone by using Photo Assist² with Galaxy AI.³ Add objects, restore details, or apply new styles by simply typing or tapping
- NIGHTS, CAPTURED CLEARLY: From gigs to city lights, record and capture moments after dark with clarity using Nightography so your photos and videos stay crisp and clear on your Samsung Galaxy
- MAKE IT. EDIT IT. SHARE IT: Turn everyday moments into something personal with creative tools built right into your mobile phone, whether it’s a special contact photo, custom wallpaper, an invitation or more⁴
- HELP THAT KEEPS UP: Stay in the moment while Now Nudge with Galaxy AI helps you respond faster and stay organized with smart suggestions⁵ that appear exactly when you need them on your phone
How to avoid fake ICQ registration or recovery sites
- Do not submit a password, phone number, email address, or verification code to a third-party “ICQ signup” or account-restoration page.
- Do not trust a page merely because it appears in search results or uses ICQ branding.
- Do not install unknown executables, archived builds, or unofficial clients to reach a service that has shut down.
- If you are trying to contact a former ICQ user, ask them for a current contact method instead of seeking a new UIN.
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