Unable to sign in to MSN Messenger

Error 80048820: Unable to sign in to MSN Messenger
This is the most common error faced by most of the msn messenger or windows live messenger users.
I have tried to explain all of the possible reasons and provided step by step solutions to overcome this issue. Check if it is...

Your computer's date and time settings

There are several aspects involved while connecting to secure sites like MSN Hotmail relies on your clock being accurate.

▪ Press WinKey+R. (Click to know more Winkey Shortcuts)
▪ Type timedate.cpl, and press ENTER.
▪ Verify Date and Time settings on your computer are correct, and then click OK.

Your PC's firewall might be blocking MSN Messenger

If you think it's your firewall that could be the reason then check it out as explained below...

▪ Visit the MSN Web Messenger website.
▪ Click on 'Start MSN Web Messenger', to sign in online web messenger.
▪ If you succeed signing in to MSN Web Messenger, but MSN Messenger still can't access the Internet, then possible reason could be that MSN Messenger has been blocked by a firewall. Add MSNmsgr.exe to your allow list in firewall settings. These settings are different in different firewalls. Please refer to respective documentations for more information on how to add MSNmsgr.exe to your firewall allow list. Need more help on this? Feel free to post your questions in comment section. I will do my best to help you out in this regard.

The DLL registration issue

In this case you will need to reregister the SSL security libraries. You can do that by following the steps given below.

▪ Press WinKey+R
▪ Type following commands one at a time and press ENTER. After each successful execution you will see the message: 'DllRegisterServer succeeded'. Type the second command and follow this until you finish all of the commands listed below.
▪ REGSVR32 softpub.dll
▪ REGSVR32 wintrust.dll
▪ REGSVR32 initpki.dll
▪ REGSVR32 Rsaenh.dll
▪ REGSVR32 Mssip32.dll
▪ REGSVR32 Cryptdlg.dll
▪ REGSVR32 Dssenh.dll
▪ REGSVR32 Gpkcsp.dll
▪ REGSVR32 Slbcsp.dll
▪ REGSVR32 Sccbase.dll

Note: Usually these .dll files are stored in the respective folders [system32]. In case, if any of the file is missing, then you will need to download it from internet. Just type the respective 'filename.dll download' in the sidebar search box.

The .Net Messenger service is down

The .NET Messenger Service might be temporarily down. Take a stretch break. relax your mind, and body. After that give a try to sign in again.

Some other possible MSN Errors:

'Error 81000314, error 81000377 or error 81000378: Your contact list is not available'
Your MSN address book or MSN contact list is temporarily not available or is in read only mode. Wait for few minutes, take a stretch break and then try to sign in again.