American Idol FAQS

If after reading these FAQs you have further questions, email idol.web@fox.com.

How do I vote?

There are multiple ways for you to vote for your next American Idol: (1) Toll-free Number Voting; (2) AT&T Text Voting (SMS); (3) Online Voting at www.AmericanIdol.com; and (4) the American Idol App Voting, as described below.

(1)   Toll-free Number Voting: Each contestant will be assigned his or her own toll-free number during the performance show. To vote, simply watch American Idol on FOX each week (see local listings for dates/times in your area) and dial the telephone number of the contestant for whom you wish to vote.

(2)   AT&T Text Voting: Each contestant will be assigned his or her own SMS/text message short code number during each performance show. This voting method is exclusive to AT&T wireless customers. AT&T wireless customers may text the word 'VOTE' to the 4 digit short code numbers promoted for each contestant. Only send the word 'VOTE' to the 4 digit short code numbers you see on screen. You cannot send a text message to the toll-free numbers. You will receive only one 'thanks for voting' confirmation message for each contestant you vote for during a voting period, regardless of how many times you vote.

(3)   Online Voting: If you have a Facebook account, you can also vote online at www.AmericanIdol.com. For the first time, for each performance show, viewers of American Idol will be able to reserve and assign up to 50 votes per Facebook account ID per performance show, spreading those votes across as many or as few contestants as desired prior to the opening of the vote window. Votes cannot be submitted (or counted) unless the vote window is open (see 'When Can I Vote' below). Therefore, please wait until the vote window officially opens to submit your votes.

(4)   American Idol App Voting: If you have a compatible Android or iOS device (tablet or handheld), then you can vote via the American Idol App. Here is how:
(a)   Download the App from the App Store or Google Play Store. Data rates may apply for App download and usage.
(b)   Follow the voting instructions found within the App. To vote via the App, you will need to sign into a Facebook account. Viewers of American Idol will be able to reserve and assign up to 50 votes per Facebook account ID per performance show, spreading those votes across as many or as few contestants as desired prior to the opening of the vote window. Votes cannot be submitted (or counted) unless the vote window is open (see 'When Can I Vote' below) so please wait until the vote window officially opens to submit your votes

The voting window will open for all methods at the end of each performance show. You will have at least 2 hours to cast your votes. Online and American Idol App Voting combined is limited to 50 votes per Facebook account ID, per performance show, and closes 2 hours after the Hawaii broadcast.

Rules and procedures are subject to change at producers' discretion without notice.

Who can vote?

(1) Toll-free Number Voting: Anyone calling the toll-free numbers from an area code from within the Continental U.S., Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands will be able to cast their vote(s) for American Idol.

(2) AT&T Text Voting: Any AT&T wireless customer who has the ability to text message and has an area code from within the Continental U.S., Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands will be able to cast their vote(s) via text message for American Idol.

(3) Online Voting: Anyone with a Facebook account registered within the Continental U.S., Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands will be able cast their vote(s) on www.AmericanIdol.com.

(4) American Idol App Voting: Anyone with a compatible Android or iOS device (tablet or handheld device) who also has a Facebook account registered within the Continental U.S., Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands will be able to cast their vote(s) via the American Idol App.

How much does it cost to vote via text message?

AT&T wireless customers will not be assessed messaging charges for Text Voting on American Idol. See www.ATT.com for details, or visit an AT&T store. Please note that "premium" rates do not apply to American Idol text votes.

How many times can I vote?

(1) Toll-free Number Voting: You may vote as many times as you like via Toll-free Number Voting while the voting window is open.

(2) AT&T Text Voting: You may vote as many times as you like via AT&T Text Voting while the voting window is open.

(3) Online Voting: If you have a Facebook account, you can also vote online at www.AmericanIdol.com. For the first time for each performance show, viewers of American Idol will be able to reserve and assign up to 50 votes per Facebook account ID, spreading those votes across as many or as few contestants as desired prior to the opening of the vote window. Votes cannot be submitted (or counted) unless the vote window is open (see 'When Can I Vote' question), so please wait until the vote window officially opens to submit your votes.

(4) American Idol App Voting: If you have a Facebook account, you can also cast up to 50 votes per voting window using the American Idol App. Viewers of American Idol will be able to reserve and assign up to 50 votes per Facebook account ID per performance show, spreading those votes across as many or as few contestants as desired prior to the opening of the vote window. Votes cannot be submitted (or counted) unless the vote window is open (see 'When Can I Vote' question) so please wait until the vote window officially opens to submit your votes.

Online and American Idol App Voting combined is limited to 50 votes per Facebook account ID, per performance show.

How do I know my vote is being counted?

(1) Toll-free Number Voting: If you are calling the toll-free numbers to cast your vote, your vote will count if you hear the 'thanks for voting' message.

(2) AT&T Text Voting: If you are voting by the AT&T Text Voting method, your vote(s) will count if you receive a 'thanks for voting' confirmation message (one per contestant voted for, regardless of how many times you vote). Your text vote was not sent successfully if your handheld device reads 'message not sent'. If you texted incorrectly you may receive an error message in return.

(3) Online Voting: If you are voting online at www.AmericanIdol.com using a Facebook account, you will receive a 'thanks for voting' confirmation message page after your vote(s) are successfully cast. Only your first 50 votes per Facebook Account ID will count. Remember, if you reserve and save votes for contestants during the performance show, your vote(s) will not count unless you press the "Submit Votes" button during the voting window that opens at the end of the show.

(4) American Idol App Voting: If you are voting via the American Idol App using a Facebook account, you will receive a 'thanks for voting' confirmation message page after your vote(s) are successfully cast. Only your first 50 votes per Facebook Account ID will count. Remember, if you reserve and save votes for contestants during the performance show, your vote(s) will not count unless you press the "Submit Votes" button during the voting window that opens at the end of the show.

Online and American Idol App Voting combined is limited to 50 votes per Facebook account ID, per performance show.

If you are experiencing trouble with any of the voting methods, remember that you can always try another voting method.

How do I find out the results?

The performance shows will air on FOX each week (see your local listings for show dates and times) and the results shows will be broadcast on FOX each Thursday. So, make sure you don't miss the results show if you want to see how your vote affected the results!

What's being done about power dialing?

The American Idol voting process is administered and carefully monitored by an independent vote management company. The producers, in consultation with this independent vote management company, reserve the right to remove so-called "power dialing votes" (via any of the vote methods) that are identified as having been cast in such a significant block, either by technical enhancements or otherwise, that it could unfairly influence the outcome of the voting.

What will I hear if I call the toll-free numbers?

Toll-free Number Voting begins at the end of the show when ALL of the contestants have performed - if you call before then, you will hear a busy signal and your vote will NOT count.

At the end of the performance show each week, phone lines will be open for voting. Voting lasts for at least 2 hours, subject to local time zone restrictions, from the end of the show and during that time when you successfully vote you will hear a pre-recorded message thanking you for voting for your chosen contestant. Each contestant will have his or her own number read/shown on air, and the phone message will confirm for whom you have voted. After the voting window closes, no more votes will be accepted and lines will play out a busy signal.

Is it true that some people can cast votes via the toll-free number outside of the 2 hour window after the show?

No, this is not true. As part of the process to ensure that the American Idol voting system is accurate and ready for the public to call and vote, a test window is built into the toll-free system. During this test window, anyone calling the toll-free numbers from a phone with a West Coast area code will hear the 'thanks for voting...' message. This vote window is for testing purposes only and any calls received during this time do not count as valid votes. Your votes will only count if you call during your valid 2 hour vote window after the show, subject to time zone limitations. Remember, AT&T Text Voting is available to AT&T customers during this 2 hour window. Vote online or via the App at the end of each performance show. Online and App Voting closes 2 hours after the Hawaii broadcast of a performance show. Outside of these hours, votes will not count.

When I called, I heard mention of a chat service or was told to call a "900" number - isn't American Idol voting toll-free?

NEVER call a "900" number or provide your credit card in relation to voting for American Idol. If you call to vote for your favorite American Idol contestant and hear a message to call a "900" number, or if you hear anything relating to a chat service which asks you to enter credit card details, you have misdialed as neither the 900 service nor the chat service are in any way connected with American Idol. Do NOT call this "900" number to vote for American Idol and do not enter any credit card details if prompted as voting on American Idol is free of charge. Please try the American Idol toll-free numbers again, dialing carefully. Please see the How much does it cost to vote? question for more cost information on each vote method..

I couldn't get through to the toll-free lines or all I get is a fast busy signal when I call - why?

Although the telephone network is designed to handle huge volumes of calls simultaneously, there may be times (particularly just after the show) when it will not be able to handle every single call due to the sheer volume. If you are calling during your voting window but can't get through to cast your vote, be patient and try again later. You may also try another voting method if you cannot get through to the toll-free lines.

If you hear the fast busy signal, it may be that you are calling outside of the voting window. When your voting window closes, lines will switch from a 'thank you for voting' message to a busy signal.

If you are sure you are calling within your voting window but still can't get through, it may be that your local phone company has been flooded with calls. Try waiting a few minutes before calling again. If you still have problems, contact your local phone company. Remember that you can always try another voting method.

If you are calling from a mobile phone with an area code that is in a different time zone from that in which you are calling, the voting system will accept or reject your vote based on the time zone of your mobile phone's area code. So, for example, if you have a New York mobile phone area code but are calling from Los Angeles after the West Coast broadcast, you will be voting outside the East Coast voting window and your vote will not be accepted. Try calling again from a landline phone during the West Coast vote window.

Can I vote if I subscribe to a digital phone service or VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) service?

Yes, you can vote if you subscribe to some digital or internet-based phone systems, such as Vonage or Skype. However, please note that digital phone and VOIP services often re-route outgoing calls to a different geographical location from which the call is being made. As a result, you may only be able to vote in the voting window to which your call has been re-routed. If you are trying to vote in the regular voting window for your region and your call is re-routed outside of your region by your service provider, you will not be able to vote (instead, you will hear a fast busy signal). However, you still have the availability to vote during the other voting window or using another vote method. For further information, contact your digital phone or VOIP service provider.

Why can't I vote via the toll-free numbers using a payphone?

Votes from payphones will be blocked. To vote for your favorite contestant using the Toll-free Number Voting method, use a standard land line telephone or mobile phone. Voice minutes or other charges may apply when using your mobile phone. Or, you can use another vote method.

Can I vote by using my mobile phone?

Yes, you can vote using your mobile phone, although mobile minutes will be used even though the call is toll-free. Contact your mobile phone service provider if you want to know how much you will be charged. Additionally, if you are an AT&T wireless customer you can vote using the AT&T Text Voting method. Only send the word 'VOTE' to the 4 digit short code numbers you see on screen. You cannot send a text message to the toll-free numbers.

If you are calling or text voting from a mobile phone and you are in a different time zone from your mobile phone number, the voting systems will accept or reject your vote based on the time zone of your mobile phone area code. For example, if you have a New York mobile phone area code but are calling from Los Angeles after the West Coast broadcast, you will be voting outside the East Coast voting window and your vote will not be accepted so try calling again from a landline telephone during the West Coast voting window or use another vote method.

In addition, if you have a compatible handheld device you can also vote on the browser (www.AmericanIdol.com) or via the American Idol App.

Voting by AT&T text messaging on your mobile phone - What is text messaging/SMS?

Text messaging - sometimes known as SMS (short messaging service) - is a way of communicating short text messages via your mobile phone. Most (but not all) handheld devices have this feature. For American Idol, only AT&T wireless customers can vote by text message using their mobile phone to write the message 'VOTE' and sending it to a 4 digit short code relating to the contestant for whom you wish to vote. This 4 digit short code, such as 5701, relates directly to your contestant of choice and will be displayed on the show. Only send the word 'VOTE' to the 4 digit short code numbers you see on screen, you cannot send a text message to the toll-free numbers.

How do I text my vote using a mobile phone with AT&T as the provider?

As with the Toll-free Number Voting, each contestant will also be assigned his or her own AT&T text message number during the show - this 4 digit short code number will appear on your TV screen alongside the toll-free phone numbers. To vote by text if you are an AT&T wireless customer, simply watch American Idol on FOX each week, input the word 'VOTE' into a new text message on your mobile phone and send this message to the 4 digit short code number assigned to your contestant of choice (such as 5701 for contestant 1). Only send the word 'VOTE' to the 4 digit short code numbers you see on screen. You cannot send a text message to the toll-free numbers. If done correctly, you will receive a message confirming your first valid vote per contestant during the voting window regardless of how many votes you cast for that contestant.

AT&T Text Voting will open at the end of each performance show and stay open for at least 2 hours, subject to local time zone limitations. Voting will NOT be open during the show or outside the two hour time period determined by the area code on your mobile phone. Votes sent outside of the voting window will be invalid, and you will receive a message saying the window is closed. If you are sending your text vote from a mobile phone with an area code that is in a different time zone from that in which you are texting, the network will accept or reject your vote based on the time zone of your telephone area code. For example, if you have a New York mobile phone area code but are voting from Los Angeles during the West Coast voting window, your vote will not be accepted so try calling the toll-free number from a land line during the West Coast voting window instead.

You will receive one 'thanks for voting' confirmation message from AT&T for each contestant you vote for, per performance show, regardless of how many times you vote. You may also receive other messages from AT&T, for example marketing messages. These messages will be free. You may reply STOP to any marketing message from AT&T to be opted out of AT&T marketing messages. Text the word HELP for Help. STOP requests will be confirmed with a confirmation message. For more information on AT&T's privacy practices, see www.att.com/privacy.

Is the AT&T text messaging vote system the same as the toll-free system?

The design of the AT&T Text Voting is exactly the same as the Toll-free Voting system in terms of open/close times and regions. The contestant numbers will also be very similar. If you wish to vote for contestant 2, for example, you can either call 1 866 IDOLS 02 (1 866 43657 02) or AT&T customers can text the word VOTE to 5702. Please make sure you watch the show to find out the right numbers each week. Only send the word 'VOTE' to the 4 digit short code numbers you see on screen, you cannot send a text message to the toll-free numbers.

Who can text their vote?

Text Voting is only available to AT&T wireless customers with two-way text messaging capable handheld devices. If you are an AT&T wireless customer and wish to check if your handheld device has two-way text messaging capability, go to www.ATT.com or visit an AT&T store. AT&T wireless customers with area codes from within the Continental US, Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands can cast their text vote for American Idol. If you are not an AT&T wireless customer, you can vote using the standard toll-free phone numbers, online at www.AmericanIdol.com or with the American Idol App using a Facebook account instead. If you would like to become an AT&T wireless customer so that you can text your vote, go to www.att.com/AmericanIdol.

When can I vote using AT&T Text Voting?

Voting for American Idol opens after the performance show and will stay open for at least 2 hours, subject to local time zone limitations. Votes cast outside of this voting window will be invalid. Only send the word 'VOTE' to the 4 digit short code numbers you see on screen. You cannot send a text message to the toll-free numbers.

How much does it cost to vote?

(1) Toll-free Number Voting: Telephone calls to American Idol voting lines are toll-free. If you use a mobile phone to call, calling plan minutes will be used or deducted according to terms of your carrier's calling plan. Note, if you reach a number which asks you to enter credit card information, you have misdialed and reached a service not connected with American Idol so you should hang up, check the correct number and dial again.

(2) AT&T Text Voting: AT&T wireless customers will not be assessed messaging charges for Text Voting. If you are not an AT&T wireless customer and try to text your votes, you may be assessed messaging charges based on your plan and your carrier's policies. In addition, if you are not an AT&T wireless customer your vote attempts will not count. See www.ATT.com for details, or visit an AT&T store. Please note that "premium" rates do not apply to American Idol text votes.

(3) Online Voting: Online Voting is free except for your standard internet access charges or data charges if you are using a web browser on your mobile device.

(4) American Idol App Voting: Voting via the American Idol App is free except for your standard internet access charges or data charges. Data rates may apply for App download and usage.

How many messages will I get from AT&T when I use Text Voting?

If you are an A&T customer you will receive one 'thanks for voting' confirmation message per contestant voted for, per performance show, regardless of how many times you vote. You may also receive other messages from AT&T, for example marketing messages. These messages will be free. You may reply STOP to any marketing message from AT&T to be opted out of AT&T marketing messages. If you have opted into specific AT&T promotional messages, such as reminders for American Idol voting or trivia, or IDOL Nation news, you can opt-out of a specific promotion by replying STOP to that promotion's messages. Text the word HELP for Help. If you are opted into other promotional messages, you will continue to receive those messages. STOP requests will be confirmed with a confirmation message. For more information on AT&T's privacy practices, see www.att.com/privacy.

Can I send multiple votes / send to multiple short codes in a single message?

When texting your vote, you should send your vote to only one short code/text number at a time. If you do not receive a 'thanks for voting' confirmation message (one per contestant you vote for) then your vote will not count and you should try again by sending to a single short code at a time

When I tried to vote, my handheld device said 'message not sent' - why?

Like the Toll-free Number Voting, the AT&T text messaging network is designed to handle huge volumes of votes simultaneously. In the unlikely event that congestion is experienced, the notice 'message not sent' may appear on your handheld device. Also, coverage is not available everywhere. Please be patient and try again later. And, don't forget to vote within your time zone's voting window! If you are not an AT&T wireless customer, you will not be able to text message your vote for American Idol. Call the toll-free numbers instead, go to www.AmericanIdol.com and vote online or via the American Idol App if you have a Facebook account.

How do I vote online?

Online Voting is available to Facebook account holders from within the Continental U.S., Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Simply go to www.AmericanIdol.com and follow the links to vote.

For the first time, viewers of American Idol will be able to reserve and assign votes for contestants during the broadcast of the performance show, although those votes cannot be submitted or counted until the vote window opens. Therefore, please wait until the vote window opens to submit your saved votes or they will not be counted.
Online Voting opens at the end of each performance show and closes 2 hours after the Hawaii broadcast of a performance show.

During the open vote window, you will see a 'vote' button on www.americanidol.com. When you click on the 'vote' button you will be directed to a Facebook login page where you will need to enter your e-mail address and password to log in (if you are not already logged in to Facebook). If you do not currently have a Facebook account then you will not be able to vote online unless you create a new account (but you can still vote via toll-free and if you are an AT&T wireless customer you can also vote via AT&T Text Voting). Once you successfully log in using your Facebook account you will also be required to accept the Facebook application permissions (this is only the first time you vote, unless you disable the app permissions between voting episodes). Once on the vote page you will be prompted to click on the image of the contestant(s) for whom you want to vote. For each contestant image you select you will be taken to a page which enables you to add and remove vote(s) for that contestant. When you have added or removed the number of votes you want, you must click the 'save' button. You may then select other contestants and repeat the process if you have votes remaining. You may only allocate up to 50 votes per performance show per Facebook account ID. Once you have allocated your votes click the 'Confirm Votes' button. You will then be taken to a screen to input a 'CAPTCHA' code for verification purposes. Once the CAPTCHA information is inputted you must click 'Confirm Vote' to complete the voting process. A CAPTCHA is a security measure which requires you to enter the scrambled letters/numbers you see on your screen. If you do not correctly enter the CAPTCHA information you will be prompted to try again. If you successfully submit your vote, you will receive a page that thanks you for your vote(s). If you have votes remaining you will be shown how many and you can select the 'keep voting' button. The 'thanks for voting' page will also confirm that this activity has been added to your Facebook Timeline, Ticker and Newsfeed. Your vote will be added to Facebook only once for each contestant for which you submit votes, and you will have the option to add a message to the Facebook post. If you do not want your vote activity to be added to Facebook, you can remove the individual vote post by clicking the 'Remove' link on the thank you page. Alternatively, you can turn the 'Add activity to Timeline' feature off entirely by clicking the "Off" button in the top right-hand corner of the page. If you turn the feature to "Off", you will be presented with the option to post your vote to Facebook by clicking the 'share your vote' button on the thank you page. This will also allow you to share your vote only once per contestant. The 'Add activity to Timeline' feature can be toggled on and off at any time.

You may vote up to 50 times per Facebook account ID per performance show. Online and American Idol App Voting combined is limited to 50 votes per Facebook account ID, per performance show. Any additional votes you cast or attempt to cast above this limit will NOT count.

If you are experiencing trouble with any vote method, remember that you can always try another voting method.

Why do you need a Facebook account to vote online or via the American Idol App?

Logging into your Facebook account is a key security feature to guard against voting fraud.

What is the minimum software requirement for voting online?

To vote online, you must have a valid, active Facebook account, have JavaScript enabled, have cookies enabled and you must have accepted app permissions and allowed the voting app to be added to your Facebook profile.

I'm seeing the 'vote closed' page during the active vote window - why?

The 'vote closed' page will be displayed after voting closes for each performance show through to the start of the following performance show. If you're sure you are trying to vote online during the active vote window but you're seeing the 'closed' page, please clear your browser cache and then refresh your page. During the broadcast of the performance show, you should not see the 'closed' page and will instead be able to reserve and assign vote(s), although those votes cannot be submitted or counted until the vote window officially opens at the end of the show. Therefore, please wait until the end of the show to submit your saved votes or they will not be counted.

Is American Idol collecting personal information when I vote online?

When you use the Online Voting and American Idol App vote methods, you will be asked to share some personal information with American Idol for vote verification purposes and for other permissible uses set forth in the AmericanIdol.com Privacy Policy at http://www.americanidol.com/legal/privacypolicy.

I am having trouble voting online - why?

Although the Internet can handle huge volumes of vote submissions simultaneously, there may be times (particularly just after the show) when your local service provider may not be able to handle every attempt due to the sheer volume. If you are trying to vote during the vote window but it isn't processing your attempt, please be patient and try again later or you can always vote unlimited times via another vote method.

Why am I getting a 'page does not exist' or 'online voting not currently available in your location' error page when trying to vote online at AmericanIdol.com from within the U.S.?

If you are trying to vote from within the U.S. but see an American Idol page which says 'The page you are looking for does not exist' or 'Online voting is not currently available in your location', it may be that your connection to the internet is being routed via a region not in the U.S. This may be caused by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) experiencing local level congestion during peak times and therefore load balancing the traffic via a less congested region, which could be located outside of the U.S. If you feel you have reached this page in error, please clear your browser's cache and then refresh the page. If the problem persists, please be patient and try again later, or use another method to cast your vote.

How do I vote using the American Idol App?

If you have a compatible Android or iOS device (tablet or handheld) and have a Facebook account registered within the Continental U.S., Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands you can vote via the American Idol App. Download the App from Google PlayTM Store on your Android device, or App StoreSM on your iOS device. Data rates may apply for App download and use. To vote via the App, select the VOTE option in the menu or follow the prompts. From there, the process is the same as for Online Voting:

If you go to the voting section of the App during the performance show broadcast you will be able to reserve and assign votes for contestants, although those votes cannot be submitted or counted until the vote window opens. Therefore, please wait until the voting window opens to submit your saved votes or they will not be counted. Please note that if you exit the App after reserving and assigning votes, they will not be saved when you return to the vote section of the App and you will need to reassign them before submitting votes.

American Idol App Voting opens at the end of each performance show and closes 2 hours after the Hawaii broadcast of a performance show.

When you go to the vote section and select the 'Login to Facebook' button you will be directed to a Facebook login page where you will need to enter your e-mail address and password to log in (if you are not already logged in to Facebook). If you do not currently have a Facebook account then you will not be able to vote unless you create a new account (but you can still vote via toll-free and if you are an AT&T wireless customer you can also vote via AT&T Text Voting). Once you successfully log in using your Facebook account you will also be required to accept the Facebook application permissions (this is only the first time you vote, unless you disable the app permissions between voting episodes). You will then be taken to the main voting page. Once there you will be prompted to click on the image of the contestant(s) for whom you want to vote. For each contestant image you select you will be taken to a page which enables you to add and remove vote(s) for that contestant. When you have added or removed the number of votes you want, you must click the 'Save' button. You may then select other contestants and repeat the process if you have votes remaining. You may only allocate up to 50 votes per performance show per Facebook Account ID. Once you have allocated your votes click the 'Confirm Votes' button. You will then be taken to a screen to input a 'CAPTCHA' code for verification purposes and , once the CAPTCHA information is inputted, then click 'Confirm Votes' for your votes to be submitted and complete the vote process.. A CAPTCHA is a security measure which requires you to enter the scrambled letters/numbers you see on your screen. If you do not correctly enter the CAPTCHA information you will be prompted to try again. If you successfully submit your vote, you will receive a page that thanks you for your vote(s). If you have votes remaining you will be shown how many and you can select the 'keep voting' button. The 'thanks for voting' page will also confirm that this activity has been added to your Facebook Timeline, Ticker and Newsfeed. Your vote will be added to Facebook only once for each contestant for which you submit votes, and you will have the option to add a message to the Facebook post. If you do not want your vote activity to be added to Facebook, you can remove the individual vote post by clicking the 'Remove' link on the thank you page. Alternatively, you can turn the 'Add activity to Timeline' feature off entirely by clicking the 'Off' button in the top right-hand corner of the page. If you turn the feature off, you will be presented with the option to post your vote to Facebook by clicking the 'share your vote' button on the thank you page. This will also allow you to share your vote only once per contestant. The 'Add activity to Timeline' feature can be toggled on and off at any time.

You may vote up to 50 times per Facebook account ID per performance show. Online and American Idol App Voting combined is limited to 50 votes per Facebook account ID,

How can I get tickets to show tapings?

Regular season shows become available on a first-come-first-served basis. Check www.AmericanIdol.com and click on SHOW TICKETS at the bottom of the page for details on how to request tickets.

Does it cost anything to get the American Idol Newsletter?

No. The American Idol newsletter is free to receive and you may cancel at any time. Sign up here!

I ordered American Idol merchandise (for example, hats, CDs, etc.), but nothing arrived. What should I do?

Check the website(s) where you placed your order for shipping, ordering and contact information.

I've noticed that several contestants have professional music experience, including TV appearances and on Broadway, I thought you were only looking for amateur performers?

In order to be eligible, the contestants are not permitted to have any CURRENT recording or talent management agreements.

How do I view videos on www.AmericanIdol.com?

These are the minimum software requirements to view videos on our site.

For PC users:


For Mac Users:

What are the minimum browser requirements supported on Americanidol.com?

These are the minimum browser requirements to view our website.

For PC Users:
Windows XP or Later
Firefox 15.0+
Internet Explorer 8.0+
Google Chrome 17.0+

For Mac Users:
Apple OS X 10.4+
Firefox 15.0+
Safari 5+
Internet Explorer 8.0+
Google Chrome 17.0+

If after reading these FAQs you have further questions, email idol.web@fox.com.