AOL will officially discontinue its dial-up internet service on September 30, 2025, ending an era that defined how millions first accessed the web.
The shutdown includes the AOL Dialer software and AOL Shield browser, both optimized for older systems and phone line connections. Yahoo, which owns the AOL brand, confirmed that only a very small number of customers still use dial up, as broadband has become the standard.
he closure will not affect AOL email accounts or other features included in legacy plans.
Yahoo Confirms the End of AOL Dial-Up
Yahoo said the decision impacts customers on certain old AOL Advantage, CompuServe, and Netscape Connect plans.
While these subscribers will lose dial up access, they can continue using other included services. Yahoo emphasized this change is part of a shift toward modern digital solutions.
The company also noted that AOL remains active as a brand, with user traffic still growing year over year despite dial up’s decline.
AOL’s Legacy in the 1990s Internet Boom
In the 1990s, AOL dominated the U.S. internet market. Known for its iconic “You’ve got mail” greeting, buddy lists, and instant messaging, AOL was the gateway to the web for millions. It distributed free trial CDs across the country, encouraging new users to connect through home phone lines.
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Dial-up access involved a slow, noisy handshake sound as computers connected to AOL’s servers. For years, this was the most common way Americans got online.
From Internet Giant to Brand Transition
AOL’s biggest corporate move came in 2000, when it merged with Time Warner in a record-breaking deal that symbolized the internet boom. But as broadband replaced dial up, AOL’s role changed.
- 2009 AOL became an independent company again.
- 2015 Verizon acquired AOL to boost its digital media portfolio.
- 2021 Verizon sold AOL and Yahoo to Apollo Global Management, placing both under the Yahoo brand.
The End of an Era for Internet History
For the small group of remaining dial up customers, September 30, 2025, will mark the final sign-off. While outdated, the service is remembered as a technological milestone that connected millions of households to the internet for the first time.
AOL’s dial up shutdown closes a nostalgic chapter in internet history one defined by CD mailers, noisy connections, and a sense of online discovery.
