Overview
- AOL will discontinue its U.S. dial-up internet access on September 30, 2025, ending a service that dates back to 1991.
- The company plans to withdraw its proprietary dialer software and the AOL Shield browser when the service is shut down.
- AOL has not revealed how many of its customers still use dial-up, and public estimates range from a few thousand active users to over 160,000 households.
- Households without broadband options, particularly in rural and remote regions, will likely need to switch to satellite or other more expensive internet services.
- Despite ending dial-up, AOL will continue some legacy offerings, including its Advantage plan for technical support and identity-theft protection.