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AOL Will Shut Down U.S. Dial-Up Internet Service on Sept. 30

By retiring its dialer software along with the AOL Shield browser, AOL leaves remaining households in remote areas facing costlier internet alternatives.

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.