On September 30th, 2025, AOL officially discontinued its dial-up internet service, marking the end of a longtime pillar of online access. The company quietly announced the move in a support update, stating that dial-up and related software, such as the AOL Dialer and AOL Shield browser, would be discontinued.

Dial-up was one of the earliest methods millions of households used to connect to the internet. At its height in the late 1990s and early 2000s, AOL was synonymous with online life in America, thanks in part to its familiar modem sounds and the phrase “You’ve got mail.” Over time, broadband, cable, fiber, and wireless networks overtook dial-up in speed and convenience, leaving dial-up as an increasingly niche service.

Though largely outdated, dial-up still had its holdouts. As recently as 2023, census data estimated that more than 160,000 U.S. households continued to rely on dial-up alone. These users often faced limitations in bandwidth, compatibility, and support, factors AOL cited in its decision to retire the service.

While this change marks the end of AOL’s presence in establishing internet connections, the company continues other services, including email and tech support. With the dial-up era gone, AOL joins a growing list of legacy internet relics, like AIM and Internet Explorer, officially retired from the digital landscape.