AOL Ends Dial-Up Internet Service, Closing Iconic Digital Era

AOL has officially discontinued its dial-up internet service, ending a defining era of internet access marked by the iconic screeching modem tones. The company announced the shutdown quietly on its support site, removing dial-up options and legacy software optimized for older operating systems from its offerings. Once a primary internet gateway for millions in the 1990s and early 2000s, dial-up has largely been replaced by broadband and wireless services, though about 163,000 U.S. households still relied solely on dial-up in 2023. AOL's dial-up subscriber base had drastically declined from millions in the past to just a few thousand in recent years, reflecting the widespread shift in technology preferences. The discontinuation of this service aligns with the retirement of other legacy technologies like Internet Explorer and Skype, while AOL continues to provide free email and tech support services. Despite AOL's dial-up era coming to a close, some smaller providers still offer dial-up internet, but its role in connecting early internet users is now officially over.