AOL Customer Service: Email, Password and Billing Help

AOL customer service assists users with password resets, locked or hacked email accounts, missing messages, third-party mail apps, subscription billing, AOL Mail Plus, AOL Desktop Gold, account cancellation, security concerns, and paid support plans.

AOL offers free self-service recovery through its Sign-in Helper. Telephone assistance may involve an AOL paid support plan, so customers should understand whether a charge or subscription applies before accepting telephone help.

AOL Customer Service Help by Issue

• Forgotten password: Use AOL’s free Sign-in Helper before calling a paid support number.
• Locked account: Complete account recovery using a recovery phone number or email address connected to the account.
• Old recovery phone or email: Try every recovery method previously connected to the account and check whether you remain signed in on another device.
• Hacked AOL Mail: Change the password, remove unfamiliar app passwords, review account activity, and check mail-forwarding and filter settings.
• AOL Mail not working in Outlook or Apple Mail: Reauthenticate the account, remove and re-add it, or generate an AOL app password.
• Missing emails: Check Spam, Trash, Archive, filters, blocked addresses, forwarding, and third-party email apps.
• Billing problem: Review My Subscriptions and the account’s payment history before contacting AOL.
• Cancel a paid AOL plan: Cancel every individual premium subscription and confirm that the account has changed to the free plan.
• Delete the AOL email address: Close the AOL account only after canceling paid services and saving important messages.
• Suspicious AOL email or phone call: Do not provide passwords, verification codes, card details, or remote access.
• Former dial-up customer: AOL discontinued dial-up internet service on September 30, 2025.

How to Contact AOL Customer Service

• AOL Account Pro information and account support: 1-800-827-6364
• AOL paid premium live support: 1-800-358-4860
• AOL Help Center: AOL Help
• AOL Sign-in Helper: Reset a password or recover an AOL account
• AOL customer-support options: Contact AOL
• AOL Mail: Sign in to AOL Mail
• AOL account settings: Manage an AOL account
• AOL subscriptions: Manage AOL paid plans
• Former U.S. dial-up account questions: 1-888-265-5555
• Official website: AOL.com

AOL U.S. mailing address:
AOL Media LLC / AOL Membership Services LLC
770 Broadway, 9th Floor
New York, NY 10003

The old Spanish-language number, TTY number, corporate telephone number, and support hours previously shown on this page could not be confirmed through AOL’s current official support materials and have therefore been removed.

Is AOL Phone Support Free?

AOL’s Sign-in Helper is free and should be the first step for password resets and account recovery.

AOL also offers paid support services, including Account Pro and AOL Live Support Plus. A support representative may discuss a subscription that includes telephone assistance and additional products.

Before accepting telephone help, ask:

• Whether the call requires a paid plan
• The monthly or annual price
• Whether the plan automatically renews
• Which products are included
• How and when the plan can be canceled
• Whether a refund period applies

Do not assume that every AOL phone number provides free technical assistance.

Account Pro by AOL

Account Pro provides telephone assistance with password resets and account access. AOL states that Account Pro specialists are available 24 hours a day.

The plan may also include other subscription benefits. Existing subscribers should use the telephone number supplied in the original order confirmation or displayed inside MyBenefits.

Customers interested in Account Pro can call 1-800-827-6364.

How to Recover an AOL Account

Use AOL’s Sign-in Helper when:

• You forgot the password.
• You forgot the AOL username.
• The account is temporarily locked.
• The password was changed without permission.
• You cannot receive a normal sign-in code.

To begin:

1. Open the AOL Sign-in Helper.
2. Enter the AOL email address, recovery telephone number, or recovery email address.
3. Select Continue.
4. Choose an available verification method.
5. Enter the verification code.
6. Follow the instructions to select the account and create a new password.

Use a device, browser, and internet connection previously used with AOL when possible.

AOL Recovery Phone Number or Email Is Outdated

Account recovery can be difficult when the recovery telephone number or alternate email address is no longer available.

Try:

• Every phone number previously connected to the account
• Every alternate email address previously used
• A familiar computer, phone, browser, and location
• Checking whether the account remains signed in on another device
• Searching old records for the exact AOL username

If you remain signed in on another device, update the recovery information before signing out.

AOL support cannot always bypass account-verification requirements when the user cannot prove ownership.

How to Update AOL Recovery Information

When you can sign in:

1. Open the AOL Account Security page.
2. Add the new recovery telephone number or email address.
3. Complete the verification process.
4. Remove the outdated recovery information.
5. Review recent account activity.

Add the new method before deleting the old one.

Forgotten AOL Username

Use the Sign-in Helper and enter a recovery telephone number or email address.

AOL may send a verification code and display the usernames connected to that recovery method.

Do not create a second AOL account unless you are certain the original account cannot be recovered.

What to Do If an AOL Account Was Hacked

Signs of a compromised AOL account can include:

• Messages being sent that you did not write
• Contacts receiving spam from your address
• Unexpected login locations
• Recovery information changing without permission
• Email filters or forwarding rules you did not create
• Contacts disappearing
• Large numbers of delivery-failure messages
• A password that suddenly no longer works
• Messages no longer arriving in the inbox

If you still have access:

1. Change the AOL password immediately.
2. Change the password for the recovery email account.
3. Review recent login activity.
4. Sign out unfamiliar devices and browsers.
5. Remove connected apps you do not recognize.
6. Delete unfamiliar app passwords.
7. Review email filters, forwarding, blocked addresses, signatures, and away messages.
8. Update the recovery phone number and email address.
9. Enable two-step verification.

If financial details were provided to a scammer, contact the bank or card issuer immediately.

Reviewing AOL Account Activity

The Recent Activity page may display:

• Devices and browsers that recently signed in
• Apps connected to the account
• Recent password or account changes
• Approximate login locations and IP addresses

Some locations can appear unfamiliar because of mobile networks, internet-provider routing, or VPN use. Remove activity that clearly does not belong to you and change the password.

AOL Mail Not Sending or Receiving Email

Before contacting support:

1. Sign in directly at Mail.AOL.com.
2. Send a test message to your own AOL address.
3. Check whether the message arrives.
4. Check Spam, Trash, Archive, and custom folders.
5. Review filters and blocked addresses.
6. Confirm the mailbox is loading in another browser.
7. Temporarily disable browser extensions or ad blockers.
8. Clear AOL cookies and browser cache.

If AOL Mail works in a browser but not in Outlook, Apple Mail, Thunderbird, or another application, the problem is probably related to the email application’s authentication or settings.

AOL Mail in Outlook, Apple Mail or Another App

Try:

• Updating the email app
• Re-entering the AOL password
• Removing and re-adding the AOL account
• Selecting AOL as the email provider during setup
• Generating a separate AOL app password
• Confirming the IMAP, POP, and SMTP settings

AOL generally recommends IMAP because it synchronizes messages and folders between AOL Mail and the email application.

AOL App Passwords

Some third-party mail applications require a separate app password rather than the main AOL password.

To create one:

1. Sign in to the AOL Account Security page.
2. Select Generate app password or Generate and manage app passwords.
3. Enter a name for the email application.
4. Generate the password.
5. Enter that password in the third-party email application.

App passwords can remain active even after the main AOL password is changed. Delete an app password separately when a device or application is no longer trusted.

AOL notes that Customer Care cannot manually override the system that decides whether an account is eligible to generate an app password.

AOL Mail on a New Phone

For the most secure setup:

• Use the official AOL app, or
• Add AOL through the phone’s account settings and select the AOL logo.

Choosing AOL as the provider normally starts the secure AOL sign-in process.

Missing or Deleted AOL Emails

Before reporting missing email:

• Search by sender, subject, date, and keywords.
• Check Spam, Trash, Archive, and custom folders.
• Review filters that automatically move messages.
• Check blocked email addresses.
• Review forwarding settings.
• Check third-party email apps.
• Determine whether a POP application downloaded and removed messages.

If a hacker changed account settings, correct those settings before attempting to restore normal mail delivery.

POP Versus IMAP

POP can download messages to a device and may remove or retain them on the server depending on the app’s settings.

IMAP synchronizes messages and folders between AOL and the connected email application.

When backing up AOL email with a third-party app, confirm that the app downloads the full contents of each message and keeps a copy on the AOL server.

AOL Spam and Blocked Messages

A message may not arrive because:

• AOL classified it as spam.
• The sender was blocked.
• A filter moved it to another folder.
• The sender used an incorrect address.
• The sending server was rejected.
• The mailbox or email app is not syncing correctly.

Ask the sender to verify the address and provide the exact date, time, subject, and sending address.

Do not publicly post private messages or complete email addresses when submitting a review.

AOL Billing and Subscription Help

AOL offers free email as well as optional paid services and support plans.

Paid services can include:

• AOL Live Support Plus
• Account Pro
• AOL Mail Plus
• AOL Desktop Gold
• Security and identity-protection plans
• McAfee, LastPass, LifeLock, and other bundled benefits

Sign in to My Subscriptions to determine which plans are active.

How to Review AOL Charges

Check:

• The plan name
• The monthly or annual charge
• The next billing date
• The payment method
• Every separate premium subscription
• Whether the plan was purchased through Apple or Google
• Whether an old AOL username has its own subscription

AOL may list each premium product as a separate charge.

Multiple or Unexpected AOL Charges

Possible explanations include:

• Several active premium services
• A missed payment being processed with the current bill
• A paid support plan
• AOL Mail Plus
• AOL Desktop Gold
• Separate accounts using the same payment method
• A temporary payment-method verification authorization

Review My Subscriptions and the billing history before reporting fraud.

A temporary $1 authorization may be used to validate a payment method and should normally disappear.

How to Update an AOL Payment Method

Sign in with the primary AOL username and open the payment-method section in My Account.

When a card number changes, AOL may require the customer to add the new card rather than edit the old card number.

How to Cancel an AOL Paid Subscription

Canceling a paid plan does not necessarily delete the AOL email address.

To cancel:

1. Sign in to My Subscriptions.
2. Select Manage beside the plan.
3. Select Cancel my subscription.
4. Continue through the cancellation steps.
5. Select a cancellation reason when requested.
6. Confirm the cancellation.
7. Save the confirmation email.

Changing to the free AOL plan allows continued access to AOL Mail.

Cancel Every Separate AOL Service

Canceling one paid plan may not cancel:

• AOL Mail Plus
• AOL Desktop Gold
• Account Pro
• Live Support Plus
• Identity-protection products
• Security products
• Subscriptions purchased through an app store

Review the complete subscription list and cancel each unwanted product separately.

Billing After Cancellation

If another charge appears:

• Check the effective cancellation date.
• Confirm whether the charge was for another premium service.
• Review whether the subscription was purchased through Apple or Google.
• Check for another AOL username using the same card.
• Locate the cancellation confirmation.
• Contact AOL with the charge date, amount, and plan name.

AOL subscriptions are generally paid in advance. Access may continue through the end of the current billing period after cancellation.

AOL Mail Plus Cancellation and Refunds

AOL Mail Plus may provide an enhanced or reduced-ad email experience.

Management depends on where it was purchased:

• Purchased directly from AOL: Manage it through My Subscriptions.
• Purchased through Apple: Manage it through the Apple App Store.
• Purchased through Google Play: Manage it through Google Play.

AOL currently allows an AOL Mail Plus refund request within 14 days of:

• The initial monthly purchase
• The initial annual purchase
• An annual renewal

The policy allows one refund per customer. Apple and Google purchases follow the applicable app store’s refund rules.

How to Delete an AOL Email Account

Deleting an AOL account is different from canceling a paid subscription.

Before closing the account:

• Cancel every paid plan.
• Download or forward important email.
• Export contacts.
• Update accounts that use the AOL address for password recovery.
• Remove the AOL address from banks, utilities, social networks, and shopping accounts.
• Review pending charges and subscriptions.

After the account is closed, messages, contacts, and access may eventually become unrecoverable.

Do not delete an account merely to stop a paid service. Change the paid plan to free when you want to keep the AOL email address.

AOL Dial-Up Internet Has Ended

AOL discontinued dial-up internet, the AOL Dialer software, and the AOL Shield browser on September 30, 2025.

The change did not automatically cancel every other paid AOL benefit.

Former dial-up customers should check My Subscriptions to determine whether they still have:

• Live support
• Security products
• Identity-protection products
• Password-management services
• Another paid AOL plan

For U.S. questions specifically related to the discontinued dial-up service, call 1-888-265-5555.

AOL Mail remains available and does not require AOL dial-up internet.

AOL Support Scams and Fake Phone Numbers

AOL warns users not to rely on search-engine results for customer-support contact information because scammers may create fake support listings.

Use AOL Help Central and confirm that the website address contains aol.com.

A fake support representative may claim:

• Your AOL account was hacked.
• Your account will be deleted unless you pay.
• A virus was detected.
• Your email must be upgraded immediately.
• A fee is required to restore a free account.
• Your password or verification code is needed.

The scammer may request:

• Remote access to your computer or phone
• Gift cards
• Cryptocurrency
• A wire transfer
• Your AOL password
• A two-step verification code
• Complete payment-card information

AOL states that it does not ask for passwords or full credit-card information through unsolicited email.

End an unexpected call and contact AOL through Help.AOL.com.

How to Identify an Official AOL Message

Official AOL messages viewed in AOL Mail may display an official or certified-mail icon.

In a third-party email app, those icons may not appear. Check the complete sender address and do not trust the displayed sender name alone.

Never send a verification code in response to a text or email.

AOL Customer Reviews and Complaints

CustomerServiceNumbers.com currently shows AOL with a rating of 2.4 out of 5 stars based on five reviews.

The published reviews were submitted between 2014 and 2016, so this is a small and dated sample rather than a current measurement of overall AOL customer satisfaction.

The CSN reviews describe:

• Billing and AutoPay questions: One reviewer wanted to change the credit card used for automatic AOL payments.
• Technical interruptions: A reviewer complained about repeated load-failure messages and difficulty contacting support.
• Locked account: One longtime user reported being locked out after answering an account-security question incorrectly.
• Paid technical support concerns: The locked-out user complained that technical support wanted to charge for assistance.
• Canceling an account: One reviewer wanted all AOL accounts and personal information canceled after leaving a household.
• Charges for unused services: A reviewer reported continued billing and difficulty reaching a representative.

These reviews reflect individual customer experiences. AOL’s products, ownership, recovery system, billing plans, and support options have changed substantially since the reviews were submitted.

What to Include in Your AOL Review

A useful review should explain:

• Whether the problem involved free AOL Mail or a paid subscription
• The AOL product or plan involved
• Whether the issue involved login, security, billing, cancellation, or email delivery
• Which support number or recovery tool was used
• Whether support disclosed that the service was paid
• How long the process took
• What resolution was offered
• Whether the issue was ultimately resolved

Do not include passwords, verification codes, complete email addresses, recovery information, card numbers, or private email content.

How to Escalate an AOL Complaint

1. Use the correct process. Password recovery, hacked accounts, billing, and third-party mail problems use different tools.
2. Use free recovery first. Try Sign-in Helper before purchasing account-access support.
3. Review every subscription. Identify the exact paid product connected to a disputed charge.
4. Save the support record. Keep confirmation emails, subscription details, billing statements, and case numbers.
5. State the requested resolution. Ask clearly for account access, cancellation, a billing correction, or technical assistance.
6. Ask whether support is paid. Confirm the price and renewal terms before accepting a plan.
7. Secure the account. Change passwords and remove unfamiliar access when suspicious activity is involved.
8. Contact the payment provider when appropriate. Report truly unauthorized transactions promptly.

Information to Include in an AOL Complaint

Include:

• The AOL product or subscription
• The partially masked AOL username
• The date the problem began
• The charge amount when relevant
• The troubleshooting or recovery steps attempted
• Previous support contacts
• Case or confirmation numbers
• The specific resolution requested

AOL Customer Service Frequently Asked Questions

What is AOL’s customer-service number?

AOL publishes 1-800-827-6364 for Account Pro and account-support inquiries. Paid support or subscription terms may apply.

What is 1-800-358-4860?

1-800-358-4860 is AOL’s paid premium live-support number for assistance with email, passwords, technical questions, and mobile mail.

Can I reset an AOL password for free?

Yes. Use AOL’s free Sign-in Helper before calling paid support.

How do I recover an AOL account without my old phone number?

Try another recovery email or phone number previously connected to the account, use a familiar device and location, and check whether the account remains signed in elsewhere.

How do I report a hacked AOL account?

Change the password, review recent account activity, remove unfamiliar devices and app passwords, correct altered mail settings, update recovery information, and enable two-step verification.

Why does AOL Mail work online but not in Outlook or Apple Mail?

The third-party app may need to be reauthenticated, removed and re-added, updated, or configured with an AOL app password.

How do I cancel a paid AOL plan but keep my email?

Open My Subscriptions, cancel the paid plan, and change to the free AOL plan. Cancel every separate premium subscription you no longer want.

Does canceling AOL delete my email?

Canceling a paid subscription and changing to the free plan normally allows continued access to AOL Mail. Permanently closing the AOL account deletes the username and email access.

Can I get a refund for AOL Mail Plus?

AOL currently allows one refund request within 14 days of an initial monthly or annual purchase or an annual renewal. App-store purchases follow Apple or Google’s policies.

Does AOL still offer dial-up internet?

No. AOL discontinued dial-up internet, AOL Dialer, and AOL Shield on September 30, 2025.

Who owns AOL?

Bending Spoons acquired AOL in January 2026.

Where is AOL located?

AOL Media LLC and AOL Membership Services LLC publish a U.S. address at 770 Broadway, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10003.

How AOL Compares With Other Email Services

• Yahoo customer service: Provides email, news, finance, subscriptions, and online account services with support routed primarily through its Help Center.
• Gmail customer service: Google’s email service is connected to Google Accounts, Drive, Calendar, YouTube, and other Google products.
• Microsoft Outlook: Provides Outlook.com email and integrates with Microsoft accounts, Microsoft 365, OneDrive, and Windows.

When comparing email providers, consider recovery options, security features, spam filtering, third-party app support, storage, paid-support requirements, and the ability to export or back up messages.

Related AOL and Consumer Help Pages

• Yahoo customer service and account recovery
• Gmail customer service
• Identify an unfamiliar AOL or subscription charge
• Check a suspicious AOL email, call, text, or support offer
• Find official chat and online customer-support options
• Read and share company reviews

Why Trust CustomerServiceNumbers.com?

CustomerServiceNumbers.com has helped consumers locate customer-service information and share their experiences since 2004.

We are an independent consumer-help website and are not owned or operated by AOL Media LLC, AOL Membership Services LLC, Bending Spoons, Yahoo, or any related company.

Because fake AOL support numbers and account-recovery scams are common, we distinguish free self-service recovery from paid support and direct readers to AOL’s official Help Center.

Our goal is to help consumers locate the correct support channel, understand billing and cancellation terms, secure compromised accounts, document complaints, and report whether the company resolved the issue.

Share Your AOL Customer Service Experience

Have you contacted AOL about a forgotten password, locked or hacked account, missing email, third-party mail application, paid support plan, billing problem, cancellation, or AOL Mail Plus?

Leave a review below and explain what happened, which support method you used, whether the service required payment, what resolution was offered, how long the process took, and whether AOL ultimately resolved the issue.

Do not include passwords, verification codes, complete email addresses, recovery telephone numbers, payment-card details, private messages, or other sensitive information.

Customer Service Information Disclaimer

CustomerServiceNumbers.com is not affiliated with AOL Media LLC, AOL Membership Services LLC, Bending Spoons, Yahoo, or any related company. AOL does not provide customer support through this website.

Contact information and support links are provided to help consumers reach AOL directly. Reviews and complaints reflect the experiences and opinions of individual contributors.