How to Deactivate an AOL Account
By Aksana Nikolai
Many of us make the mistake of keeping an email account active even though we no longer log in to it. The account accumulates messages and you might miss important correspondence as a result. This is why you should deactivate your AOL account if you no longer use it. The procedure for deactivating your AOL service varies slightly depending on whether you have a free or paid account. Once you deactivate an AOL account, you cannot reactivate it or restore any messages received through the account.
Deactivating a Free AOL Account
Step 1
Cancel any Premium AOL services you subscribe to.
Step 2
Navigate to the AOL sign-in page and enter your master username and password. Enter the answer to your security question and click "Continue" to complete the sign-in process.
Step 3
Click "Manage My Subscriptions" or "Manage My AOL Account" within the Service Options section.
Step 4
Locate your account information and click "Cancel" directly below.
Step 5
Select the reason why you are canceling your account from the drop-down menu on the next screen. Click "Cancel AOL" to deactivate the account.
Deactivating a Paid AOL Account
Step 1
Cancel any Premium AOL services you subscribe to.
Step 2
Repeat Step 1 from the previous section. Click "Manage My Subscriptions" within the Service Options section. Locate your account information and click "Cancel Billing," which appears below the information.
Step 3
Review the list of features you will no longer be able to access my cancelling your account. Click "Cancel My Billing" to deactivate your account.
References
Tips
- Click "Keep My Plan" if you have change your mind and no longer wish to deactivate your free or paid AOL account.
Warnings
- If you cancel a paid AOL account in the middle of your billing cycle, you'll have access to the service until the end of the cycle because payments are made a month in advance. However, once the billing cycle is over, you will no longer be able to access your address book -- unless you reactivate your account within 90 days of cancellation.
Writer Bio
Aksana Nikolai is a graduate of the New York Institute of Technology with a bachelor's degree in language studies and international affairs. Nikolai is currently working in online marketing and communications. She has been writing since 2008, specializing in made-for-Web content and maintaining her fashion and beauty blog.