What Happens if I Delete My AOL Account? Comprehensive Guide

Deleting an AOL account can have significant implications beyond just losing access to your email. Understanding what happens if you delete your AOL account is crucial to ensure you don’t inadvertently lose crucial mailbox data and disrupt other services configured with your profile.

In this guide, we’ll explore the immediate effects of AOL account deletion, what happens to your emails and contacts, and how to prepare for this process. Whether you’re considering deleting your account permanently or just want to know the consequences, this information will help you make an informed decision.

Why Understanding the Consequences is Important

• Loss of Access: Once your AOL account is deleted, you will lose access to your emails, contacts, and all other AOL mailbox data. Knowing this beforehand helps you take crucial steps to back up important information.
• Disruption of Linked Services: Your AOL account may be linked to other services or subscriptions. Deleting it could disrupt access to these services, which might include social accounts, financial services, or online memberships.
• Irreversible Action: Deleting an AOL account is often reversible only for a limited period. Understanding this ensures you don’t accidentally delete an account you might later want to recover.
• Preparation for Recovery: Being aware of the recovery options and time limits can help you act promptly if you change your mind about deleting your account.
• Effective Preparation: Knowing the consequences allows you to prepare effectively by notifying relevant contacts, updating accounts, and securing any important data before proceeding with deletion.

How to Backup AOL Mail Account Before Deleting

Configure AOL Mail Account with Microsoft Outlook

• Run Microsoft Outlook and open the File tab.
• Choose Add Account and select Manual Server Setup.
• Choose the IMAP or POP option and press Next.
• Fill in your AOL email address, username, and app password to connect.
• Enter IMAP Configuration Details:

• Incoming Mail Server: imap.aol.com, Port: 993, Encryption: SSL
• Outgoing Mail Server: smtp.aol.com, Port: 465, Encryption: SSL
• Tap on Test Account to verify the account credentials.

Backup AOL Mail Account Using Microsoft Outlook

• Open Microsoft Outlook application and press on the File tab.
• Click on Open & Export, then select Import/Export.
• In the Import/Export pop-up, choose Export to a file.
• Select Outlook PST file and press Next.
• Preview and choose the Outlook mailbox data you want to export.
• Browse to the path location and press Finish to complete the process.

Challenges You May Face to Backup AOL Account with Outlook

• Large volumes of emails or attachments can cause delays in synchronization between AOL and Outlook.
• Some email clients, including Outlook, might not preserve the exact folder structure of your AOL Mail.
• Large email attachments or individual email sizes can cause problems during the backup or export process.
• Proper configuration of IMAP and SMTP settings is required for Outlook to connect with AOL Mail.
• AOL’s security measures, such as two-factor authentication or restrictions on less secure apps, may interfere with Outlook’s ability to access your account.

How to Backup AOL Account Using Expert Recommended Approach

RecoveryTools AOL Email Backup Tool is the best solution for exporting AOL or Verizon accounts. It also allows exporting AOL emails to PST, EML, MSG, MBOX, RTF, HTML, MHT, and many more formats. This application is completely suitable for backing up AOL emails and has been specially developed under expert guidance.

• Download and install expert recommended wizard and run it on your personal computer.

• Enter your AOL email address and app password to configure.

• Preview to verify and choose the AOL mailbox data as you wish to backup.

• Choose file formats from the several feature of select saving.

• Select filter options and provide path then press backup to complete the process.

Highlighted Features of Using Expert Recommended Approach

• Allows the migration of selective emails using advanced filters from AOL to Zimbra and Lotus Notes clients.
• You can also export AOL emails to PST, EML, MSG, MBOX, RTF, HTML, and many more formats.
• Save AOL emails as PDF or Word files for easy access on various devices.
• Import AOL emails to the default Thunderbird path.
• Preserve the metadata properties of your emails, ensuring all emails, attachments, and metadata remain intact.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cancel my AOL account and keep my email?

Steps to Keep Email Before Deleting AOL Account:

1. Download RecoveryTools AOL Email Backup Tool and open it.
2. Enter your AOL email address and app password to configure.
3. Preview and choose the mailbox data you want to export.
4. Select a file format from the several options in the saving feature.
5. Browse the location and click Backup to complete the process.

Do AOL accounts get deleted?

Yes, AOL accounts can be deleted either manually by the user or automatically due to inactivity. If an account is not accessed for a prolonged period, typically around 90 days, AOL may deactivate and eventually delete the account, resulting in the loss of emails, contacts, and other associated data. Users should regularly log in to keep their accounts active or back up important information to avoid data loss.

Can you permanently delete an AOL email address?

Yes, you can permanently delete an AOL email address. This process involves accessing your account settings, navigating to the account termination option, and confirming the deletion. Once deleted, all emails, contacts, and data associated with the account will be permanently erased and cannot be recovered.

Final Thoughts

In this tutorial, we have explained what happens if you delete your AOL account. As discussed, you will lose all AOL mailbox data. We have also shared manual and expert-recommended approaches to export mailbox data. Manual approaches require a lot of time and effort. Therefore, we recommend opting for an expert-recommended approach to complete the process without losing any information.