Access old mail and address book contacts with an inactive AOL Desktop Gold subscription

If you get a notice that you need an active AOL Desktop Gold subscription and don't wish to subscribe, learn how to access your email and other info through an old version of AOL Desktop Gold or at mail.aol.com.

Did you receive a notice that your AOL Desktop Gold is inactive? Get back to navigating AOL with ease by reactivating your AOL Desktop Gold subscription.

If you decide not to reactive your subscription, you'll still be able to use AOL Mail and the AOL app. You'll also be able to access locally saved emails, address book contacts, and downloads using an older version of AOL Desktop and AOL Mail.

Access locally-saved emails

Your locally-saved emails (Saved on My PC) will remain accessible in a read-only format on your computer's old version of AOL Desktop.

1. Launch AOL Desktop Gold but don't sign in.
2. On the login screen, click the down-arrow next to the username box to display your usernames.
3. Select the username you wish to see the mail for.
4. Close the login screen by clicking the X button.
5. Click the Read Mail icon .
6. Click on any folder under Saved on My PC to access your locally stored emails.
7. Double click an email to open it.

Get your Address Book contacts

1. Visit https://mail.aol.com.
2. Sign in with your username and password.
3. Click Contacts to see your Address Book.

Access downloaded email attachments

1. Launch AOL Desktop Gold but don't sign in.
2. On the login screen, click the down-arrow next to the username box to display your usernames.
3. Select the username you wish to see the mail for.
4. Close the login screen by clicking the X button.
5. Click File in the top menu bar | Download Manager.
6. Open the attachment by clicking on the File name.

Make a backup of your locally stored emails

1. Launch AOL Desktop Gold but don't sign in.
2. On the login screen, click the down-arrow next to the username box to display your usernames.
3. Select the username you wish to see the mail for.
4. Close the login screen by clicking the X button.
5. Click the Read Mail icon .
6. Click on any folder under Saved on My PC to access your locally stored emails.
7. Double click an email to open it.
8. Click the File menu in the upper left corner of the screen.
9. Click Save
10. Enter a file name and select a format (text or HTML).
11. Click Save.

Use AOL Mail for sending and receiving emails

1. Visit AOAOL Mail.
2. Sign in with your username and password.
3. Click Inbox to see your email.

Review our Mail Help page for more info on how to use AOL Mail.