A lot of normal, everyday things from the 90s have quietly vanished. There was no single moment when they ended; the smartphone, broadband and streaming just slowly made them unnecessary. Here are 30 things from the 90s that no longer exist, or survive only in tiny numbers, along with what replaced each one.
Quick answer
Things from the 90s that no longer exist (or barely do) include video rental stores, payphones, printed phone books, dial-up internet, one-hour photo labs, pagers, encyclopedia sets, answering machine tapes and the habit of rewinding tapes. Most were replaced by smartphones, broadband and streaming.
Key takeaways
- Many 90s things did not disappear overnight; they faded as smartphones arrived.
- Some survive in tiny numbers, like one famous video rental store.
- A few, like film cameras and cassettes, are making a comeback.
30 things from the 90s that no longer exist
| # | Thing | What replaced it |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Video rental stores and late fees | Streaming services |
| 2 | Payphones on every corner | Mobile phones |
| 3 | Printed phone books | Search engines and contacts apps |
| 4 | Dial-up internet | Broadband and mobile data |
| 5 | One-hour photo labs | Phone cameras and photo apps |
| 6 | Pagers (beepers) | Text messages |
| 7 | Rewinding VHS tapes | Streaming and skip buttons |
| 8 | Encyclopedia sets and CD-ROM encyclopedias | Online encyclopedias and search |
| 9 | Floppy disks | USB drives and cloud storage |
| 10 | Answering machine tapes | Voicemail |
| 11 | Paper road maps in the glovebox | GPS and map apps |
| 12 | Printed TV listings for the week | On-demand menus |
| 13 | Calling a friend's house and talking to their parents | Texting directly |
| 14 | Memorizing phone numbers | Contacts on your phone |
| 15 | Waiting a week for the film to be developed | Instant photos |
| 16 | Recording songs off the radio | Music streaming |
| 17 | CD clubs with "12 CDs for a penny" offers | Streaming subscriptions |
| 18 | Free trial internet CDs | Instant sign-up |
| 19 | Waiting for a show to air at a set time | Binge-watching |
| 20 | The family computer in the den | Personal laptops and phones |
| 21 | Fax machines at home | Email and scanning apps |
| 22 | Mail-order catalogs as a weekend read | Online shopping |
| 23 | CRT TVs that took two people to lift | Flat screens |
| 24 | Disposable cameras at every party | Phone cameras (though they are coming back) |
| 25 | Busy signals | Call waiting and voicemail |
| 26 | Big mall arcades in every town | Home consoles and phone games |
| 27 | Toll-free numbers to request a song on the radio | Playlists |
| 28 | Dedicated portable CD players | Phones and wireless earbuds |
| 29 | Library card catalogs | Digital catalogs |
| 30 | Party lines and 1-900 hotlines advertised on TV | Apps and social media |
NIGHT
MOVIEBE KIND
REWINDDUE BACK
TUES
The ones that survive in tiny numbers
Some 90s staples did not vanish completely. One video rental franchise store in Bend, Oregon stayed open and became a tourist attraction. A few payphones remain in airports, hospitals and remote places. Some stores still develop film, especially as film photography has become popular again. Many classic chains are covered in our tour of 90s mall stores.
Fun fact: Rewinding a VHS tape before returning it was considered good manners in the 90s. Some rental stores charged a small fee if you didn't, and some kids had a separate rewinder machine shaped like a car.
- 143I love you
- 07734hello (upside down)
- 411what's the news?
- 911call me now
- 121let's talk alone
What one smartphone replaced
Camera and photo lab
Instant photos, no waiting for prints.
Pager and payphone
Calls and texts anywhere.
Walkman and CD player
Music streaming in your pocket.
Phone book and address book
Search and contacts.
Road atlas
Turn-by-turn directions.
Game Boy
Mobile games.
Alarm clock and calculator
Built-in apps.
Encyclopedia
The whole web.
The 90s things that are coming back
Some of these are not gone for good. Film cameras, disposable cameras, vinyl, cassettes, flip phones and handheld game consoles have all seen a revival. See what else is returning in 90s trends coming back.
Try this: Pick any year in the 90s Year Explorer to see the snacks, gadgets and games that were brand new at the time.
Conclusion
The 90s were the last decade before everything moved into our pockets. To remember how we got online back then, read about the 90s internet, and see what the decade gave us in things invented in the 90s.
Frequently asked questions
What things from the 90s no longer exist?
Everyday things that have disappeared or nearly disappeared since the 90s include video rental stores, payphones, printed phone books, dial-up internet, one-hour photo labs, pagers, encyclopedia sets and answering machines with tapes.
Are there any video rental stores left?
Almost none. One famous franchise store in Bend, Oregon is still open and has become a tourist attraction.
Do payphones still exist?
Very few. They have mostly been removed from streets, though some remain in airports, hospitals and remote areas.
What replaced the things we used in the 90s?
Smartphones replaced many of them at once: the camera, phone book, map, pager, music player, alarm clock and calculator now live in one device, along with streaming services and online shopping.
Which 90s things are making a comeback?
Film cameras, vinyl records, cassette tapes, flip phones and some 90s fashion are coming back. See our guide to 90s trends coming back.