Lifestyle / Nostalgia

20 Things We Don’t Miss About The 1990s

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A small, yellow-roofed Kodak Film kiosk offers one-day photo finishing in a parking lot; a green vintage convertible is parked at the window, and mid-century cars and shops are visible in the background.

The 1990s were a wild ride. It was a time of mixtapes, frosted tips, and TV you actually had to watch live. While some memories from that decade still bring a smile, not everything has aged quite so well.

For every fun fad or beloved gadget, there was a clunky, confusing, or downright annoying counterpart we’re happy to leave in the past. As much as we love to romanticize the ‘90s, there’s plenty we don’t miss. Here are 20 things we don’t miss about the 1990s.

1. Crank car windows

Close-up of a car's manual window crank handle on a gray door panel. The handle is textured at the end for grip and is mounted on a smooth, lightly textured surface.
sharkpirateninja/via reddit.com

2. Dial-up internet

A classic America Online (AOL) login screen displays three icons: a running person, a running person with speed lines, and a group of people, with "Connected!" shown beneath them.
mombojimbo/via reddit.com

3. Beepers and pagers

A black Motorola Bravo Express pager with its clear plastic cover removed rests on a wooden surface. The pager’s screen displays the message “NO PAGES.”
jkjkjkkjkkjkk888/via reddit.com

4. VHS tapes

A cardboard box filled with VHS tapes, some labeled with handwritten notes. One Scotch T-120 video cassette is placed on top, and several Kodak-branded tapes are visible among the collection.
texas_tappa1012/via reddit.com

5. Floppy disks

Two vintage floppy disks labeled "DOS 3.3 SYSTEM MASTER" and "DOS 3.3 BASICS" in white sleeves with the Apple rainbow logo and "disk II" text, placed on a wooden surface against a black background.
ruralmeyerspuds/via reddit.com

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6. Making mixtapes on cassettes

A cassette tape with a white label, colored stripes, and black text that reads "MIXTAPE" and "STUFF TO DANCE TO.
blacklungdisease/via reddit.com

7. Paper maps and no GPS

A close-up of a hand pointing to a specific location on a detailed nautical map with yellow landmasses and blue waterways.
stockvault

8. Landline phones with cords

A close-up of a beige office landline telephone with large number buttons, a corded handset, and indicator lights, sitting on a white desk. The background is softly blurred.
barteko/via flickr.com

9. Paper phone books

A close-up of a yellow phone book shows business listings and advertisements printed in black text on the pages. The directory is open, revealing several columns of contact information.
rainbowdash118/via reddit.com

10. Developing photos

A vintage Kodak photo kiosk stands in a parking lot with a yellow roof and red signage. A green convertible car is parked beside it. Shops and parked cars are visible in the background under a clear sky.
itsboydcrowder/via reddit.com

11. Slow, massive computers

An older man types on a vintage computer with a CRT monitor displaying an old software interface, surrounded by books and papers on a wooden desk.
potatohead657/via reddit.com

12. Blockbuster

A Blockbuster video rental store with large yellow letters on the storefront, surrounded by trees and a small lawn, viewed from a parking lot in front.
damagedgoodz99824/via reddit.com

13. Tamagochi guilt

A pink and green Tamagotchi Uni device with a small screen displaying a ghost-like character on a white background.
userdeleted/via reddit.com

14. Flip phones

Five different flip phones from various brands are displayed open on a light gray wooden surface, showing their keypads and screens.
fatter_design/via reddit.com

15. Tangled wire headphones

A pair of white wired earphones with tangled cords and white silicone ear tips resting on a light wooden surface.
zingzing_jr/via reddit.com

16. TV antennas

A black-and-white photo of an old television with antennae sits on a small table stacked with papers, next to a blank wall and a dark piece of furniture.
pexels

17. Bowl cuts

A young boy with a wide smile, freckles, and a bowl haircut wears a floral-patterned shirt with a blue collar, posing for a school portrait against a plain studio background.
shaneblaster/via reddit.com

18. Blowing into video game cartridges like a doctor

A person blows on a classic NES game cartridge, holding it close to their mouth with a TV showing static in the background.
bigbadbootymacdaddy/via reddit.com

19. Smacking the TV to get the picture back

A black television on a wooden table displays static noise, commonly known as "snow," with horizontal blinds and a green potted plant in the background.
djf47021/via reddit.com

20. The TV that weighed 250 lbs and took 3 people to move

A person sits cross-legged on the floor playing a Super Nintendo game on a large TV in an office, with Yoshi and Mario plush toys placed on top of the TV.
dualcay0te/via reddit.com

Want to see more vintage ’90s content?

Check out 40 Vintage Photos of the Early 1990s, or take a look at 44 Photos That Prove The 1990s Were Just Better. Finally, if you want to see what high school looked like in the ’90s, check out 25 Photos That Show What High School Looked Like in the 1990s.

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Meet the Writer


Patrick Nichols

Patrick is a writer based in upstate New York, where he grew up and still calls home. Over the past year, he’s been diving deep into storytelling, especially tales rooted in history, the Wild West, lost treasures, and ancient artifacts. He’s also drawn to unsolved mysteries and whatever the internet can’t stop talking about.

Whether it’s a centuries-old legend or a bizarre internet rabbit hole, Patrick is always chasing the threads of a compelling story. When he’s not chasing stories, Pat’s probably hiking mountain trails with his dog, exploring new corners of the U.S., or doom-scrolling between hangouts with friends and family. He finds inspiration in nature, forgotten places, and random conversations—anything that sparks curiosity. Whether it’s city streets or backcountry paths, Patrick’s always on the lookout for the next great story.



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