The Arc browser is shutting down. Arc will stop working on Mac and Windows on Dec. 22, 2026, and The Browser Company, which makes it, will delete account data within 30 days after that. If you use Arc, you have until Dec. 22 to move your tabs, logins and bookmarks somewhere else.
The short version
The Browser Company announced on Oct. 22 that it is retiring Arc to focus on its newer browser, Dia. Nothing breaks today, but there are three dates to put in your calendar.
- New Arc accounts stopped on Oct. 22, and existing accounts keep working for now.
- On Nov. 23, Arc Search on iPhone and Android loses its AI features, sign-in and tab sync.
- On Dec. 22, Arc stops working on Mac and Windows, accounts are deactivated, and Arc Search for Android is removed from the Play Store and from phones.
- Dia can import your passwords, history, tabs, bookmarks and extensions from Arc in a few clicks, and Dia is free for Mac and Windows.
- If you would rather use another browser, Arc can save your tabs as a list of links, but the company’s guide does not explain how to move passwords anywhere except Dia.
The upshot: this is not an emergency, but it has a hard end. After Dec. 22 the company says it will no longer be able to find or recover Arc user data for anyone. Moving early, while Arc still runs, means you can check that everything came across before the old browser is gone.
Why the Arc browser is shutting down
The Browser Company says keeping a browser safe now takes too much work to do twice. “Keeping a browser secure takes constant, dedicated work that is only increasing in the age of AI,” it wrote on its farewell page. Its engineers and security team are moving to Dia, the browser it built to replace Arc.
Until Dec. 22, the company says Arc will keep working as usual and get basic updates. You can read the full timeline and its questions and answers on The Browser Company’s Arc farewell page.
The three dates that matter
| Date | What changes | Days from Oct. 26 |
|---|---|---|
| Oct. 22 | No new Arc accounts. Existing members are not affected yet. | Already happened |
| Nov. 23 | Arc Search on iPhone and Android loses AI features, sign-in and tab sync. It keeps working as a basic browser. | 28 days |
| Dec. 22 | Arc stops working on Mac and Windows. Accounts are deactivated. Arc Search for Android is pulled from the Play Store and from phones. | 57 days |
| About Jan. 21, 2027 | End of the 30 days the company gives itself to delete Arc personal data. | 87 days |
How to move from Arc to Dia
This is the easiest path, because Dia was built by the same team and can read your Arc setup directly.
- Download Dia for Mac or Windows from Dia’s official site.
- During sign-up, when Dia asks which browser to import from, choose Arc.
- Already using Dia? On a Mac, go to Dia, then Import from Another Browser in the menu bar. On Windows, open the Dia app menu and choose Import from another browser.
- Open a few of your most-used sites and check that your saved passwords, Pinned Tabs and folders came across before Dec. 22.
A few names change on the way. Arc’s Spaces become Profiles in Dia, and Folders become Tab Groups. Dia keeps vertical tabs in a sidebar if you want them. The company says Arc’s features are free in Dia and the AI tools are optional.
How to save your Arc tabs for another browser
If you would rather move to Chrome, Safari, Edge or Firefox, Arc can save your tabs as a list of links before Dec. 22.
- On a Mac: open Arc, then Settings in the menu bar. Choose Advanced, then Export Data, and save the file.
- On Windows: press Ctrl and the comma key to open Settings. In the Advanced section, find Export Spaces and tabs, choose Export Data and save the file.
- On iPhone (Arc Search): tap the Tab Switcher in the bottom left corner, tap Settings, then Export Data to share or copy your open tabs.
- On Android (Arc Search): tap the Tab Switcher, then Settings, then Storage, then Export data.
- Haven’t opened Arc in months? The company says you can download Arc again and export from inside the app until Dec. 22.
The Browser Company’s guide does not explain how to move saved passwords from Arc to a browser other than Dia. If you keep logins only inside Arc, this is a good time to move them into a password manager first. Our picks for the best password managers for families can help you choose one, and our guide to setting up passkeys can replace many of those passwords for good.
Should you switch to Dia or somewhere else?
Pick Dia if you liked how Arc worked and want the shortest move. It brings your setup across with the least effort and keeps the sidebar layout.
Pick another browser if you want something with a long track record, or if you only use Arc on your phone. Dia is listed only for Mac and Windows on its site, so Arc Search users on iPhone and Android will need a different mobile browser either way.
The downside of waiting: if you leave it until the week before Christmas, you may find a missing password or folder after Arc has already stopped opening.
What to do this week
Export your Arc tabs today, even if you plan to use Dia, so you have a backup file. Then set a reminder for Dec. 15, a week before the shutdown, to open Arc one last time and confirm nothing is left behind. While you are tidying up, our guide to securing your online accounts is a quick checklist for the logins you move.
