The Arc browser is shutting down. Arc for Mac and Windows stops working on 22 December 2026, and The Browser Company wants Arc users to move to Dia, its newer browser. Dia imports your Spaces, pinned tabs, folders, passwords and extensions from Arc in a few clicks. If you would rather go somewhere else, the latest Arc update can also export your data.
New Arc accounts were switched off on 22 October. Arc keeps getting basic updates and fixes until it shuts down, but there will be no new features, and the team says it will only deal with large bugs. Export your tabs before 22 December if you plan to use a browser other than Dia.
Arc shutdown dates
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 22 October 2026 | New Arc accounts can no longer be created. The latest Arc version adds data export and a smoother import into Dia. |
| 23 November 2026 | Arc Search on iPhone and Android loses Browse for Me and its other AI features, and sign-in and sync stop. Arc for Mac and Windows starts showing sunset reminders. |
| 22 December 2026 | Arc for Mac and Windows stops working and you can no longer sign in. Arc Search for Android is removed from the Play Store and from devices. Arc Search for iPhone keeps working as a lite browser. |
After 22 December, Arc accounts are deactivated and the company says it deletes the personal data tied to them within 30 days. Support stays open through the help centre chat until the shutdown date.
Why Arc is shutting down
In its farewell note, The Browser Company says keeping a browser secure has become much harder in the age of AI. Dia was built with modern security in mind, and the company is moving its security team onto Dia full time instead of splitting it across two browsers. With fewer people looking after Arc, it says keeping it running would put users at risk.
Arc will still get basic fixes until December. Move your banking and work logins to a browser that will keep receiving security support before Arc shuts down.
How to move from Arc to Dia
Dia is free on Mac and Windows. The features Arc users care about are free in Dia, and its AI tools are optional. Before you start, update Arc to the latest version, and keep Arc installed until the import has finished.
- Download Dia from diabrowser.com/download and open it.
- When Dia asks which browser to import from, choose Arc.
- Pick the Arc extensions you want Dia to install.
- On Windows, quit Arc first. If you see a “Cookies file locked” message, select Close so Dia can read your Arc data.
- Let the import finish, then check your profiles, pinned tabs and passwords before you remove Arc.
Already use Dia? You can still pull in Arc. On a Mac, go to Dia > Import from Another Browser… and choose Arc. On Windows, open the app menu and choose Import from another browser…. Each Arc Space comes in as a new Dia profile, so the data you already have in Dia is left alone.
Importing from Arc during setup switches Dia to its sidebar layout, so tabs sit down the left side the way they did in Arc. On a Mac, new tabs open at the top of the sidebar. If you want more room, Cmd+S on a Mac or Ctrl+S on Windows hides the sidebar.
What comes over from Arc and what does not
| In Arc | In Dia after import |
|---|---|
| Spaces | Profiles, in the same order and colours. Spaces that shared an Arc profile still share data. |
| Favorites | Icon-only pinned tabs |
| Pinned tabs | Pinned tabs that keep their titles and any custom names |
| Folders | Pinned tab groups. Nested folders become separate groups, because Dia does not nest them. |
| GitHub Live Folders | Live Groups |
| Bookmarks, history, passwords, cookies, extensions and open tabs | Imported |
| Easels, Boosts and other Arc-only features | Not imported |
| Saved payment methods and autofill | Check these separately after importing; the company does not list them among the data it promises to move. |
Importing does not change anything in Arc, so you can run both side by side until 22 December. Save any Easel or Boost you care about by hand before then. Check payment details and autofill separately after the import.
How to export your Arc data without Dia
If you are moving to Chrome, Safari, Firefox or anything else, use Arc’s own export first. The export is a list of your links, so expect to rebuild your setup by hand in the new browser.
- Arc on Mac: Arc > Settings > Advanced > Export Data, then Save.
- Arc on Windows: press Ctrl+, to open settings, go to Advanced, find Export Spaces and tabs, choose Export Data, then Save.
- Arc Search on iPhone: open the Tab Switcher, go to Settings and choose Export Data.
- Arc Search on Android: from the Tab Switcher, open Settings > Storage > Export data.
If you have not opened Arc in a while, download it again to get the version with export. The export is a list of links, so move your saved passwords to your new browser or a password manager separately before uninstalling Arc.
Should you move to Dia or somewhere else?
If you liked Arc for its vertical tabs, Spaces and pinned tabs, Dia is the simplest option because it can import them directly. If you never used Arc’s AI features, Chrome or Safari may be enough. Arc’s export gives you a list of links, so you will need to rebuild your tab setup there.
Whichever you pick, do not stay on Arc until the last day. Once security work moves to Dia, Arc gets only basic fixes, and an unpatched browser is a bigger risk than it looks. Finish the move while Arc still lets you sign in and export your data.
FAQ
When does Arc stop working?
Arc for Mac and Windows stops working on 22 December 2026. Arc Search for Android is removed the same day, while Arc Search for iPhone keeps working as a lite browser without sign-in or AI features.
Is Dia free?
Yes. Dia is free on Mac and Windows, the Arc features it carries over are free, and its AI features are optional.
Will my Arc Spaces and passwords move to Dia?
Yes. Spaces become profiles, and bookmarks, history, passwords, cookies, extensions and open tabs are imported. Easels and Boosts need to be saved separately. Check payment details and autofill after importing.
Can I still create an Arc account?
No. New Arc accounts were switched off on 22 October 2026.
- SourceArc: A farewell to Arc
- SourceDia release notes
