The Browser Company will switch off Arc’s desktop browser on December 22, 2026. On that date, Arc for macOS and Windows will stop working, Arc accounts will be deactivated and the company will begin deleting associated personal data. Existing desktop users have less than two months to preserve what matters and test a replacement.
The important detail is that Arc has several different kinds of data. Spaces and tabs use one export path; account-level personal data uses another; passwords, history and extensions require a browser-to-browser import or a separate export. Treating those as one backup can leave gaps.
This guide follows The Browser Company’s current shutdown documentation and separates confirmed steps from browser-specific caveats. Complete the migration early enough to verify everyday sites before Arc’s final day.
Shutdown timeline at a glance
- October 22, 2026: The shutdown was announced and new Arc account creation ended.
- November 23, 2026: Arc Search for iOS and Android loses AI features, sign-in and account sync; desktop Arc begins showing migration reminders.
- December 15, 2026: Last day to request a copy of Arc account personal data or ask The Browser Company to delete it early.
- December 22, 2026: Arc for macOS and Windows stops working, Arc accounts are deactivated, services are switched off and the Android app is removed from devices and Google Play.
- Within 30 days after December 22: The Browser Company says remaining Arc personal data will be deleted. Arc Search on iOS can continue basic browsing, but its Arc account and AI services will already be gone.
What will stop working
The desktop cutoff is not merely the end of feature development. The official timeline says Arc on macOS and Windows will stop working on December 22. Until then, the desktop apps are expected to receive only basic updates and critical fixes, not new features.
Arc Search changes earlier. On November 23, the iOS and Android apps lose AI features, sign-in and sync. On December 22, the Android app is removed from Google Play and from installed Android devices. The iOS app remains a basic browser, but it should not be treated as a safe archive for synced Arc data.
If a work or school profile depends on Arc, involve the organization’s administrator now. Managed passwords, passkeys, certificates, extensions and single-sign-on sessions may not be portable through a personal browser import.
Back up first: Arc has two different exports
1. Export Spaces and tabs
Arc’s built-in Export Data command creates a file containing Spaces and tabs. It is useful as a reference and fallback, but The Browser Company says it is not a complete profile backup.
- On macOS, open Arc > Settings > Advanced > Export Data.
- On Windows, press Ctrl+, or open the Arc menu, choose Settings > Advanced, then select Export Spaces and tabs > Export Data.
Save the export outside Arc—ideally in a backed-up folder—and open it before moving on. Make sure the file lists the Spaces and tabs you expect.
2. Request account-level personal data
The Browser Company offers a separate request for a copy of personal data associated with an Arc account. The deadline is December 15, one week before desktop shutdown. The company warns that this account export does not include information stored only on a device, including browsing history and passwords.
Use the shutdown support page’s data-request link while you can still access the email address attached to the Arc account. Keep the delivered archive with your other migration records.
3. Move passwords, history and extensions
For the most complete assisted move, Dia can import Arc passwords, bookmarks, extensions and history. Other destination browsers may offer their own importers, but support varies by platform and version. If you use a separate password manager, confirm that its vault is fully synchronized and that its browser extension works in the destination browser.
Before deleting anything, sign in to several important accounts in the new browser, verify two-factor authentication and test at least one saved passkey. A visible bookmark is not proof that credentials or local history moved.
Move to Dia: the easiest complete migration
Dia is The Browser Company’s replacement browser and the path with the most explicit Arc import support. It uses a separate account, so an Arc login does not automatically become a Dia login.
- Install Dia on the Mac or Windows PC that still has Arc and create or sign in to a Dia account.
- When prompted during setup, choose the Arc import. In an existing Dia installation, open the import command for another browser and select Arc.
- Select the available categories—such as passwords, bookmarks, extensions and history—and complete the import before December 22.
- Check several Spaces after import. Dia converts Arc Spaces into Profiles and Arc Favorites into pinned tabs.
- Open representative sites from every Profile, confirm extensions are enabled and test autofill, downloads, video calls and any work authentication.
- Keep Arc and the independent export file until the new setup has worked for several days.
The import is a one-time copy, not ongoing synchronization. Changes made later in Arc will not automatically appear in Dia. If you continue using Arc after the first import, repeat any manual checks before the cutoff.
What will not survive in Dia
The Browser Company’s FAQ says Dia can reproduce much of Arc’s sidebar organization, but several Arc-specific features have no direct equivalent. These include Air Traffic Control, Boosts, Easels, Little Arc, Peek, TypeTravel and Instant Links.
That makes the export file important even for people who choose Dia. Save text or screenshots of custom Boosts, Easels and routing rules you want to rebuild. If a workflow relies on one of those tools, test the replacement behavior instead of assuming the visual migration preserved it.
Alternatives if you do not want Dia
Zen Browser: the closest visual idea
Zen is a Firefox-based browser with vertical tabs, workspaces and a layout that will feel familiar to many Arc users. Its biggest caveat is media compatibility: Zen’s official FAQ says it does not ship Google Widevine DRM, so services including Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, Spotify and Apple Music may not play protected content in the browser. Test the exact services you use before committing.
Chrome, Edge or Firefox: conventional and well-supported
A mainstream browser is less visually similar to Arc but may be easier for managed work accounts, streaming services, extension compatibility and long-term support. Chrome and Edge accept Chromium extensions; Firefox has its own extension ecosystem. Import what each browser supports, then rebuild Spaces as profiles, tab groups, containers or bookmark folders.
Do not choose solely by how closely a sidebar resembles Arc. Verify password import, passkeys, video conferencing, protected media, printing, downloads, accessibility tools and every extension that is essential to your daily work.
Account-security checklist before switching
Browser migrations are a good time to remove credentials that should never be the only copy. Export or synchronize passwords through a trusted password manager, save recovery codes offline and add a second authentication method to high-value accounts.
For phishing-resistant two-factor authentication, the USB-C and NFC Yubico YubiKey 5C NFC (ASIN B08DHL1YDL) is available on Amazon. A hardware key is optional and does not replace a password manager or backup key, but it can keep account recovery independent of one browser installation.
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- Add at least two sign-in methods to critical accounts before removing Arc.
- Store recovery codes somewhere that does not depend on the old browser.
- Keep a second hardware security key in a secure location if a key protects your primary email or password manager.
- Confirm passkeys appear on the device or password manager where you expect them.
- Sign out and back in to one noncritical account to test the new recovery path.
Final verification checklist
- Open the independent Spaces-and-tabs export and confirm it is readable.
- Request Arc account data no later than December 15 if you want a copy.
- Verify passwords, history, extensions and bookmarks in the destination browser.
- Test every Profile or workspace and rebuild any Arc-only feature you still need.
- Check work logins, passkeys, protected media, video calls, printing and downloads.
- Keep Arc installed until the replacement has worked reliably, but finish before December 22.
- Delete old local exports securely after you have a verified backup and no longer need them.
The bottom line
Arc’s December 22 desktop shutdown is a hard deadline, not a routine end-of-support notice. The safest plan is to make both official exports, move browser-local data through a supported importer and spend several days validating the replacement.
Dia offers the cleanest official migration and translates Spaces into Profiles, but it does not carry every Arc feature. Zen is visually closer than most conventional browsers, yet its DRM limitation can be decisive. Chrome, Edge and Firefox are less Arc-like but may be more predictable for work, extensions and media. The right choice is the one that passes your real workflow tests before Arc can no longer open.
Sources
The Browser Company: Arc sunset key dates and what to expect — October 22, 2026
The Browser Company: Arc sunset frequently asked questions
The Browser Company: Move from Arc to Dia
The Browser Company: How to export data from Arc
Arc: Farewell and migration overview
The Verge: The Arc browser is shutting down — October 22, 2026
The Verge: Zen Browser review as an Arc replacement — October 25, 2026
Zen Browser documentation: Frequently asked questions and DRM limitation
