The Arc browser shutdown is official: Arc stops working on Mac and Windows on December 22, 2026, and the Arc Search phone app loses its AI features on November 23. You have about two months to move your passwords, bookmarks and tabs, either to Dia (made by the same company) or to another browser you like.
Key takeaways
- Arc for Mac and Windows stops working on December 22, 2026, and Arc accounts are deactivated that day.
- Arc Search on iPhone and Android loses AI features, sign-in and tab sync on November 23, 2026.
- Dia is free and imports passwords, bookmarks, history, tabs, extensions and Spaces straight from Arc.
- Not going to Dia? Use Arc’s new Export Data option before the deadline.
- Double-check saved payment cards and addresses yourself: they aren’t on the official import list.
Nov 23
Arc Search AI and sync end
Dec 22
Arc stops on Mac and Windows
30 days
Until Arc account data is deleted
C$0
Cost to download Dia
Arc browser shutdown dates: what stops and when
The Browser Company announced the sunset on October 22, 2026. New Arc accounts can no longer be created from that day, but nothing changes yet for existing users.
The same update added a way to export all your Arc data. Here is the full timeline from the official Arc farewell page:
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Oct 22, 2026 | No new Arc sign-ups. Export Data option added. |
| Nov 23, 2026 | Arc Search (iOS and Android) loses Browse for Me and other AI features, plus sign-in and tab sync. A basic browser remains. |
| Dec 22, 2026 | Arc stops working on macOS and Windows. Accounts are deactivated. Arc Search is removed from Google Play and from Android devices. |
| Within 30 days after | Personal data tied to your Arc account is deleted. |
The key point: after December 22, the company says it can no longer find or retrieve Arc user data. If you don’t move it before then, it’s gone.
How to move from Arc to Dia (step by step)
Dia is The Browser Company’s newer, AI-focused browser for Mac and Windows. The company says the Arc features you use are free in Dia, and the AI tools are optional.
- Download Dia. Get it from diabrowser.com/download on the same computer where Arc is installed.
- Pick Arc during sign-up. When Dia asks which browser to import from, choose Arc.
- Already use Dia? On Mac, open the Dia menu and choose Import from Another Browser. On Windows, open the Dia app menu and choose Import from another browser.
- Check what came over. Your Spaces become Profiles, Folders become Tab Groups, and Favorites and Pinned Tabs keep their custom names.
- Test your logins and payments. Sign in to your bank, email and a store you use. Re-add any card or address that didn’t carry over.
Dia also keeps the vertical tab sidebar, Split View, Pinned Tabs and Favorites, so most Arc habits still work.
Going somewhere else? Export your Arc data first
You only need to export if you want your tabs in a browser other than Dia. It takes under a minute:
- Mac. Arc menu, then Settings, Advanced, Export Data, and Save.
- Windows. Press Ctrl + comma to open Settings. Under Advanced, find “Export Spaces and tabs,” then choose Export Data and Save.
- iPhone (Arc Search). Tap the tab switcher at the bottom left, then Settings and Export Data to copy or share your open tabs.
- Android (Arc Search). Tap the tab switcher, then Settings, Storage and Export data.
Haven’t opened Arc in months? The farewell page at arc.net still links to the latest Mac and Windows installers, so you can reinstall it just to export.
Best Arc alternatives compared
All of these are free to download. Pick based on what you loved most about Arc.
| Browser | Best for | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Dia | The easiest move | Same company, direct Arc import, optional AI. Mac and Windows only. |
| Zen Browser | Arc-style layout without AI | Open source, built on Firefox, with a workspace sidebar. Windows, Mac and Linux. |
| Microsoft Edge | Windows users who want vertical tabs | Built-in vertical tabs and tab groups. Imports from other installed browsers. |
| Your old browser | Keeping it simple | Export from Arc, then import bookmarks into Chrome, Safari or Firefox. |
The catch, and a quick privacy check
Not everything is confirmed to move. Arc’s official import list covers passwords, bookmarks, history, tabs, extensions, Spaces, Favorites and Folders. It doesn’t mention saved payment cards or autofill addresses, so plan to re-add those.
Arc Search on phones has no Dia replacement. The farewell page only lists Dia for macOS and Windows. Export your open tabs before November 23.
Dia is an AI browser. Its assistant can read across your open tabs. If that feels like too much, you can skip the AI. Our guide to using AI agents safely covers what to share and what to keep private.
Don’t keep using Arc after December 22. The company says its security teams now focus on Dia, and an unsupported browser is a risk for banking and email.
Station take
If you live in Arc every day, moving to Dia is the path of least effort. The import is built in and your sidebar habits carry over.
If you never wanted AI in your browser, Zen is the closest feel without it. Either way, do the move this week, not on December 21, and use the switch as a chance to clean up old passwords. Moving to passkeys for your main accounts is a smart upgrade while you’re at it.
Running a small business on browser tabs? See our free AI tools for small business, and if you’d like your team’s tools set up properly, see what Media Station Studio can do. More how-tos live in our Tips section.
FAQ
When does Arc browser stop working?
Arc stops working on Mac and Windows on December 22, 2026. Arc Search on phones loses its AI features and sync on November 23, 2026.
Will I lose my Arc bookmarks and passwords?
Only if you don’t move them. Import them into Dia or export them from Arc before December 22. Account data is deleted within 30 days after that date.
Is Dia browser free?
Yes, Dia is free to download, and The Browser Company says the Arc features you use are free there. The AI features are optional.
Will Arc be made open source?
No. CEO Josh Miller told TechCrunch that open-sourcing Arc would also expose the technology that powers Dia, so it won’t happen.
Sources: Arc: A farewell to Arc (official) · TechCrunch · 9to5Mac · Engadget · Thurrott (Zen Browser) · Microsoft Edge (vertical tabs). Photos: Pixabay (free licence). This article was prepared with AI assistance and reviewed by Media Station. Disclosure.