Arc browser shutdown set for December 22: what to do before it stops working

The Arc browser shutdown now has a firm date. The Browser Company said on October 22 that it will sunset Arc on December 22, 2026, and move its users to Dia, the company's newer browser built around AI. That gives Arc fans exactly two months to export what they need and pick a new home, and the deadline comes in stages, with some features disappearing a month earlier.

Arc built a loyal following with its vertical tabs, Spaces and clean design. Development had already stopped in 2025, but many people kept using it daily. Here is what is changing, when, and what you should do now so you do not lose bookmarks, passwords or saved tabs.

What The Browser Company announced

In a message to users, the company wrote, "We've decided to sunset Arc on December 22, 2026," adding, "That's not an easy sentence to write," according to 9to5Mac.

The reason it gave is security. The company said its priority is top tier security for its members, adding, "Keeping a browser secure takes constant, dedicated work that is only increasing in the age of AI." TechCrunch reported that the company also said Dia "was built from the ground up to meet today's security standards, so that's where our engineering and security teams will focus moving forward."

In plain terms, maintaining two browsers and patching both against a fast growing wave of threats was too much for one team. The company chose the newer product.

The Arc browser shutdown timeline

The end does not happen all at once. TechCrunch laid out three steps:

Starting now: no new accounts

As of October 22, nobody can create a new Arc account. Existing users can keep browsing for now.

November 23: Arc Search loses its AI and sync

On November 23, the Arc Search app for iPhone and Android loses its AI features, including Browse for Me. You will also no longer be able to sign in or sync tabs. The app will keep working as a basic browser that only stores data on your phone.

December 22: Arc stops working

On December 22, Arc stops working entirely on Mac and Windows. Accounts are deactivated and personal data is deleted within 30 days, according to TechCrunch. Arc Search is removed from the Google Play Store on the same date. Engadget summed it up simply: on that date, users will no longer be able to access their accounts.

What carries over to Dia

The Browser Company is clearly trying to make the move painless. According to 9to5Mac, the company says passwords, bookmarks, extensions and history "come over to Dia seamlessly," and that Spaces, Folders and Tab Groups import with your data intact.

Some Arc ideas live on under new names. TechCrunch reported that Spaces are now called Profiles in Dia, folders have been renamed Pinned Tab Groups, and vertical tabs remain available as an optional sidebar layout.

The company also stresses two points meant to calm skeptics. First, Dia is free, and the Arc style features you use are free there too. Second, the AI is optional. The company claims Dia now beats Arc on stability, speed and security benchmarks, though those are its own figures.

Engadget describes Dia as a browser with a built in chatbot that can understand context across your open tabs, summarize emails and YouTube videos, and put together a morning brief from your calendar, inbox and links.

Why it matters

Arc mattered beyond its user count. It showed that the basic browser layout, unchanged for years, could still be rethought. Its sidebar and Spaces model influenced how people thought about tabs, and fans were vocal about it.

That is why reaction on social media was, in TechCrunch's words, "largely disappointed." Many users asked the company to open source Arc instead of shutting it down. The company has addressed that before. TechCrunch pointed to an earlier statement from cofounder Josh Miller, who said the company would love to release Arc's code someday but could not do it in a meaningful way without also releasing ADK. ADK, the Arc Development Kit, also powers Dia, so releasing Arc's code would expose the foundation of the company's current product.

The shutdown also fits a bigger pattern. Atlassian bought The Browser Company for $610 million in 2025, and the industry has been racing to put AI assistants inside the browser. Not every attempt has lasted; 9to5Mac noted that OpenAI shut down its Atlas browser earlier this year. The message for users is that browsers are being reshaped quickly, and smaller products can disappear when companies refocus.

Who is affected

Anyone who uses Arc on Mac or Windows needs to move before December 22. People who use Arc Search on a phone will notice changes sooner, on November 23, when sync and AI features stop.

Business users should pay special attention. If your team relies on Arc for shared Spaces or saved logins, plan the switch now so nobody is locked out of work tools in the final week of December, when many people are away for the holidays.

What to do before December 22

You have two realistic choices: move to Dia, or move to another browser such as Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge or Brave. Either way, take these steps:

1. Back up first. Export your bookmarks to a file even if you plan to use Dia's importer. A local copy protects you if anything fails. Our guide to downloading your data from big tech services explains why keeping your own copy is a good habit.
2. Move your passwords safely. If Arc stores your passwords, move them into a dedicated password manager rather than another browser. That way the next browser change will not matter. Here is how to choose a password manager.
3. Write down your Spaces and pinned tabs. If you go to a browser other than Dia, these will not transfer neatly. A quick list or screenshot saves time later.
4. Check your extensions. Make a list of the extensions you use so you can reinstall them.
5. Sign out and review security. After you switch, change passwords for your most important accounts if they were only saved in Arc, and turn on two factor sign in. Our 10 minute account security checklist walks you through it.

Do not wait until the last week. Once accounts are deactivated, TechCrunch reports that data is deleted within 30 days, and there is no sign the company will extend the date.

Should you switch to Dia?

If you liked Arc's layout and want the least work, Dia is the easiest path, since your data comes over automatically and the AI can stay off. If the shutdown makes you wary of depending on a small company's browser, a mainstream browser with vertical tab options may feel safer for the long term. Keeping a browser patched is a real issue, as recent server and web flaws like PHP2Shell show, so choose one that gets frequent security updates.

What to watch next

Watch whether The Browser Company adds more Arc style features to Dia before the deadline, and whether pressure to open source Arc grows. Also watch for official export tools beyond the Dia importer for people leaving the company's products entirely. For more on the shifting browser and platform landscape, see our take on how the open web keeps shrinking and follow our tech news coverage.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Arc browser shutting down?

The Browser Company says Arc will stop working on December 22, 2026, on both Mac and Windows. Arc Search on mobile loses AI features and sync on November 23.

Will I lose my Arc bookmarks and passwords?

Not if you act before December 22. Dia imports passwords, bookmarks, extensions and history, and you can export bookmarks to a file as a backup. After accounts are deactivated, data is deleted within 30 days, TechCrunch reports.

Is Dia free?

Yes. The company says Dia is free, Arc style features are free in Dia, and the AI features are optional.

Why is Arc being shut down?

The company cited the growing work needed to keep a browser secure in the age of AI and said it will focus its engineering and security teams on Dia.