Arc Browser Shuts Down December 22: How to Save Your Data

01 / The story

When is Arc Browser shutting down?

The Browser Company announced on October 22, 2026 that it will sunset Arc on December 22, 2026. Its official farewell says Arc for macOS and Windows will stop working on that date. Existing users therefore need a plan for their saved information and everyday browsing—not just a replacement icon on the desktop. [1] [2]

The deadline is not identical across platforms. Arc Search loses AI features, account sign-in and synchronization on November 23. The company also sets December 15 as the last day to request a copy of personal data associated with an Arc account or ask for its deletion. Waiting until December 22 can be too late for that assisted request. [2]

The immediate advice is straightforward: review what you need, use the documented migration or export route, and verify the result while Arc is still available. The official deadline does not establish that all your local files will be remotely erased, nor that you have a 30-day recovery window afterward. [1] [2]

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How is this different from Arc’s earlier maintenance period?

In May 2025, the company said it was no longer actively developing Arc’s core product experience as before, while continuing Chromium upgrades, security fixes and related maintenance. That was a pause in feature development, not the same event as an announced end to working desktop access. The October 2026 farewell changes the practical situation. [7] [1]

The company now says it is concentrating engineering and security resources on Dia. Arc’s farewell also makes comparative claims about Dia’s speed, stability and security. Those are the company’s statements; we did not verify an independent benchmark or audit proving Dia superior in those areas. [1]

For users, the distinction matters more than the corporate wording. A maintained browser can still be part of your routine. A browser with a fixed shutdown date requires you to move information and test a replacement before access disappears.

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Arc shutdown timeline: desktop and mobile

Use this timeline as a planning aid and check the current official notice before acting. The company’s instructions separate platform behavior and retrieval deadlines; they should not be compressed into one “everything ends” date. [1] [2]

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What happens to Arc Search on iPhone and Android?

The official notice says Arc Search on iOS continues as a reduced-functionality browser, without the discontinued AI, account sign-in or Arc synchronization. It is not described as the same full service continuing indefinitely. Desktop Arc Max features, by contrast, continue until December 22 according to the FAQ. [1] [2] [3]

For Android, the company says Arc Search will be removed from Google Play and installed devices on December 22. That is unusually strong wording, and the retrieved notice does not explain the technical removal mechanism. We report it as the company’s stated plan rather than claiming to have verified how every installation will behave. [1] [3]

Do not assume a mobile tab list is fully protected because your desktop browser still opens. The earlier synchronization cutoff is a reason to inspect each device and save the information you need before the mobile changes arrive.

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What happens to your Arc account data?

The farewell says Arc accounts are deactivated at sunset and personal data associated with them is deleted within 30 days. It also says the company can no longer identify or retrieve Arc account data for requests as of December 22. These statements do not grant a month of continued retrieval after shutdown. [1]

The Help Center gives December 15 as the last day for company-assisted requests. That process is separate from using the in-app importer or export before December 22. If you need a copy from the company rather than simply a list of tabs, act on the earlier deadline. [2]

Dia account data is separate: deletion of Arc-associated data does not itself delete a Dia account. Likewise, the notice does not establish that every local download, exported file or browser-related record on your device is erased remotely. Distinguish account service data from files you have saved yourself. [1]

Handle sensitive exports carefully. A password file or browser profile may contain access to work, banking or personal accounts. Use trusted official transfer mechanisms and private local storage; do not upload those files to a generic conversion website or share them with someone offering unofficial migration help.

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Which Arc information can move to Dia?

The official migration guide lists Spaces, Favorites, pinned tabs, folders, bookmarks, history, passwords and extensions as importable. The farewell explains that Spaces become Dia Profiles and folders become Tab Groups. Pinned tabs and Favorites, including custom names, can transfer. These are documented capabilities, not results from a Qlauson migration test. [1] [4]

A changed organizational model may affect your workflow even when the information arrives. A Space becoming a Profile does not mean every interaction remains identical. Specialized Arc settings, extension configuration and website sessions should be checked individually; the sources do not justify promising complete one-to-one transfer.

Make a short inventory before importing: critical tabs, saved credentials, extensions you need for work and any organization you rely on. After importing, check that inventory in the replacement. A successful completion message is not a substitute for opening important sites and verifying access.

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How to migrate from Arc to Dia

Start at Dia’s official download page and install the version for your operating system. The current guide supports macOS and Windows. Open Dia, choose Arc when asked which browser to import from and select the extensions to install. Keep Arc installed until the import is complete because Dia uses the Arc app to find the data. [4] [6]

On Windows, quit Arc before starting the import. If Dia reports “Cookies file locked,” the guide describes a Close option that can close Arc and continue. Do not work around a locked profile by sending sensitive files to an outside service. [4]

If Dia is already installed, the documented macOS path is Dia → Import from Another Browser. On Windows, use the Dia app menu → Import from another browser. Labels and importer behavior can change, so follow the current guide if the menus differ. [4]

Then test the outcome. Check saved passwords, bookmarks, history, important tabs and installed extensions; sign into essential work sites and confirm the right accounts. Keep independent copies of important information where appropriate. Do not uninstall Arc until import and verification are finished. This review process is a practical recommendation, not a guarantee of complete transfer.

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How to leave Arc without switching to Dia

Arc’s official desktop export creates “Arc Data Export.md.” It contains sections for Spaces and lists Favorites, pinned tabs, folders and other sidebar tabs as links. The guide explicitly says it is a list of links rather than a bookmarks file. It is not a complete backup of passwords, history, extensions or the whole profile. [5]

On macOS, use Arc → Settings → Advanced → Export Data. On Windows, open Settings, then Advanced → Export Spaces and tabs → Export Data. Open the resulting Markdown file in a local text editor and use the saved links to recreate bookmarks or tabs in your chosen browser. The workflow is manual, not a universal automatic importer. [5]

For iOS, the guide points to Tab Switcher → Settings → Export Data; the homepage uses “Export Open Tabs” wording. On Android, the documented route is Tab Switcher → Settings → Storage → Export data. These mobile exports share or copy a list of open tabs, not a full account backup. [1] [5]

Chrome, Firefox, Edge or Safari may be candidates depending on your operating system, work requirements and preferences. We do not rank one as the best replacement for everyone. Test the sites, extensions, accessibility needs and privacy settings that matter to you, and check the chosen browser’s official import instructions separately.

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Arc versus Dia: what changes?

The table summarizes the official status and migration documentation, not performance benchmarks. Dia is available on macOS and Windows; this article does not establish Linux or mobile availability or exact hardware requirements. [4] [6]

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Is Dia free, and can you use it without AI?

As checked October 22, Dia’s plans page describes Better Browser as a free browser with no AI features. The documented features include Profiles, Tab Groups, split view, picture-in-picture, ad/tracking blocking and cross-device sync. New users are offered a 14-day Better Days trial without a credit card; the page says AI pauses afterward without a subscription while free browsing remains. [8]

The same page gives conflicting prices for Better Answers: $10 per month in a card and $20 in its FAQ. We do not choose one or describe either as a settled charge. Verify the applicable checkout terms before paying. The page also describes paid rollout for most new Mac users, continued access for existing users until notice and Windows not yet included in that paid rollout. [8]

“No AI features” in a free tier does not establish that every AI-related interface element disappears. The page says upgrade prompts may appear when reaching for an AI feature. If avoiding AI is important to you, inspect the current product and settings rather than assuming a label answers every privacy or interface question. [8]

Rates, usage limits and regional or account-specific terms can change. Even a verified price should be dated, not treated as permanent. Our browser privacy explainer provides a wider framework for thinking about AI access to browsing context.

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Will Arc be open source?

No confirmed full Arc open-source release or release date was found in the official sources reviewed. The company’s May 2025 letter expressed interest but explained that Arc depends on the proprietary Arc Development Kit, also used by Dia. “We would like to” is not a release commitment. [7]

Arc’s use of Chromium does not make the complete Arc application open source. Nor do requests from users establish that a community-maintained replacement is ready. Plan around the official deadlines and a working browser rather than an unannounced rescue project.

It is reasonable for users to value the time invested in Spaces, tabs and familiar interactions. But we have not measured community sentiment and do not present anecdotal reactions as a poll. The practical lesson is to keep important information portable and review the long-term support of tools you depend on.

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What should Arc users do now?

First, check the official platform timeline. Second, identify the information and workflows you cannot lose. Third, migrate or export using the official instructions. Finally, verify the result in the replacement browser before the cutoff.

The company’s focus on Dia shows one team’s move toward AI-integrated browsing, not proof that every browser must follow the same path. Convenience, privacy, reliable account access and user control remain valid priorities whether you use AI or not.

Do not wait for the final day. December 15 matters for assisted data requests, November 23 matters for mobile features and sync, and December 22 matters for desktop access. A tested replacement and a protected copy of essential information are more useful than a hurried migration after a service ends. [2]