Key Takeaways
- Arc Shutdown Date: Arc stops working on Mac and Windows on December 22, 2026, when Arc accounts are deactivated and Arc Search leaves Google Play. Before choosing Dia, check for Apple Silicon and macOS 14 or later on Mac, or Dia’s reported Windows 11 requirement on PC.
- Save Your Arc Setup: Import Arc into Dia to keep your Spaces as Profiles, along with pinned tabs and history, and quit Arc if you see “Cookies file locked.” Use Arc’s Export Data for backup links, save passwords in a separate CSV, and download your Easels.
- Arc Import Backup: If Dia can’t import your Arc setup, bookmark links from Arc Data Export.md or convert StorableSidebar.json into HTML bookmarks for Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari. Arc’s Markdown export leaves out history and passwords, so import passwords from a separate CSV and delete it afterward.
Arc stops working on Mac and Windows on December 22, 2026. If you use an Apple Silicon Mac or a PC that meets Dia’s reported Windows 11 requirement, the quickest way to keep your Arc setup is to import it directly into Dia. Your Spaces, pinned tabs, passwords, and browsing history can come with you.
If you’re moving to another browser, export your Spaces and pinned tabs, save your passwords separately, and download any Easels you want to keep. Arc’s main export is a list of links, so you’ll need to turn those links into bookmarks or open and save them yourself. Start with the dates so you know how much time you have.
Arc Shutdown Dates You Need to Know
The Browser Company is closing Arc in stages. Arc Search loses some features before the desktop browser shuts down, and the reported deadline for requesting a copy of your account data comes a week before the desktop cutoff. Here’s what happens on each date.
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| October 22, 2026 | New Arc account sign-ups closed. The latest desktop version added a data export option and improved the import into Dia. |
| November 23, 2026 | Arc Search loses Browse for Me, other AI features, sign-in, and tab sync on iOS and Android. You can still use the app for basic browsing at this stage. |
| December 15, 2026 | Reported last day to request a copy of your Arc account data through the Help Center chat. |
| December 22, 2026 | Arc stops working on Mac and Windows, Arc accounts are deactivated, and Arc Search is removed from Google Play. |
| Within 30 days of deactivation | The Browser Company deletes personal data tied to your Arc account. |
The Browser Company’s announcement gives December 22 as the cutoff without specifying a time of day. Finish your export or import a few days early so you have time to check that everything you need opens.
The Quickest Way to Keep Your Arc Setup
Dia can pull your Arc setup straight from the desktop app. You can run the import during sign-up or from Dia’s menu if you already use it. Start with the import, then save a copy of the links you’d want if you ever switched browsers again.
Import Everything Into Dia in One Step
If you’re setting up Dia, choose Arc when Dia asks which browser you want to import from. If you already use Dia on a Mac, go to Dia > Import from Another Browser. On Windows, open the Dia app menu and select Import from another browser.
Your Arc Spaces become Dia Profiles, and your folders become Tab Groups. Pinned tabs and Favorites keep their custom names, and Dia can bring over your passwords, bookmarks, extensions, and browsing history. The Browser Company says you can run the import until December 22.
Make a Backup Export Even if Dia Works
The Dia import copies your Arc setup once. If you pin more tabs in Arc after importing, save those links too. Easels and Boosts stay behind, so take care of those separately while you can still open Arc.
For a copy of your sidebar links, open the Advanced section in Arc and choose Export Data. Keep the resulting Markdown file somewhere you can find it later. If you spot a missing tab in Dia, you can open the file and look under the Space where you kept it.
Why Arc Data Does Not Move Cleanly
You might expect one export to cover everything you see when you open Arc. The Export Data button saves sidebar links, while Arc handles passwords, history, and the sidebar itself separately. Once you know what each file holds, you can choose what to save.
The Export File Is a List of Links
Arc names its export Arc Data Export.md. Open it in a text editor and you’ll find a section for each Space, with links from your Favorites, pinned tabs, folders, and other sidebar tabs.
A browser’s HTML bookmark importer needs a different file format. You can open links from the Markdown file and bookmark them in your new browser, or use a converter to make an HTML bookmarks file from Arc’s sidebar file.
Passwords and History Are Left Out
Export Data leaves out your saved passwords and browsing history. If you want your Arc browsing history to come with you, Dia is the only browser with a documented direct import for it.
For a move to another browser, export your passwords separately as a CSV file. Each Arc profile keeps its own passwords, so switch through your profiles and export from each one you use.
Your Sidebar Lives in Its Own File
Arc keeps its sidebar in StorableSidebar.json. That file holds your Spaces, pinned tabs, and folders, along with their titles, URLs, and order.
Arc’s built-in bookmarks page can look empty even when your sidebar is full of pinned tabs. The page you reach by typing arc, a colon, two forward slashes, and bookmarks opens Chromium’s separate bookmark store. An export from there can miss the tabs you pinned in the sidebar.
How to Save Each Part of Arc Before December 22
If you’re switching browsers, start with the Spaces and pinned tabs you use every day. Then save your passwords, Easels, and any open tabs on your phone. Here’s where to find each export and what you’ll get from it.
Export Spaces and Pinned Tabs on a Mac
On your Mac, open Arc > Settings > Advanced > Export Data. Choose where you want to keep the file and click Save. Open Arc Data Export.md and check that the Spaces and links you want are there.
If you need links from just one folder, right-click it in the sidebar. Hold Option while the menu is open, then choose Copy All Links as Markdown. That keeps the link titles when you paste the links into a file.
Export Spaces and Pinned Tabs on Windows
In Arc for Windows, press Ctrl+, to open Settings. Go to Advanced > Export Spaces and tabs > Export Data. Choose a location and click Save to get a Markdown file with links grouped by Space.
If you only need one folder, right-click that folder in the sidebar and choose Copy All Links. Paste the copied links into a file you can open once you’ve switched browsers.
Export Your Saved Passwords to a CSV File
The reported Arc password export path uses an internal browser address. In Arc’s address bar, type arc, then a colon and two forward slashes, followed by password-manager/settings. Look for Export passwords and select Download file.
Repeat the export in each Arc profile that has passwords you want to keep. The CSV stores those passwords in plain text, so keep the file private and delete it once you’ve checked that the passwords imported successfully.
If a site rejects your imported login, our guide to a passkey that is not working covers the next step.
Turn Pinned Tabs Into a Bookmarks File
Quit Arc and make a backup copy of StorableSidebar.json. On a Mac, look in ~/Library/Application Support/Arc/. The reported Windows location is %LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\TheBrowserCompany.Arc_*\LocalCache\Local\Arc\, where the asterisk stands for the rest of the package folder name.
The arc-export script can turn the Mac sidebar file into HTML bookmarks, and a separate Windows fork is available. The original script puts each Space into a bookmark folder and leaves out Favorites and unpinned Today tabs. The HTML file carries links as bookmarks, so you’ll need to pin tabs again in your new browser.
You can also use Arc Data Export.md and skip the converter. Open the links for one Space in a window in your new browser and use Bookmark all tabs. Repeat for each Space, then rebuild any nested folders or custom titles you want to keep.
Save Your Easels and Boosts
In Arc, go to Library > Easels > Export All Easels, choose a location, and click Export. You’ll get a ZIP with a web page for each Easel you created and an index you can open in a browser. The ZIP leaves out Easels other people shared with you and the sharing details for your own Easels.
If you want an image of a single Easel, open it, click the Share icon in the bottom-right corner, and use Share Via to save a PNG. Arc has no export for Boosts, so copy any Boost code you want to keep by hand before the shutdown.
Request a Copy of Your Arc Account Data
If you want a copy of your Arc account record, use the Arc Help Center chat to request it. December 15, 2026 is the reported deadline, so send your request by then even though the chat is due to stay open until December 22.
The copy reportedly covers account details such as your name, email address, join date, and usage record. Use the browser exports to save your tabs and passwords, and import into Dia if you want to carry over your browsing history.
Export Open Tabs From Arc Search on Your Phone
On an iPhone, open Arc Search and tap the Tab Switcher in the bottom-left corner, then go to Settings > Export Data. On Android, open the Tab Switcher and go to Settings > Storage > Export data. Save the export so you can get back to your open tabs after tab sync ends on November 23.
Arc Search for Android is scheduled to leave Google Play on December 22. The iPhone app will reportedly continue to work as a basic browser after that date, with Browse for Me, sign-in, and tab sync ending on November 23.
Which Browser Should Replace Arc
Dia is the quickest choice if you want to bring over your Arc setup in one import. Zen can bring over your Spaces and Profiles, while Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari give you ways to move your links as bookmarks. Start by checking which parts of Arc each browser can carry over.
| Browser | Direct Arc import | Imports HTML bookmarks | Imports passwords from CSV | Vertical tabs and Spaces | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dia | Yes, including Spaces, pinned tabs, and history | Unconfirmed | Unconfirmed | Vertical sidebar, with Arc Spaces imported as Profiles | Apple Silicon Mac with macOS 14 or later, Windows 11 reportedly required on PC |
| Zen | Yes, Spaces and Profiles in 1.24b | Yes, reported by a Zen user | Unconfirmed | Arc Spaces import in 1.24b | Mac and Windows |
| Chrome | Unconfirmed | Yes | Yes, up to 3,000 per import | Unconfirmed | Mac and Windows |
| Edge | Arc is absent from the listed import options | Yes | Yes | Unconfirmed | Windows |
| Firefox | Arc is absent from the listed import options | Yes | Yes | Unconfirmed | Mac and Windows |
| Safari | Direct import is listed for Chrome and Firefox | Yes | Yes | Unconfirmed | Mac for these imports |
Dia Is the Easiest Move
If your Arc sidebar is the part you’d miss most, Dia lets you keep a vertical layout and turns your Arc Spaces into Profiles. It also brings over passwords, browsing history, bookmarks, and extensions in the same import. Dia runs on Apple Silicon Macs with macOS 14 or later, and Windows 11 is the reported PC requirement.
You can use Dia’s browser features for free, and the AI features are optional. Dia Pro was introduced at $20 per month for unlimited AI chat. If you rely on Little Arc or Boosts, plan for a different way to work in Dia, and some Dia users report that Tab Groups can’t be nested.
Zen Is the Closest Arc Feel Outside The Browser Company
Zen is an open-source browser that can bring over Arc Spaces and Profiles starting with version 1.24b, which is based on Firefox 159. The import announcement names Spaces and Profiles, so check your pinned tabs and folders before you count on them being there.
You’ll need to reinstall any extensions you use from Firefox Add-ons. If you take the HTML route, one Zen user reports that Arc pinned tabs imported as bookmarks, so check your bookmarks before rebuilding your sidebar.
Chrome and Edge Keep Your Chrome Extensions
In Chrome, go to More > Bookmarks and lists > Import bookmarks and settings. Choose Bookmarks HTML File and open the HTML file you made from your Arc sidebar. For passwords, go to More > Passwords and autofill > Google Password Manager > Settings > Import passwords and select your CSV. Chrome accepts up to 3,000 passwords at a time, so split a larger export into separate files.
In Edge, go to Settings and more > Settings > Profiles > Import browser data. Under Other import locations, choose Import browser data now and pick Favorites or bookmarks HTML file. For your Arc passwords, return to Other import locations, choose Import passwords now, and select Passwords CSV file.
If you pick Chrome, check how Chrome autofill uses your Gmail before you import your data.
Firefox and Safari Take the File Route
In Firefox, open Library > Import and Backup > Import Bookmarks from HTML and choose your HTML file. Firefox adds those links to your Bookmarks Menu, where they can sit alongside bookmarks you already saved. You can also open the import wizard through Settings > General > Import browser data > Import Data.
On a Mac, the documented Safari path from an older version is File > Import From > Bookmarks HTML File. For passwords, the same guide gives File > Import From > Passwords CSV File and says Safari asks for your Mac login password. Check for those options in your version of Safari before you start.
Mac and Windows Differences
Whether you can run Dia depends on your Mac’s processor or your PC’s Windows version. Your operating system also determines where to look for Arc’s sidebar file if you want an HTML backup. Check compatibility first, then find the right folder for your computer.
Intel Macs and Windows 10 PCs Cannot Run Dia
On a Mac, Dia requires Apple Silicon and macOS 14 or later, so an Intel Mac needs another browser. Reports put the Windows requirement at Windows 11, so plan on another option if you use Windows 10.
Try Zen if you want to carry over your Spaces and Profiles. If you choose Chrome or Edge, bring your pinned links as an HTML bookmarks file and your passwords as a separate CSV.
Windows Keeps Arc Files in a Different Folder
On a Mac, look for StorableSidebar.json in ~/Library/Application Support/Arc/. On Windows, the reported location is %LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\TheBrowserCompany.Arc_*\LocalCache\Local\Arc\. The asterisk stands for the rest of the Arc package folder name.
Quit Arc before copying the file or running the Dia import. If Dia shows the reported “Cookies file locked” message on Windows, close Arc and run the import again. Keep Arc installed until you’ve checked what came across.
If the Import Fails or Data Is Missing
A missing Export Data button and a missing group of tabs call for different checks. Update Arc and try the import again first, then use your saved links or sidebar file to recover whatever is still missing.
Update Arc, Quit It and Try Again
If Export Data is missing, update Arc and look in the Advanced section again. If you need to reinstall Arc, the farewell page at arc.net offers Mac and Windows installers.
Quit Arc before retrying the Dia import. Once it finishes, open the Profile that matches a Space you use often and check that its pinned tabs and folders came across. Leave Arc installed while you check the rest of the import.
Rebuild From Your Export File
Open Arc Data Export.md and work through one Space at a time. Open its links together in your new browser, use Bookmark all tabs, then pin the links you want to keep at hand. You can recreate folder names and custom tab titles as you go.
If you backed up StorableSidebar.json, you can run it through a converter such as arc-export to make an HTML bookmarks file. That gives you a way to import a batch of pinned links and then pin the ones you use most.
Finish the Move Safely
Once your tabs and logins are in the new browser, give them a quick check before you remove Arc. Start with the password export, then compare the new setup with what you still have in Arc.
Delete Your Password File After Importing
Your password CSV holds readable usernames and passwords. Once you’ve verified that the import worked, delete the CSV and empty the Trash on your Mac or the Recycle Bin on Windows.
Safari’s older documented import flow offers to delete the CSV after importing it. If you see that option, use it once you’re satisfied the passwords came across.
Check Everything Before You Uninstall Arc
Compare the tab counts for each Arc Space with the matching Profile, Tab Group, or bookmark folder in your new browser. Open a few pinned links and sign in to the sites you use most so you can catch missing tabs or logins while you can still go back to Arc.
Once you’ve checked the move, sign out of Arc and uninstall it. Keep your links export and any Easel files you saved, since the desktop app stops working on December 22.
Once you settle on Chrome, keep it current, because the Chrome 157 update fixed serious security holes.
FAQs
Yes, you’ll lose access to your pinned tabs through Arc when the desktop browser stops working on December 22, 2026. Import your tabs into Dia or save them through Export Data before the cutoff so you can still open the links.
No, Arc for Mac and Windows is scheduled to stop working on December 22, 2026, even if you skip updates. The shutdown also deactivates Arc accounts, so finish exporting while you can still open the browser.
No, Chrome and Firefox can import HTML bookmarks, while Arc Data Export.md contains Markdown links. Open those links and bookmark them yourself, or convert a backup of StorableSidebar.json into an HTML bookmarks file and import that.
No, you can use Dia’s browser features for free and leave the optional AI features off. Dia Pro was introduced at $20 per month if you want unlimited AI chat.
On both iPhone and Android, Arc Search loses Browse for Me, other AI features, sign-in, and tab sync on November 23. The Android app leaves Google Play on December 22, while the iPhone app reportedly continues as a basic browser. Export your open tabs from the Tab Switcher before the changes if you want a copy.
Your computer may fall outside Dia’s requirements. On Mac, you need Apple Silicon and macOS 14 or later, and the reported Windows requirement is Windows 11. If your computer can’t run Dia, you can still move your links and passwords using an HTML bookmarks file and a CSV.
