Alternative web browser Arc is reaching the end of its life, and you’ve got a little under two months to make the most of it. The developers plan to shut down the browser on Dec. 22, 2026, around three and a half years after launch.
As announced on The Browser Company’s website by CEO Josh Miller, the company decided to focus its development efforts on its latest browser, called Dia.
Miller says, “Our priority is to deliver best-in-class security for our members. Keeping a browser secure takes constant, dedicated work that is only increasing in the age of AI. Dia, our new browser, 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.”
The shutdown process begins immediately, but you can keep using Arc for the next couple of months. On Oct. 22, the brand ended the ability to create new Arc accounts and introduced a new way to export all your data over to Dia.
On Nov. 23, Browse for Me and other AI features within Arc Search on Android and iOS will be disabled. You can keep using it as a typical browser for a month, but you won’t be able to sign in or sync any tabs.
The official Arc shutdown date is Dec. 22, when it says you won’t be able to access or use the browser on macOS or Windows. All accounts with Arc will be deactivated, and personal data will be deleted by Jan. 21, 2027.
The Browser Company is encouraging users to switch to Dia, and new import tools make it easier than before. If you install Dia on your macOS or Windows device, it will prompt you to import directly from Arc, bringing over bookmarks, extensions, folders, history, passwords, profiles, and tabs.
Those who have already downloaded Dia can also import details from Arc by heading to the Import from Another Browser option. It’s unclear if The Browser Company intends to launch a new mobile service to replace Arc Search, but so far, there’s no sign of a portable version of Dia.
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The social media post from Arc announcing its shutdown has faced significant pushback from users who claim Dia isn’t as useful to them, with many asking the brand to open-source its original browser.
Mozilla, the maker of Firefox, used the opportunity to poll former Arc users about how it could better accommodate them. It says, “Arc’s innovations influenced some of our own features: Sidebar, Split View, and the upcoming Mini Window.”
Head of Firefox Ajit Varma recently told PCMag that his strategy is, “Build better features, build a better browser, and then people will use it.”
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