Arc Browser Is Shutting Down: Dates, Data Export and Moving to Dia

The Browser Company announced on October 22 that Arc for macOS and Windows will stop working on December 22, 2026. It is directing users to Dia, its AI browser. Existing users have time to move, but should export or import their browsing data before that deadline.

The farewell announcement says new Arc accounts are already closed. Existing desktop installations will continue working and receiving basic updates until the shutdown. This matters because keeping an old installation will not provide a supported way to carry on using Arc afterward.

When does Arc stop working?

The shutdown support guide separates the platforms. Arc Search AI features, sign-in and tab syncing end on November 23 on iOS and Android. Desktop Arc stops working on December 22.

Arc Search on iOS remains a simpler mobile browser. The company says the Android app will be removed from Google Play and installed devices on December 22. November 23 is therefore not a complete mobile shutdown.

Exporting tabs and requesting account data are different

December 15 is the last day to request a copy of personal account data or ask for its deletion. That record includes your name, email and usage information, but not locally stored browsing history or passwords.

Arc accounts will be deactivated on December 22, with associated personal data deleted within 30 days. The company also warns that you will not be able to open Arc to reach locally stored browsing data after the shutdown.

An account-data request is not a browser backup. For a migration, the useful check is whether your destination contains the tabs, logins and organization you actually depend on. A successfully downloaded account record does not establish that.

If you prefer another browser, Arc's farewell page explains how to export Spaces and tabs as a list of links. On macOS, use Settings, then Advanced, then Export Data. On Windows, look for Export Spaces and tabs in Advanced settings. Keep that file somewhere you can find without opening Arc.

What transfers from Arc to Dia?

The official migration guide says Dia can import bookmarks, history, passwords, cookies, extensions and open tabs. Spaces become Profiles, while folders become pinned Tab Groups. Nested folders become separate groups because Dia does not nest Tab Groups.

Keep Arc installed until importing finishes. On Windows, quit Arc first to avoid a locked cookies file. During Dia setup, select Arc as the source and choose the extensions to install. Existing Dia users can use Import from Another Browser in the macOS menu or Import from another browser in the Windows app menu.

The gaps deserve a check before you switch: Easels, Boosts and other Arc-only features do not transfer. Saved payment methods and autofill data are also excluded. Importing copies data rather than deleting the Arc original, so there is room to compare the two while Arc still works.

Do you need Dia's AI to replace Arc?

Dia is available on macOS and Windows. The Browser Company says the browser features carried over from Arc are free and AI is optional. Its current product page describes an assistant that works across tabs and connected workplace tools, alongside profiles and organized tabs.

That separates two decisions which are easy to combine unnecessarily. You need a working browser after Arc closes. Whether an AI assistant should read context from connected work tools is a separate choice about usefulness, permissions and company policy.

For a developer or founder with years of working tabs, the migration is worth testing as a normal workday: open the right project, check the right account and find the documents you routinely return to. Preserving those habits is a better measure of a successful move than the number of items an importer reports.

I'm Paras. I work at the intersection of AI, engineering and distribution.

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