You open your MacBook, Arc restores a sidebar full of pinned tabs and color-coded Spaces, and everything feels exactly where you left it. That comfort now has an end date. The Browser Company has confirmed the Arc browser sunset for December 22, 2026, when Arc for macOS and Windows stops working for good.
The bigger catch is your data. On that same day your Arc account is deactivated, and the company says personal data tied to it is deleted within 30 days. Anyone with years of bookmarks, passwords and carefully sorted tabs in Arc has roughly two months to move them somewhere else.
Arc browser sunset dates you should mark
The shutdown rolls out in three steps, and phone users feel it first.
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| October 22, 2026 | Nobody can sign up for a new Arc account anymore |
| November 23, 2026 | Arc Search on iPhone and Android loses its AI tools, including Browse for Me, plus syncing and sign-in |
| December 22, 2026 | Arc on Mac and Windows stops working, accounts are deactivated, and Arc Search leaves the Google Play Store |
After December 22 the company also says it can no longer pull your information for data requests.
Who the Arc browser sunset affects
- Mac owners using Arc as their main browser. You lose the app entirely, so your bookmarks, logins and open tabs need a new home.
- Windows users. Same deadline, different menus.
- Arc Search users on iPhone. After November 23 the iPhone app keeps working only as a lite browser, without AI or sync. Arc’s notice spells out the Google Play removal but does not say whether the iPhone app leaves the App Store.
- People who already signed up for Dia too. The deactivation only affects personal data tied to your Arc account.
How to migrate Arc to Dia on your Mac
Dia comes from the same team, and it is the replacement the company points everyone toward ahead of the Arc browser sunset. It is a free download for macOS and Windows, the Arc features you lean on are free there, and the AI side is optional. Two terms change on the way over: your Spaces turn into Profiles, and your Folders turn into Tab Groups.
- Download Dia from the official Dia download page.
- If you are new to Dia, pick Arc when sign-up asks where you want to bring your stuff from.
- Already have Dia? Open it and choose Dia > Import from Another Browser in the menu bar, then select Arc.
- Check that your logins, history, open tabs, Profiles, Folders, bookmarks and extensions all arrived.
- Keep Arc installed until you have confirmed the move, then set Dia or another app as your default browser.
On a Windows PC the import lives in the Dia app menu under Import from another browser. Mac users who hit a snag can reach Dia support under Help > Chat with Support.
Prefer an Arc browser alternative? Export first
Nothing forces you into Dia. If you would rather go back to Safari, Chrome or something else, grab a copy of your data before the Arc browser sunset wipes the account.
- On Mac: open Arc, go to Settings, pick the Advanced tab and click Export Data.
- On Windows: press Ctrl and the comma key to reach Settings, then Advanced, then Export Data under Export Spaces and tabs.
- In Arc Search on iPhone: tap the Tab Switcher icon in the lower-left corner, go to Settings and tap Export Data to copy or share a list of your open tabs.
If Safari is where you are headed, our guide on how to switch from Chrome to Safari on Mac and iPhone is a good next stop. Older Macs have their own browser headaches too, as we covered when Chrome 150 became the last version for macOS Monterey.
What is still unclear
The official Arc sunset notice is fairly thorough, but a few gaps remain. It does not say whether a copy of Arc already on your Mac will open in some limited offline mode after December 22, and it is silent on the fate of Arc Search in Apple’s App Store. Treat the Arc browser sunset date as a hard stop and plan around it.
Frequently asked questions about the Arc shutdown
Did Arc browser shut down?
Not yet. The Arc browser sunset is set for December 22, 2026, and until then Arc keeps working on Mac and Windows, though new accounts stopped on October 22.
Is Dia free for Arc users?
Yes. Dia is a free download for macOS and Windows, and the company says the Arc features you rely on cost nothing there. Its AI features are optional.
Can I export Arc browser bookmarks to Safari or Chrome?
Yes. Use Export Data under Settings and then Advanced in Arc, and do it before December 22, 2026, when your account and data start being removed.
What Arc users should do before December 22
If Arc is your daily browser on a Mac, run the Dia import or an export this week while everything still syncs. Casual Arc Search users on iPhone can simply save their open tabs and move on. Either way, the Arc browser sunset is one deadline where procrastinating costs you real data, and a quick import now beats rebuilding years of bookmarks from memory.
