Key takeaways
- Arc stops working entirely on Mac and Windows on December 22, 2026, and accounts are deactivated that day.
- Mobile Arc Search drops its AI features, including Browse for Me, on November 23, then runs as a basic local browser.
- Bookmarks, extensions, passwords and history move to Dia automatically, while Spaces become Profiles and folders become Pinned Tab Groups.
- Personal data is deleted within 30 days of December 22, so finish checking your migration well before the shutdown.
The Browser Company is shutting down Arc on December 22, 2026 and wants Arc users to move to Dia, its AI-focused browser. The company announced the plan on Thursday, October 22, and as of that day nobody can open a new Arc account. Whether you use Arc on a Mac, a Windows PC, an iPhone or an Android phone, two dates matter: November 23 and December 22.
What happens to Arc on each date?
Arc winds down in stages. New sign-ups ended on announcement day, mobile AI features go on November 23, and the desktop browser stops working entirely on December 22. The full sequence below comes from TechCrunch’s report and Engadget’s coverage.
- October 22: Account creation closes.
- November 23: On iOS and Android, the AI features in Arc Search, including Browse for Me, are switched off. The app keeps working as a basic local browser.
- December 22: Arc stops working on Mac and Windows. Accounts are deactivated, and Arc Search is removed from the Google Play Store.
- Within 30 days after December 22: Personal data is deleted.
TechCrunch also says users can no longer sign in or sync tabs on November 23. Its wording is ambiguous, but it appears to refer to Arc Search on mobile, not the desktop browser. Treat it that way, and don’t count on desktop sync past that date until the company clarifies.
Your checklist for Mac and Windows
Start the move now, not in December. Arc keeps running until December 22, which gives you weeks to confirm everything arrived in Dia while you can still compare it against the original. These steps are in the order I’d do them.
- Install Dia and sign in. Engadget points to a June 11, 2025 company post saying Dia was already available to Arc members, so the path has existed for a while.
- Let your data come across. Bookmarks, extensions, passwords and history transfer automatically, according to both TechCrunch and Engadget. How the import is triggered isn’t spelled out in the coverage, so follow Dia’s own prompts.
- Spot-check it. Open a dozen bookmarks you actually use. Log in to your bank, email and work tools. Confirm each extension you rely on is present and working.
- Rebuild your layout. Your Spaces are now Profiles, and the naming changes are covered in the next section.
- Keep Arc installed until you’re satisfied. It stops working entirely on December 22, and deletion starts after that. Anything you haven’t verified by then may be gone.
One caution for Windows users. Whether Dia matches Arc feature for feature on Windows hasn’t been reported, so test your daily routine there before you commit.
What about Arc Search on iPhone and Android?
Arc Search on mobile changes first. On November 23, the AI features, including Browse for Me, are switched off. After that the app is a basic local browser with no AI. You can keep using it that way, though the sign-in and tab sync caveat above applies.
So the mobile deadline is earlier than the desktop one. Before November 23, open any tabs you still need and save them somewhere durable, such as bookmarks in Dia or a note to yourself. Android users should also know Arc Search disappears from the Play Store on December 22, which means no reinstalling it later if you switch phones. Whether the iOS app stays on Apple’s App Store hasn’t been addressed.
What carries over to Dia, and what gets renamed
Your core browsing data moves over, and the company has renamed the features that defined Arc. TechCrunch lays out the mapping.
- Spaces become Profiles.
- Folders become Pinned Tab Groups.
- Vertical tabs stay, as an optional sidebar layout rather than the default.
Arc’s features stay free in Dia, and Dia’s AI features are optional, which the company is pitching to people who don’t want AI in their browser. If you do, Engadget describes a chatbot that understands context across multiple open tabs, summarizes emails and YouTube videos, and generates a daily morning brief from your calendars, inboxes and web links. The Browser Company says Dia now beats Arc on speed, stability and security benchmarks. That’s the company’s own claim, and no benchmark data was published.
If you want a browser without AI features and aren’t sure Dia’s opt-out will satisfy you, our walkthrough on running a private AI assistant on your own PC shows an alternative: keep AI on your terms, off the web.
Why the company says it’s pulling the plug
The stated reason is security cost. The Browser Company said that protecting a browser now takes more money and effort because of AI, and that Dia was designed from scratch around current security standards, so its engineering and security teams will concentrate there.
TechCrunch also reports that the company stopped active feature development on Arc in 2025, citing a “novelty tax” and complexity that limited mainstream adoption. According to TechCrunch alone, Atlassian acquired the company that year for $610 million.
Many users have called for Arc to be open-sourced, and TechCrunch characterizes the social media reaction as largely disappointed. Arc runs on the proprietary Arc Development Kit, which is also Dia’s core engine. CEO Josh Miller addressed that in an earlier statement whose date TechCrunch doesn’t give:
“While we’d love to open-source Arc someday, we can’t do that meaningfully without also open-sourcing ADK.” Josh Miller, TechCrunch
That would effectively mean giving up Dia’s intellectual property, so don’t plan around a community edition.
Why it matters if Arc is your daily browser
Your passwords are the biggest practical issue. They transfer to Dia automatically, but your Arc account is deactivated on December 22 and personal data is deleted within 30 days after. Once the deadline passes, you have no second chance to fix a missed import.
I’d use the move as a reason to check where your logins really live. If Arc has been your only password store, a standalone manager gives you a copy that doesn’t depend on any one browser. Our guide on moving your whole family onto one password manager covers the setup. For anything you’d hate to lose, like downloads and screenshots built up over years of Arc use, a cheap external drive such as the Samsung T7 Portable SSD makes a sensible safety copy before the deadline.
The security rationale is also a reminder that browsers are a large attack surface. If you’re tightening up anyway, read how zero-click spyware ads work and how to defend against them.
Questions the company hasn’t answered
Several practical points are still open, and a few affect your timeline.
- Whether there’s an export option for Arc data other than the Dia migration before accounts are deleted.
- Whether Arc still launches on desktop after December 22, or stops entirely. The coverage says it stops working, but offline behavior isn’t described.
- Whether Arc Search stays on the iOS App Store.
- Whether Dia matches Arc on Windows, and which Arc features are missing.
- Dia’s future pricing and enterprise plans under Atlassian.
Until the company says more, assume the dates above are firm and the export question has no answer. That’s a good reason to finish your migration early.
Tools & products mentioned
- Samsung T7 Portable SSD on Amazon — Check current price
Disclosure: some links in this article are affiliate links or our editor's own courses and book. If you buy through them, TechyCluster or its editor may earn money at no extra cost to you. This does not influence what we cover or how we cover it. As an Amazon Associate, TechyCluster earns from qualifying purchases.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Arc browser shutting down?
Arc stops working on Mac and Windows on December 22, 2026. The mobile app, Arc Search, loses its AI features earlier, on November 23.
Will my Arc bookmarks and passwords transfer to Dia?
Yes. Bookmarks, extensions, passwords and history transfer to Dia automatically, according to TechCrunch and Engadget. Check them against Arc before December 22.
Is Dia free?
Arc's features stay free in Dia, and Dia's AI features are optional, according to TechCrunch. Future pricing hasn't been reported.
When is my Arc data deleted?
Accounts are deactivated on December 22, and personal data is deleted within 30 days after that, per TechCrunch.
Will Arc be open source?
Not now. CEO Josh Miller said Arc can't be open-sourced meaningfully without also open-sourcing the ADK engine behind Dia.
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Sources
This article was compiled from reporting by the following outlets. Links go to the original reports.
- Neowin: Arc Browser is shutting down this year
- TechCrunch: Arc browser sunsets December 22 as The Browser Company doubles down on Dia
- Engadget: The Browser Company is officially killing Arc on December 22
