Arc browser shuts down December 22 as users move to Dia

The Browser Company will shut down its Arc web browser on December 22, 2026. It announced the date on October 22 and stopped accepting new Arc sign-ups the same day. Arc users have two months to move their passwords, tabs and history, most likely to the company's newer browser, Dia.

The company gives security as the main reason. In its farewell letter, it says: "Our priority is to deliver best-in-class security for our members." TechCrunch reports the company said keeping a browser secure is getting more expensive as AI spreads.

The shutdown timeline

The shutdown happens in three steps, according to The Browser Company's letter and TechCrunch's report:

Date	What happens
October 22, 2026	New Arc sign-ups end. Existing members see no change yet.
November 23, 2026	On iOS and Android, Arc Search turns off "Browse for Me" and other AI features. Sign-in and tab sync stop, but it still works as a basic browser.
December 22, 2026	Arc stops working on Mac and Windows. Accounts are deactivated. Arc Search for Android leaves the Google Play Store.

Arc development had already stopped. TechCrunch reports that the company ended feature work on Arc in 2025, and XDA Developers says the company confirmed last May that development would end, without giving a shutdown date.

What happens to your data

Personal data tied to an Arc account is deleted within 30 days of the account being deactivated, the company's letter says. It adds that from December 22, 2026, it "will no longer be able to identify or retrieve Arc user data for data requests."

People who use both Arc and Dia lose only their Arc-related data. Their Dia account is not affected.

The latest version of Arc adds an option to export all of your data. That matters for anyone who does not want to move to Dia, since the export is the only copy that will survive.

Moving to Dia

Dia is The Browser Company's AI-focused browser. The letter says passwords, bookmarks, extensions and browsing history can be imported into it. Some Arc features change names along the way:

• Spaces become Profiles in Dia.
• Folders become Tab Groups. TechCrunch calls them Pinned Tab Groups.
• Pinned Tabs and Favorites come over with their names.

The browser features stay free in Dia, and the AI features are optional, the company says. XDA reports the company's claim that Dia has beaten Arc on stability, speed and security in its own tests.

Why Arc will not be open-sourced

Arc's code will not be released as open source either, and TechCrunch explains why. Arc is built on the Arc Development Kit (ADK), an in-house toolkit that also powers Dia. Releasing Arc's code would mean releasing the core of Dia too.

CEO Josh Miller told TechCrunch the company would like to open-source Arc someday but cannot do so meaningfully without also releasing ADK. He said ADK is still core to the company's value.

Atlassian bought The Browser Company for $610 million in 2025, according to TechCrunch.

What this means for developers

If your team uses Arc, treat December 22 as a hard deadline. The desktop app will simply stop working that day.

• Export first, then decide. Run the export in the latest Arc version before choosing a new browser. After deactivation, the company says it cannot retrieve your data at all.
• Move saved passwords deliberately. Dia can import them. If you switch to another browser or a password manager instead, check that every login came across before December 22.
• Check managed machines. IT teams that deploy Arc should plan a replacement before it stops working, not after.
• Expect mobile breakage sooner. Arc Search loses sync and sign-in on November 23, a month before the desktop app ends.
• Count the cost of small vendors. Arc shows how a well-liked tool can end once its owner changes focus. For any browser your workflow depends on, know how you would export your data.