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The Arc browser shutdown is set for December 22. The Browser Company announced on October 22 that it’s ending Arc and sending users to Dia, its AI-first browser, as 9to5Mac reports. If you use Arc, you have a few weeks to move your data, and one earlier date to know about.
The dates and details here come from TechCrunch, Android Authority, and 9to5Mac, all reporting on the company’s announcement, which 9to5Mac says was posted on X. We haven’t read the post ourselves.
The Arc browser shutdown timeline
Three dates matter. Since October 22, new Arc accounts can’t be created. On November 23, Arc Search on iOS and Android loses its AI features, including “Browse for Me.” You also can’t sign in or sync tabs after that, but the app still works as a basic local browser. Then on December 22, Arc stops working on Mac and Windows. Accounts are deactivated, personal data is deleted within 30 days, and Arc Search is removed from the Google Play Store.
Android Authority suggests not signing out of Arc Search after November 23, since you may not be able to sign back in. It doesn’t confirm what happens to the iOS app in Apple’s App Store.
Why Arc is going away
Development on Arc stopped in May 2025, when the company shifted its focus to Dia, and since then Arc has received only security updates and bug fixes. 9to5Mac says the company’s stated priority is security: keeping a browser secure takes constant work that’s only increasing in the age of AI. Atlassian acquired The Browser Company in 2025 for $610 million, according to TechCrunch.
Users have asked for Arc to be open-sourced. CEO Josh Miller has said that isn’t possible without also open-sourcing the Arc Development Kit, a proprietary toolkit that also powers Dia.
What you can export before the Arc browser shutdown
Android Authority reports that the latest version of Arc adds an option to export all of your data. The report lists passwords, bookmarks, extensions, history, Spaces, folders, and tab groups. The data can go to any compatible browser, but the import is smoother into Dia. The reports don’t say exactly where the export option sits in Arc’s menus, so check the app’s settings after updating.
What changes in Dia
Per the company, passwords, bookmarks, extensions, and history carry over to Dia. Spaces become Profiles, and Arc’s folders turn into Pinned Tab Groups, with vertical tabs kept as an optional sidebar. Arc’s features are free in Dia, and the AI bits are opt-in. The company says Dia beats Arc on speed, stability, and security, but we haven’t seen independent tests.
Engadget calls Dia a fairly standard AI browser. It has a chatbot that reads across your open tabs, summaries of emails and YouTube videos, and a daily “morning brief” pulled from your calendar and inbox.
What to do before December 22
Update Arc first, since only the latest version has the export option, and export this week rather than in December. Then open the export in your new browser and check passwords and extensions, the two things most likely to go missing. Dia is the easiest landing spot, and Chrome and others accept the exported data too, though the reports don’t say which items survive the trip. Keep Arc installed until your logins and bookmarks are confirmed. And if you use Arc Search on a phone, don’t sign out after November 23.
If you plan to use Dia’s AI features, it’s worth reading up on how browser agents handle your accounts. Our explainers on AI agents and on how Microsoft scores every agent for risk cover the basics.
Editor’s take
The 30-day deletion window after December 22 is the date that matters most, and it’s easy to miss if you treat the Arc browser shutdown as just a deadline for switching browsers. If you have years of Spaces and saved logins in Arc, export now while the app still signs in. Dia is the easy path, but you’re not required to take it.
