Arc Browser closes: accounts are deactivated, data deleted
The once highly traded Arc Browser will be completely discontinued this year. Remaining users must now back up their data and move to another browser. We summarize the most important information.
The end of a hype browser
The once-celebrated Arc Browser will finally be discontinued in December 2026. The responsible development studio, The Browser Company, is drawing a line under the project, which had already been more or less abandoned. From this date onwards, users will no longer be able to use the software under Windows and MacOS. The background to the decision to finally bury Arc is the increasing effort to ensure the security of a browser in today’s age. Arc started in 2023 with innovative approaches. However, the big breakthrough in the mass market failed to materialize. The developer, which was acquired by Atlassian in October 2025 for $610 million, is now shifting focus to its ground-up AI browser Dia.
Shutdown roadmap
Like Arc on his website announces that the browser will be discontinued on December 22nd. According to the accompanying blog post, the shutdown will take place in several steps. Since Thursday, October 22nd, it has no longer been possible to create new accounts for the software. Since a login is mandatory, the step directly blocks new users. Existing users can continue to use the program for the time being and export their data using an integrated function. The next change will come on November 23, 2026. From this date, the mobile offshoots for iOS and Android will lose their AI-supported functions such as Browse for Me. In addition, the ability to log in and synchronize tabs will be removed.
The mobile app can only be used as a simple local browser. The lights finally go out on December 22nd. All accounts will be deactivated and associated data deleted within 30 days. Arc Search will disappear from the Google Play Store at the same time. The data migration is now pending for users. Of course, The Browser Company recommends switching to Dia, which promises a seamless import. Passwords, bookmarks, browser history and extensions should be able to be transferred completely. According to the developer, concepts such as work areas are also retained in Dia under the name Profile. Whether and how well moving the data to other browsers works remains to be seen.
No open source version in sight
Many users want an open source version of Arc. However, CEO Josh Miller had previously stated that this was not possible in a meaningful way. The browser is based on the proprietary Arc Development Kit (ADK), which also forms the technological foundation for Dia. Disclosure as part of a conversion to an open source model would therefore reveal the intellectual property behind Dia. According to Miller, the ADK remains central to the company’s value.
Priti Rajpoot is a technology journalist and contributor at ResearchSnipers, covering the latest in tech news, innovation, and digital trends across the world. From startups and AI to cybersecurity and consumer gadgets. She can be reached here: priti.r@researchsnipers.com
