THE CRUNCH
Arc, the browser that rethought how tabs and workspaces could work, will be switched off on December 22nd. The Browser Company, which Atlassian acquired last year for $610 million, has already stopped building new features for Arc and now wants users to move to Dia, its AI-focused replacement.
The shutdown happens in stages. New Arc accounts can no longer be created. On November 23rd, the iOS and Android apps lose Browse for Me and other AI features, and signing in or syncing tabs stops working. On December 22nd, Arc becomes inaccessible on macOS and Windows, accounts are deactivated, and Arc Search for Android is pulled from Google Play.
The company is pointing users towards Dia, where it says its focus now lies, including the whole security team. Bookmarks, extensions, passwords and history are said to transfer over automatically, and an FAQ explains how to import data into Dia. For anyone wary of AI features, the company notes they are optional.
Arc's ideas about browsing have since shown up in other browsers, and for those after an Arc-like experience, the Zen browser, built on Mozilla's Gecko engine, is a frequent recommendation.
Key dates
Arc browser shutdown stages
November 23rd
On iOS and Android, Browse for Me and other AI features are disabled, and signing in or syncing tabs stops working.
December 22nd
Arc becomes inaccessible on macOS and Windows; accounts are deactivated.
Dates from The Verge, as quoted in this brief.