By Kshetez Vinayak, founder of SupaSidebar. Last updated November 1, 2026.
Arc browser is shutting down. It stops working on macOS and Windows on December 22, 2026, and every Arc account is deactivated that day.
The Browser Company announced the sunset on October 22, 2026, closed new Arc sign-ups the same day, and pointed Arc users to Dia, its AI-focused browser (Arc Sunset: Key Dates and What to Expect, TechCrunch). Until then Arc still works and still gets weekly Chromium security updates. The most recent macOS build, version 1.171.0, shipped October 29, 2026 on Chromium 156. Arc had been in maintenance mode since May 2025, with no new features. This page tracks Arc's status, the shutdown dates, and the latest version numbers, so the answer to "is Arc still being worked on" stays current.
Looking for something specific?
- Comparing every Arc alternative? → Arc Browser alternative guide (the pillar comparison)
- Need the full shutdown story and what happens to your data? → Is Arc Browser Dead?
- Already here for the main topic? → Keep reading.
Arc's current status at a glance
| Question | Answer (as of November 2026) |
|---|---|
| Is Arc shutting down? | Yes. Arc stops working on macOS and Windows on December 22, 2026. |
| When was the shutdown announced? | October 22, 2026. New Arc accounts closed the same day. |
| Is Arc still being developed? | No new features. Maintenance mode since May 2025. |
| Does Arc still get updates? | Yes, until December 22. Weekly Chromium security and stability updates. |
| Latest Arc for macOS version | 1.171.0, released October 29, 2026, on Chromium 156 |
| Latest Arc for Windows version | 1.130.0, released October 29, 2026, on Chromium 156 |
| Latest Arc Search for Android | October 19, 2026 update. The app is removed from Google Play and from devices on December 22. |
| What happens to Arc accounts? | Deactivated December 22, 2026. Personal data deleted within 30 days. |
| Who owns Arc now? | Atlassian, which completed its acquisition of The Browser Company on October 21, 2025 |
| Is Arc safe to keep using? | Until December 22 it still gets Chromium security patches. The Browser Company says it can no longer keep Arc as secure as it needs to be, which is why Arc is ending. |
| Will Arc get new features again? | No. Arc is being sunset, and The Browser Company's effort is on Dia. |
In short, Arc still works today, but it has an end date. Security updates keep coming through the Chromium pipeline until December 22, 2026. After that, Arc does not open.
The Arc shutdown dates
These come from The Browser Company's Arc Sunset: Key Dates and What to Expect page, with coverage from TechCrunch, TidBITS and Neowin.
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| October 22, 2026 | Sunset announced. New Arc accounts can no longer be created. |
| November 23, 2026 | Arc Search for iOS and Android loses its AI features, including Browse for Me, plus sign-in and tab sync. It keeps working as a basic browser. Arc for macOS and Windows starts showing sunset reminders. |
| December 15, 2026 | Last day to request a copy of your Arc account data, or to ask for its deletion. |
| December 22, 2026 | Arc stops working on macOS and Windows and sign-in ends. Every Arc account is deactivated, and personal data tied to it is deleted within 30 days. Arc Search for Android is removed from Google Play and from devices. Arc Search for iOS keeps working as a mobile browser. |
The company's stated reason is security. It says keeping a browser safe has become harder in the age of AI, and its security team now works on Dia instead.
The latest Arc updates (most recent first)
This section tracks Arc's actual releases. Every entry is a real version from The Browser Company's release notes, not a roadmap promise.
October 2026
Arc for macOS 1.171.0
and Arc for Windows 1.130.0, both released October 29, 2026, moved Arc to Chromium 156.0.8078.74 with security fixes. The macOS build also adds the first Arc-specific change in months, an export option in the Easel Library that downloads every Easel you have made as a ZIP file. Both release notes now open with the sunset notice. Sources: Arc for macOS Release Notes and Arc for Windows Release Notes.
Arc for macOS 1.170.0
and Arc for Windows 1.129.0, both released October 22, 2026, the day of the sunset announcement, moved Arc to Chromium 156.0.8078.48 with security fixes and nothing else.
Arc Search for Android
, updated October 19, 2026, added a way to export your open tabs (Settings > Storage > Export data) ahead of the app's removal on December 22. Source: Arc Search for Android Release Notes.
July to September 2026
Arc shipped a security build almost every week, from macOS 1.153.0 (June 25) to 1.166.0 (September 24), with matching Windows builds. Together they moved Arc from Chromium 149 to Chromium 154. None added Arc features. Source: Arc for macOS Release Notes.
June 2026
Arc for macOS 1.152.0
and Arc for Windows 1.111.0, both released June 18, 2026, moved Arc to Chromium 149.0.7827.156 with security and stability fixes. No new Arc-specific features - the same security-only pattern as every recent release. Sources: Arc for macOS Release Notes and Arc for Windows Release Notes.
Arc for macOS 1.151.0
and Arc for Windows 1.110.0, both released June 11, 2026, moved Arc to Chromium 149.0.7827.103 with security and stability fixes. No new Arc-specific features - the same pattern as every recent release: the Chromium base advances, Arc's own feature set does not. Sources: Arc for macOS Release Notes and Arc for Windows Release Notes.
May 2026
Arc for macOS 1.146.0
and Arc for Windows 1.105.0, both released May 6, 2026, moved Arc to Chromium 148.0.7778.97 with security and stability improvements. No new Arc-specific features. This is the pattern for every Arc update now: the Chromium base moves forward, Arc's own feature set does not. Sources: Arc for macOS Release Notes and Arc for Windows Release Notes.
Arc Search for Android 1.28.9
, released May 7, 2026, added security hardening against spoofing attacks, adjusted language detection in Browser For Me, easier tab swiping in the tab switcher, and a fix for tab history restoration on app restart. Arc Search - the mobile app - is a separate product from the Arc desktop browser, and it still gets small functional updates. The desktop browser does not. Source: Arc Search for Android Release Notes.
What "an Arc update" means in 2026
If you see Arc prompt you to update, it is almost certainly a Chromium version bump. Chromium is the open-source engine Arc is built on, and it ships security patches roughly every few weeks. Arc inherits those. What you will not see is a changelog entry like "new feature: X" - those stopped in May 2025, and the only Arc-specific additions since are export tools for the shutdown. When people search for "arc browser release notes 2026," this is the answer: the release notes exist, they are real, and they are security-only. The last ones will ship before December 22, 2026.
How Arc got here: the timeline
Understanding Arc's current status means understanding the four events that produced it.
May 27, 2025 - Arc enters maintenance mode.
The Browser Company's CEO Josh Miller published a letter to Arc members explaining the decision. His stated reason was blunt: "for most people, Arc was simply too different, with too many new things to learn, for too little reward." The company said it would keep Arc secure and stable but would not build new features. Source: The Browser Company Substack letter, with coverage from The Register and 9to5Mac.
September 4, 2025 - Atlassian agrees to acquire The Browser Company.
The deal was $610 million in cash. Atlassian, the company behind Jira and Confluence, was buying the team and its technology, not committing to revive Arc. Source: TechCrunch and CNBC.
October 21, 2025 - the acquisition closes.
The Browser Company became a subsidiary of Atlassian. Source: BusinessWire.
October 22, 2026 - The Browser Company announces Arc's sunset.
Arc stops working on December 22, 2026, new accounts closed that day, and the company pointed Arc users to Dia. Its stated reason is that it can no longer keep Arc as secure as a browser needs to be. Source: Arc Sunset: Key Dates and What to Expect, with coverage from TechCrunch and TidBITS.
The remaining dates, November 23, December 15 and December 22, are in the shutdown table above.
What about Dia? Is it the new Arc?
It is now the official answer, though not a copy. Dia is The Browser Company's AI-focused browser, and the company's sunset notice sends Arc users there. Unlike Arc, it is actively developed - the team ships updates roughly every week. Dia imports your Arc passwords, bookmarks, extensions and history, Arc's Spaces become Profiles, and folders become Pinned Tab Groups (TechCrunch). Dia launched publicly on macOS on October 9, 2025 (MacRumors). Since then it has steadily pulled in features that resemble Arc: Arc's Focus Mode in October 2025, a sidebar layout, Tab Groups on December 11, 2025 (Dia release notes, v1.9.0), and tab sync improvements through early 2026.
So Dia is not a stalled product. The reason it is not a drop-in Arc replacement is design intent, not neglect. Dia's core target is mainstream users who want AI built into browsing, while Arc was built for power users who organize work around Spaces and a sidebar-first layout. Dia uses profiles instead of Spaces and an AI chat interface instead of Arc's Cmd+T command bar - different primitives for a different audience. Dia also requires macOS 14 or later on Apple silicon, so it is not available to every machine that runs Arc. For a full breakdown of where each Arc feature lands across the current options, the Arc browser alternative guide covers it.
What Arc's status means for you
The practical question behind "arc browser status 2026" used to be how long Arc would stay good enough. It now has a fixed answer.
Arc works until December 22, 2026, and then it stops.
It still gets Chromium security updates until then, so you do not have to leave this afternoon. But anything that lives only in Arc, like your Spaces, folders and pinned tabs, has to move before that date. After December 22 you cannot open Arc to reach it.
The Browser Company itself points to security.
It says it can no longer keep Arc as safe as a browser needs to be, which is why it is ending Arc instead of patching it indefinitely.
Windows users are on the same clock.
Arc for Windows gets the same weekly Chromium builds as the Mac version (1.130.0 on October 29, 2026) and stops working on the same day. New users cannot sign up on either platform.
Move while Arc still opens.
Pick a destination, import from Arc while it runs, and use both side by side for a few weeks. Arc's own Export Data option (Arc > Settings > Advanced) saves your Spaces and tabs as a list of links, so importing straight into your next browser or app keeps more of your setup.
Keeping Arc's workflow after Arc shuts down
The hardest part of leaving Arc is not the bookmarks - it is the sidebar. Arc's sidebar, with its spaces, pinned items, and vertical layout, is the thing most Arc users say they cannot find anywhere else. Switching to Safari or Chrome means going back to a horizontal tab strip and losing that workflow.
That gap is the reason SupaSidebar exists. SupaSidebar is a macOS app that brings Arc's sidebar to every browser - one sidebar for tabs, bookmarks, files, and apps across 32+ browsers including Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Arc, Zen, Vivaldi, Brave, Helium, and Dia. It is not a browser and not a browser extension; it is a standalone Mac app that adds the sidebar layer on top of whatever browser is running. That means a user can move off Arc to a browser that is still actively developed, and keep the sidebar-first workflow that made Arc worth using.
It also imports Arc data directly. SupaSidebar's 3-click Arc import (Preferences → Import and Export → Arc → Import) pulls Arc's sidebar structure across, so the move does not start from an empty sidebar. Run it before December 22, while Arc still opens. For the full migration walkthrough, see Switching from Arc Browser.
Conclusion: where Arc stands in November 2026
Arc browser stops working on December 22, 2026. Until then it is owned by Atlassian and receives weekly Chromium security updates, plus a few export tools for the shutdown. The latest macOS build is 1.171.0 (October 29, 2026) and the latest Windows build is 1.130.0 (same date). New accounts are closed, and every existing account is deactivated on December 22.
For users, the segments break down like this. If Arc still works for you: it will until December 22, so pick a destination now and import while Arc still opens. If you want the official path: Dia imports your Arc setup, with Spaces becoming Profiles. If you relied on Spaces and the sidebar in your own browser: the move is to another browser plus a sidebar layer, or to a different sidebar-first browser such as Zen. If you have already decided to leave: the bottleneck is keeping your sidebar workflow, not moving bookmarks - SupaSidebar keeps the Arc-style sidebar on a browser that is still maintained, and imports Arc data in three clicks.
This page updates as Arc ships its last builds and as each shutdown date passes. If you would rather get an email when Arc's status changes, our free Arc Browser Status Watch does exactly that. For the deeper "is Arc actually dead" discussion, see Is Arc Browser Dead?. To compare every current option, start with the Arc browser alternative guide.
Try SupaSidebar (free version)
Why we recommend SupaSidebar
SupaSidebar is a macOS app that brings Arc's sidebar to every browser - one sidebar for tabs, bookmarks, files, and apps across 32+ browsers including Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Arc, Zen, Vivaldi, Brave, Helium, and Dia. For someone leaving Arc before it shuts down, it solves the specific problem that makes leaving hard: it keeps the sidebar, spaces, and pinned-item workflow while letting the underlying browser be one that is still actively developed. It runs on macOS 14 and later, imports Arc data in three clicks, and has a free version.
FAQ
Is Arc browser still being updated in 2026?
Yes, until December 22, 2026, and only with Chromium security and stability updates. The latest macOS version, 1.171.0, shipped October 29, 2026. Arc has had no new features since it entered maintenance mode in May 2025, apart from export tools for the shutdown.
What is the current status of Arc browser?
Arc is shutting down. The Browser Company announced on October 22, 2026 that Arc stops working on macOS and Windows on December 22, 2026, and that every Arc account is deactivated that day. New accounts are already closed. Until then Arc works and receives security patches.
What was the latest Arc update?
Arc for macOS 1.171.0 and Arc for Windows 1.130.0, both released October 29, 2026, updating Arc to Chromium 156 with security fixes. The macOS build also adds a way to export every Easel at once.
Is Arc browser safe to keep using?
Until December 22, 2026, Arc still receives Chromium security updates. The Browser Company says it can no longer keep Arc as secure as it needs to be, which is why it is ending Arc, so treat the remaining weeks as time to move, not a reason to stay.
Will Arc browser get new features again?
No. Arc is being sunset on December 22, 2026, and The Browser Company's development effort is on Dia, a separate AI-focused browser.
Is Dia a replacement for Arc?
It is the replacement The Browser Company recommends. Dia imports your Arc passwords, bookmarks, extensions and history, turns Spaces into Profiles and folders into Pinned Tab Groups. It is built around AI in browsing, so it is close to Arc rather than identical.
Is Arc for Windows still maintained?
Only until December 22, 2026, when it stops working along with the macOS version. Until then it gets the same Chromium security and stability updates. Arc for Windows 1.130.0 shipped October 29, 2026.
How do I keep Arc's sidebar if I switch browsers?
A Mac app like SupaSidebar adds an Arc-style sidebar to any browser, so the sidebar, spaces, and pinned-items workflow survives the switch. SupaSidebar imports Arc data in three clicks and works across 32+ browsers.
Written by Kshetez Vinayak, founder of SupaSidebar. This page is updated as Arc ships new builds. Last updated November 1, 2026.