Arc browser to shut down, leaving future of Arc.net domain open
in plain words
The company behind the Arc web browser is closing it down on December 22, 2026. Nobody can sign up for new accounts now, and people using it have until then to save their data or move to another browser. The Arc.net web address is registered until September 2027, but its future owner is not yet known.
Full summary
The Browser Company has announced that its Arc browser will be discontinued on December 22, 2026. The company has stopped registering new accounts, and existing users have until December 22 to export their data or migrate to Dia, the company's AI-powered browser. The Browser Company cited the growing demands of browser security as the reason for concentrating its engineering resources on Dia.
Arc gained a loyal following by challenging conventional browser design, with vertical tabs, Spaces, split-screen browsing and extensive customization. In May 2025, the company stopped developing new features for Arc and shifted its attention to Dia. That September, software company Atlassian announced its acquisition of The Browser Company in a deal valued at $610 million, placing Dia at the center of Atlassian's plans for AI-powered workplace browsing.
The domain Arc.net was registered on September 12, 1995, originally serving as the online home of an Internet service provider. It is currently registered through September 2027. Its retirement as a browser brand does not automatically make it available for acquisition. Atlassian could keep the domain, redirecting its traffic to Dia or holding it to protect the former brand. If the company decides Arc no longer serves a business purpose, the domain could eventually enter the domain aftermarket The market where domain names that are already registered are bought and sold. Full definition of aftermarket, potentially through a private sale or brokerage arrangement.