How do you switch from Chrome to the Arc browser?
Install Arc, move your Chrome data across, and set up vertical tabs, auto-archiving and split view.
Short answer
Download Arc from arc.net, install it, and pick "Import from Chrome" on the first launch screen to bring over bookmarks, saved passwords and extensions. Then build your Spaces in the left sidebar, drag frequently used sites to the top section to pin them, and set your archive window under Settings > Max.
What you need
Step by step
Download and install Arc
Go to arc.net and grab the installer that matches your operating system. After setup, Arc asks you to verify an email address, since it cannot be used without an account. It is built on Chromium, so every Chrome extension works.
Import your Chrome data
Do not skip the "Import from Chrome" step on the first launch screen. Bookmarks, saved passwords, history and extensions all come over in one pass. Keep Chrome installed for about a week afterwards as a fallback.
Split your Spaces into work and personal
Use the + icon at the bottom left to add a New Space, then put your work sites (email, docs, project tracking) in one and social media and news in another. If you assign a separate profile under the Profile option while creating a Space, your work and personal accounts stay apart.
Pin the sites you use most
Drag a tab into the top section of the left sidebar and drop it there. Pinned tabs behave like a bookmark and an open tab at once, so you never open the same site twice. Pin Gmail and Google Calendar and you can hover them to see unread mail and the day's events.
Set the auto-archive window
Under Settings > Max, open Archive Tabs After and choose 12 hours, 24 hours, 7 days or 30 days. Tabs past that window close on their own, and you can pull them back from the archive icon at the bottom left. If your days are busy, 24 hours is a balanced starting point.
Try Split View and Peek
Click the Split View icon at the top and place the new tab to the right, left, above or below; you can save a pairing as a set and reopen it in one click. Shift-click a link instead and the page opens in a small window, so you can check it without leaving your current tab.
Tune sites with Boosts
Right-click on a site and open the Boosts panel, where you can change colors, background and font. The Zap tool lets you permanently hide an annoying part of the page, like an ad box or a sticky banner. These changes only apply in your own browser.
Tips
Watch out
The Browser Company, which builds Arc, has shifted new development to a browser called Dia; Arc still gets security updates but do not expect major new features. Also, Arc Max's AI features process page content, so keep them switched off on banking and corporate dashboards.
Frequently asked questions
+Can Arc be used outside the United States?
Yes, downloading and creating an account work fine from most countries. The interface is English only, with no localized language option, but page translation works the same way it does in Chrome.
+Will my Chrome extensions work in Arc?
They will. Arc runs on Chromium too, so you can install extensions from the Chrome Web Store directly.
+Does Arc cost anything?
The browser itself is free. Arc Max's AI features currently carry no extra charge either, and you can toggle them in settings.
+Is there any risk when my passwords are transferred?
The import runs locally on your computer, reading passwords from Chrome's own vault. Even so, leave the Chrome entries in place for a few days as a backup before deleting them.
+Can I put the tab bar back at the top?
No, Arc's design is built around the vertical sidebar and there is no horizontal top tab row. You can hide the sidebar entirely with Ctrl + S to widen the page.
Sources and verification
Last verified: 13 Eylül 2026. tell us. Adapted from a Turkish-language guide; keyboard shortcuts shown are the Windows versions, use Cmd instead of Ctrl on macOS.
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