Arc
Also called arc browser, the browser company arc
A sidebar-first Chromium browser that reached Windows later than macOS. On Windows the process is Arc.exe.
What you need to know
Arc is Arc.exe. It is not Chrome and not Dia.
The Browser Company shipped Arc for Windows in 2024 with a sidebar and Spaces. Chrome is chrome.exe. Dia is the newer sibling the company markets for active development.
- What is it?
- Web browser
- Still current?
- Yes, see Current status
- Official download?
- Use the vendor link in this article
What is Arc?
Arc is a Chromium browser with a sidebar, Spaces, and split view. The Windows executable is Arc.exe.
If you have never used it
If you want Arc on Windows, this is The Browser Company Arc, not Chrome and not Dia. Download it from arc.net. Windows shipped after the Mac version, in 2024. Spaces and a vertical sidebar are the tell. Dia is the company's newer browser. chrome.exe is Chrome.
What is it used for?
Favorites and tabs live in a vertical sidebar. Chrome uses a top tab strip.
Separate work and home sets inside Arc. That layout is Arc, not a Chrome profile switcher clone.
Two pages in one Arc window. It is still Chromium underneath.
Who is it for?
- People who used Arc on another machine and want the Windows build
- Users who want sidebar Spaces instead of Chrome tabs
- Anyone comparing Arc with Dia or Chrome
Current status
Arc (2024) is a current web browser from The Browser Company. The vendor still points Windows users at https://arc.net/.
How old is it?
Arc launched on Mac first. The Windows build reached a general audience in 2024. The Browser Company later pointed new work at Dia, with Arc kept on Chromium updates. It is not a 1990s browser and not Chrome 2008.
Versions
Major channels first. Exact build numbers are not all verified here.
System requirements
Values follow the publisher's public guidance. Workload still changes the real need.
Minimum
| Operating system | Windows 10 19H1 or later, per Arc download |
|---|---|
| RAM | Enough for Windows plus this app. Heavy projects want more. |
Resource profile
- CPU demand
- Follows what you open inside the app
- RAM demand
- Follows documents, tabs, or libraries
Installed processes
These executables belong to this product when it is installed.
| Arc.exe | Main Windows executable |
|---|
Startup components
Arc can restore Spaces at launch. That is an Arc setting, not a Windows service.
File locations
| Typical install | C:\Users\<you>\AppData\Local\TheBrowserCompany\ |
|---|
File formats
Common problems
Arc is on maintenance-style Chromium updates
The company has pointed new features at Dia. Security engine updates can continue while Arc feature work slows. Check arc.net for what they ship today.
Windows feature gaps versus old Mac writeups
Arc reached Windows later. A 2023 Mac review can name tools this Windows build never got.
Getting unstuck
Install from arc.net or the Microsoft Store listing
Those are the approved Windows paths the help center names. A random ArcInstaller from a forum is junk.
Confirm Arc.exe, not chrome.exe
The Browser Company folder is this product. Google\Chrome is Chrome. Dia has its own app.
Use resources.arc.net for Spaces help
Chrome settings will not move an Arc Space.
Alternatives
Chrome or Edge for a standard Chromium window. Dia if The Browser Company steered you there. Firefox if you want Gecko.
Official help and downloads
Start with the vendor. Random exe sites are not a support channel.
| Download | arc.net/ Official installer or vendor page |
|---|---|
| Help | resources.arc.net/hc/en-us Vendor support |
| Official site | arc.net/ Start here, not a random exe host |
Related hardware
RAM and a current GPU driver. Sidebar Spaces still cost Chromium tab memory.
Technical details
Technical details
Vendor version numbers change. This article does not pin a build.
Sources and verification
Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. How we research.
- Arc official site · Vendor product page
- Arc help · Vendor support
- Arc for Windows help · Vendor Windows install note
- Foxhole process map · First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark.
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