How to Export Tabs and Spaces from Arc Browser (Complete Migration Guide)

With The Browser Company announcing that Arc Browser will be phased out in late 2026—blocking new signups and freezing core feature updates—hundreds of thousands of daily users are facing a pressing task: how to get their saved tabs, nested folders, and project Spaces out of Arc before their accounts are deactivated.

If you have tried clicking around Arc's settings looking for a standard "Export Bookmarks to HTML" button, you already know the problem: it doesn't exist.

Because Arc abandoned the traditional bookmarks bar in favor of an integrated sidebar with Spaces, Pinned Tabs, and Favorites, exporting your data requires a specific migration workflow.

This step-by-step guide walks you through extracting your tabs, bookmarks, and credentials from Arc, and turning raw link exports into durable, local-first workspaces.

Why Arc's export format is different from other browsers

Standard browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge use the Netscape Bookmark HTML format. When you export from Chrome, you get a single .html file that any browser can ingest in two clicks.

Arc, however, stores its sidebar state inside a custom local JSON file called StorableSidebar.json. When you trigger Arc’s built-in export tool, it parses this database and outputs an Arc Data Export.md (Markdown) document:

• What is included: Your Spaces (e.g., "Work", "Personal"), top-level Favorites, pinned tabs, and folder hierarchies formatted as bulleted lists of Markdown links ([Title](URL)).
• What is NOT included: Saved passwords, browser extensions, active login sessions, or auto-archived tab history.
• The import challenge: Mainstream browsers cannot directly import a Markdown .md file into their native bookmark bars.

To migrate cleanly without losing your project context, follow the four steps below.

Step 1: Export Spaces and tabs to Markdown

Arc includes a native data exporter on both macOS and Windows.

Save this .md file to a safe location on your computer (such as your Desktop or Documents folder). Open it in any text editor (VS Code, Notepad, Obsidian, or TextEdit) to verify that your spaces, folder names, and URLs are visible.

Step 2: Export your saved passwords (critical)

Because Arc’s data export tool focuses strictly on tabs and spaces, it does not include your saved login credentials. If Arc has been your primary browser for the past year or two, your passwords and autofill profiles will be lost when the application is discontinued unless you export them manually.

To export your passwords before account deactivation:

1. In Arc’s address bar, navigate to: arc://password-manager/settings
2. Look for the Export passwords section.
3. Click Download file.
4. Confirm your computer's OS password or biometric prompt when asked.
5. Arc will save a passwords.csv file containing your usernames, passwords, and service URLs.

You can import this .csv file directly into your password manager of choice (such as 1Password, Bitwarden, or your new primary browser's password manager). Once imported, securely delete the unencrypted .csv file from your download folder.

Step 3: The fast "Copy All Links" shortcut for single folders

If you only need to rescue a few specific project folders rather than your entire browser history, Arc has a hidden fast-copy feature:

1. Right-click any folder or space header in Arc's left sidebar.
2. Select "Copy All Links" (on macOS, you can also hold the Option key while right-clicking).
3. Arc copies all URLs in that folder to your clipboard as clean, line-separated text.

You can immediately paste this list into a note or directly into a Klyko project board.

Step 4: Turn exported Arc Spaces into Klyko project boards

The biggest mistake Arc refugees make is taking their carefully curated Spaces and dumping them into a flat Chrome or Brave bookmark folder. Within a week, the visual clarity of Arc is replaced by an unreadable list of 80 bookmarks.

Instead of degrading your workflow, use Klyko to replicate the best parts of Arc Spaces—while making them immune to future browser shutdowns:

1. Open Klyko in your new primary browser (Chrome, Brave, Edge, or Firefox). Klyko works completely offline with zero installation required.
2. Create a new Project Board for each major Arc Space (e.g., "Client Projects", "Product Research", "Admin").
3. Copy the relevant links from your Arc Data Export.md file into structured cards on the board.
4. Add context that Arc lacked: Beside your links, add markdown notes, quick checklists, or comparison tables explaining why those links matter.

Step 5: Reopen project tabs on demand with Link Sets

One of Arc’s best features was switching to a Space and having only those tabs visible. You can replicate this seamlessly in any standard browser using Klyko’s Link Sets:

• Group related links on your board into named sets (e.g., "Daily Morning Dashboard", "Client Review Links").
• When you are ready to work, click Open Links to launch that exact batch of 3–5 tabs in your browser.
• When you finish, close the tabs. Your project board preserves the links, notes, and decisions without keeping 40 background tabs eating your computer's RAM.

The Arc shutdown migration checklist

Before December 2026, complete these essential steps to ensure zero data loss:

• Export Spaces & Tabs: Run Settings > Advanced > Export Data and save Arc Data Export.md.
• Export Passwords: Visit arc://password-manager/settings and download your passwords.csv.
• Transfer Essential Extensions: Note any critical Chrome extensions installed in Arc and reinstall them in your target browser.
• Structure Your Workspaces: Build named project boards in Klyko for each active client or initiative.
• Set Next Actions: Leave a clear Next Step anchor on each board so you can resume work without hesitation.

Frequently asked questions

Why doesn't Arc export a standard HTML bookmarks file?

Arc was engineered around a dynamic, database-driven sidebar architecture (StorableSidebar.json) that merges spaces, profiles, and pinned tabs. Because Arc does not use standard hierarchical bookmark trees, its built-in exporter generates a structured Markdown document (Arc Data Export.md) instead of a traditional Netscape HTML bookmark file.

What happens to my Arc tabs when the browser shuts down?

Once The Browser Company shuts down Arc’s cloud synchronization infrastructure in late 2026, existing user accounts will be deactivated, and any features requiring server-side handshakes will stop functioning. You must export your spaces and passwords locally before the shutdown deadline to prevent losing access to your saved links.

Can I import Arc's Markdown export file directly into Google Chrome?

No. Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge only import bookmarks formatted as .html. To import your links into Chrome, you can either use open-source community conversion scripts (like arc-export on GitHub), or paste your link sets into a local-first workspace manager like Klyko, which opens your links on demand in any browser.

How does Klyko replace Arc Spaces without locking me into a new browser?

Klyko operates as a local-first web application powered by IndexedDB. It organizes your links into project boards with integrated notes, tables, checklists, and one-click launch sets. Because Klyko runs in any browser tab, your workspaces and project context remain completely accessible even if you switch browsers in the future.

Protect your workspaces for the long run

Don't let a browser shutdown disrupt your daily momentum. Move your Arc Spaces into enduring, local-first project boards that you own completely.

Try Klyko free and migrate your first project space today. For more comparisons, check out our guide on Arc Browser alternatives or learn how to save tabs by project in Chrome.