Arc browser for Windows today, responding to the growing demand from users and observers
In a significant move, The Browser Company has officially launched the beta version of its Arc browser for Windows today, responding to the growing demand from users and observers. This development follows the successful transition of the Mac client from an invite-only mode to being accessible to all users in 2022.
The company plans to gradually onboard users throughout the month and has committed to a rapid expansion of invite roll-outs starting in January. With an impressive waitlist of over 500,000 users, the Thrive Capital-backed startup is gearing up for a substantial influx of new Arc Browser beta testers.
While the announcement did not explicitly confirm full feature parity between the Windows and Mac clients, The Browser Company acknowledged ongoing efforts to port essential features such as Peek (a preview of a webpage on hovering) and Mini Arc. Users can anticipate some features being temporarily unavailable at the initial launch.
The founders, Josh Miller and Hursh Agrawal, had previously outlined their plans to release a Windows version in 2023. True to their word, just days before the year-end, the company has introduced Swift-based browsers on the Windows platform.
The core team responsible for the Windows build includes Alexandra Medway, the product engineering lead, Darin Fisher, former VP of Chrome, and Saleem Abdulrasool, a former Facebook engineer and Swift on Windows expert. In tandem with the development efforts, The Browser Company is actively working towards open-sourcing its Windows code.
This year has been a dynamic one for the Arc browser. In April, the company rolled out an iPhone companion app, simplifying the process of saving webpages in various workspaces for later access through the desktop client. Subsequent months saw the introduction of tools for tweaking web pages, including the removal of specific elements such as the user suggestion box on X (formerly Twitter). October marked the integration of AI-based features like file and pinned tab renaming, a summary preview of a page, and convenient access to ChatGPT through the command bar. Towards the end of the same month, The Browser Company introduced a feature enabling users to share their folders and spaces and split views with non-Arc users.
The beta release of the Arc browser for Windows signals another milestone in the company’s journey, offering a broader user base the opportunity to explore its features and contribute to the refinement of the browsing experience.
