Zen Browser is a free, open-source browser built on Firefox. It has vertical tabs, workspaces, pinned “Essentials” and split view, which together recreate much of Arc’s layout. Most Arc users can move over in under an hour.
Gather what you need before starting
You need a computer running Windows, macOS or Linux, all of which Zen supports. You also need a little time to rebuild the habits you formed in Arc. The Verge reports that many Arc users are still looking for a replacement. Atlassian bought The Browser Company last year, and the company has since put most of its effort into Dia, a browser built more heavily around AI. If Arc is still installed, keep it for now. You will want it open while you recreate your layout.
Before you begin, make a short list of what you used most in Arc. That might be the sites you pinned, how you split your work into Spaces, which extensions you relied on and whether you used split view. Zen has a counterpart for most of these, but the names and behaviour differ. A list stops you from rebuilding the old setup from memory and forgetting things.
Also decide whether you want to sync with other devices. Zen is based on Firefox, so it can use a Mozilla account for syncing. It does not use a Google account, and nothing will carry over from Chrome-based sync automatically.
Download Zen from its official site
Get the installer from the Zen project’s own website or its official code repository. Avoid third-party download sites, which sometimes bundle extra software or serve out-of-date builds. Pick the build for your operating system and install it as you would any desktop app. When it first launches, Zen walks you through a short setup. You can accept the defaults and change them later.
Import your bookmarks and passwords
Zen includes Firefox’s import tools, which can bring in bookmarks, history and saved passwords from other browsers on the same machine. Arc is built on Chromium, but it is not certain that every version of Zen lists Arc as an import source by name. If Arc is not listed, use one of these indirect routes:
- Export your bookmarks from Arc as an HTML file, if your version allows it, and import that file into Zen.
- Export your passwords from Arc’s password settings as a CSV file, import it into Zen, and then delete the CSV file, because it holds your passwords in plain text.
- If you use a separate password manager, install its Zen-compatible extension instead. Then you don’t need to move passwords between browsers at all.
Arc’s pinned sidebar tabs may not arrive in a tidy form. Expect to rebuild them by hand in the next steps.
Create workspaces to replace Arc Spaces
Arc Spaces let you keep separate sets of tabs for work, personal browsing or individual projects. Zen calls these workspaces. Create one for each Space you used. Give each one a name and an icon, and a colour if you like, so you can tell them apart at a glance.
You can also attach a workspace to a container. Containers are a Firefox feature that keeps cookies and logins separate. With containers you can stay signed in to a work account in one workspace and a personal account in another, without the two interfering. Arc had no direct equivalent of this, so it is worth setting up early.
Pin your Essentials and regular tabs
In Arc, your favourites sat as icons at the top of the sidebar. Zen does the same with Essentials, a grid of site icons above your tab list. Drag your most-used sites there, such as email, calendar and chat.
Below the Essentials, you can pin tabs that belong to a single workspace. Unpinned tabs work as temporary tabs. Arc archived old tabs automatically. Zen handles stale tabs differently, and the exact options depend on your version, so check the settings if you depended on Arc’s auto-archiving.
Choose your layout and compact mode
Zen shows tabs vertically by default, which will feel familiar. Compact mode hides the sidebar and toolbar until you move the pointer to the edge of the window. That is close to Arc’s minimal, full-width look. Try it for a day before deciding. Some people find hidden controls slow them down.
This is also the time to look through the keyboard shortcuts. Zen’s shortcuts do not all match Arc’s. You can remap them in settings so that your muscle memory still works.
Add extensions and mods
Zen runs Firefox extensions from Mozilla’s add-ons site. Most popular extensions have a Firefox version, but some Chrome-only extensions do not. Work through your list and install the Firefox version of each one. Make a note of any that have no equivalent.
Zen also supports mods, which are community-made themes and interface tweaks. They are optional. Install them one at a time, so that you know which one is responsible if something breaks after an update.
Learn split view and Glance
To recreate Arc’s split view, select several tabs and open them side by side in one window. Zen also has a feature called Glance, which opens a link in a floating preview without adding a new tab. It works much like Arc’s Peek. Practise both on a normal task so that they become habit rather than something you forget about.
Avoid the mistakes people actually make
- Trying to copy Arc exactly. Zen is a different browser built on a different engine. Use what it does well, such as containers, instead of forcing an identical layout.
- Installing too many mods at once. Mods can conflict with each other or stop working after Zen updates. If something looks broken, turn off your mods before assuming Zen itself is at fault.
- Leaving exported password files on disk. Delete any CSV file of passwords as soon as you have imported it.
- Forgetting about sync. If you skip creating a Mozilla account, the setup you have built exists on one machine only.
- Assuming every site behaves the same. Some web apps are tested mainly on Chromium browsers. If a site misbehaves, check it in another browser before blaming your settings.
Know when this approach is the wrong choice
Zen may not suit you if you depend on extensions that exist only for Chrome. It may also not suit you if your employer requires a managed Chromium browser or a particular enterprise policy. If you need a browser on your phone that matches your desktop layout, check what Zen currently offers on mobile before you commit. Mobile availability may change, and the current position is not confirmed here.
Zen is maintained by a community project rather than a large company. Some people value that. Others would prefer the slower, more predictable release schedule of a browser with commercial backing. If you mainly want Arc’s AI features rather than its layout, a different browser may suit you better. Dia, from Arc’s makers, is one option. And if Arc still works for you, you do not have to switch straight away.
Frequently asked questions
Is Zen Browser based on Firefox or Chrome?
Zen Browser is built on Firefox, so it uses Mozilla’s Gecko engine, not Chromium. That means it runs extensions from Mozilla’s add-ons site rather than the Chrome Web Store. Web pages render the way they do in Firefox, and you can use a Mozilla account to sync. Arc, by contrast, was built on Chromium, so you may notice small differences when moving between the two.
Can I import my Arc data into Zen Browser?
Zen includes Firefox’s import tools, which can bring in bookmarks, history and passwords from other browsers installed on your computer. Arc may not appear as an import source by name in every version. If it does not, export your bookmarks as an HTML file and your passwords as a CSV file, then import those. Expect to rebuild Arc’s pinned sidebar tabs by hand.
Does Zen Browser have something like Arc Spaces?
Yes. Zen has workspaces, which group tabs much as Arc Spaces did. Each workspace can have its own name and icon, and you can link a workspace to a Firefox container. A container keeps that workspace’s cookies and logins separate from the others, so you can be signed in to different accounts in different workspaces at the same time.
Is Zen Browser free to use?
Zen Browser is free to download and use, and its source code is publicly available as an open-source project. It is developed by a community rather than a large company. You can install it on Windows, macOS and Linux. Download it from the project’s official website or repository, not a third-party site, so that you get a genuine, current build.
Sources and further reading
- The Verge: an article recommending Zen Browser as a replacement for Arc, including background on Atlassian’s acquisition of Arc’s maker
- Zen Browser project documentation: official guidance on workspaces, Essentials, compact mode and mods
- Mozilla support pages: documentation on importing browser data, containers and Mozilla account sync
- Mozilla Add-ons: the catalogue of Firefox-compatible extensions that work in Zen
Surfaced from the rss:verge signal “browser replacement guide”. AI-assisted draft, editorially reviewed.
