Arc Browser Favorites: How They Work

Arc browser favorites work differently from traditional browser bookmarks: they live in a dedicated sidebar section, can be pinned as tabs, and sync across devices via an Arc account. This guide explains the favorites system, how to add and organize them, and answers common questions.

What Are Favorites in Arc?

Favorites in Arc are a special category of saved links that appear at the top of the sidebar, above your pinned tabs and regular bookmarks. They are designed for the sites you visit most often—like email, calendar, or news—so you can reach them with a single click. Unlike bookmarks, which are stored in a folder-like structure, favorites are always visible in the sidebar, making them faster to access.

Each favorite is represented by a small icon (the site’s favicon) and a label. You can reorder them by dragging, and they stay in place even when you switch between different Spaces (Arc’s separate browsing contexts). Favorites are synced to all devices where you’re signed into the same Arc account, so your setup follows you.

How to Add a Favorite

Adding a favorite is straightforward and can be done in several ways:

While on the site you want to save, click the + button in the top-right corner of the toolbar, then select Add to Favorites.
Drag the site’s URL from the address bar directly into the Favorites section of the sidebar.
Right-click any link or tab and choose Add to Favorites from the context menu.

Once added, the favorite appears immediately in the sidebar. You can also create a new favorite from scratch: right-click inside the Favorites area, select New Favorite, and enter the name and URL manually.

Organizing and Managing Favorites

Favorites are meant to be a small, curated list—Arc doesn’t offer folders within Favorites, so it’s best to keep only your most-used sites there. To organize:

Reorder: Click and drag a favorite to move it left or right.
Rename: Right-click a favorite and choose Rename to give it a custom label.
Remove: Right-click and select Remove to delete it from the list.
Edit URL: Right-click, choose Edit, and change the address if needed.

If you have many favorites, consider moving some to regular bookmarks (in the Library) to keep the sidebar clean. Regular bookmarks can be stored in folders and are accessible via the grid icon at the bottom of the sidebar.

Favorites vs. Pinned Tabs vs. Bookmarks

Arc has three distinct ways to save links, and it’s easy to confuse them. Here’s the breakdown:

Favorites: Always visible at the top of the sidebar. Best for 5–10 sites you open multiple times a day. They do not open automatically on startup.
Pinned Tabs: These are tabs you keep open permanently. They appear below Favorites and can be set to load automatically when you open Arc. Pinned tabs are great for apps you want running in the background, like Slack or Gmail.
Bookmarks: Stored in the Library (accessible via the grid icon). They can be organized into folders and are useful for saving many links without cluttering the sidebar.

A common misconception is that favorites and pinned tabs are the same. Pinned tabs are actual tabs—they take up memory and can be active. Favorites are just shortcuts; clicking one opens a new tab (or focuses an existing one if the site is already open).

Syncing and Multi-Device Use

Favorites sync automatically across all devices where you’re signed into the same Arc account. This includes macOS, Windows, and iOS versions of the browser. To ensure sync works:

Sign in to Arc with the same account on each device.
Make sure you’re connected to the internet.
Check that sync is enabled in Settings → Sync (the option is usually on by default).

Sync is near-instant, so changes you make on your laptop appear on your phone within seconds. However, if you use Arc’s Spaces feature, note that favorites are shared across all Spaces by default. If you want different favorites per Space, you’ll need to use pinned tabs instead, which are Space-specific.

Common Problems and Fixes

Here are a few issues users might encounter with favorites:

Favorite not syncing: Check your internet connection and that you’re signed in. Sometimes a restart of the browser helps.
Favorite icon missing: Arc usually fetches the site’s favicon automatically. If it’s blank, try removing and re-adding the favorite, or clear the browser cache.
Can’t drag to reorder: Make sure you’re dragging from the icon itself, not the label. If it still doesn’t work, try using the right-click menu (though it doesn’t have a move option, so you may need to remove and re-add).
Favorites disappeared: This can happen if you sign out of your Arc account or clear browser data. Always ensure you’re signed in to keep them synced.

If a favorite opens the wrong page, edit its URL via right-click → Edit. Also, check that you haven’t accidentally created a duplicate—Arc doesn’t prevent duplicates, so you may need to manually remove extras.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I put folders inside Favorites?

No, Arc does not support folders in the Favorites section. It’s intentionally flat to keep the list minimal. For folder organization, use regular bookmarks in the Library.

Do favorites open in a new tab or the same tab?

By default, clicking a favorite opens the site in a new tab. If the site is already open in a tab, Arc will switch to that tab instead of duplicating it. This behavior is automatic and cannot be changed.

How do I move a favorite to a different Space?

Favorites are global—they appear in all Spaces. To have Space-specific shortcuts, use pinned tabs instead. You can pin a tab by right-clicking it and selecting Pin Tab.

Are favorites private or secure?

Favorites are stored locally and synced through your Arc account. They are not visible to other users unless you share your screen. Arc does not use favorites for tracking; they are just shortcuts.

Can I import favorites from Chrome or Safari?

Yes, Arc can import bookmarks (including favorites) from other browsers. Go to File → Import from Another Browser, choose your browser, and select what to import. Imported bookmarks will appear in the Library, not as favorites—you’ll need to manually add them to Favorites.

Why don’t my favorites show on my phone?

Make sure you’re signed into the same Arc account on your phone and that sync is enabled. Also, the Arc mobile app may have a slightly different interface—look for the favorites section in the sidebar or bottom bar. If they still don’t appear, try logging out and back in.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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