Turn Off the Little Arc Window in Arc Browser

The Little Arc window is Arc’s compact window for opening links without switching to your main browser window. If it is getting in the way, you can change how Arc handles links or close the window when it appears; the right fix depends on whether you want to dismiss one window or prevent links from opening in Little Arc.

What You’ll Need

Arc Browser installed on your Mac. Little Arc is a macOS feature; these instructions do not apply to Arc for Windows.
Access to Arc’s settings. The exact labels or available options can vary with the installed version.

Step-by-Step

Decide whether you want to close one Little Arc window or change the default behavior. If a Little Arc window is already open and you only want it gone, click its red close button or use the standard macOS close-window shortcut, Command-W. This closes that window, but does not necessarily stop future links from opening in Little Arc.
Open Arc’s settings. Bring Arc to the foreground, then choose Arc > Settings from the macOS menu bar. You can also use Command-comma in Arc. If the menu or shortcut does not respond, click the main Arc window first.
Look for the Little Arc or link-opening preference. Review the settings tabs and sections for an option that controls Little Arc, opening links, or opening links in a new window. Arc has changed settings organization over time, so do not rely on an exact tab name if it is not present in your build.
Turn off the relevant behavior if Arc provides a control for it. Switch off a setting explicitly referring to Little Arc, or choose an option that opens links in your regular Arc window instead. Read the full label before changing it: a general new-window preference may affect more than Little Arc.
Test with a link that normally triggers Little Arc. Click a link from another app or use the same route that caused the compact window to appear. Check whether it opens in your normal Arc window. If it still opens in Little Arc, continue with the checks in Troubleshooting below.
Check your macOS default-browser setting if links come from other apps. Open System Settings > Desktop & Dock, find Default web browser, and confirm Arc is selected if you expect links to open in Arc. This determines which browser receives links; it does not, by itself, disable Little Arc inside Arc.
Quit and reopen Arc if a changed preference does not take effect. Use Arc > Quit Arc, then launch it again and test once more. Save any work in open tabs before quitting.

Common Mistakes

Assuming closing the window disables Little Arc. Closing a single window only dismisses that instance. A later link may open another one.
Looking for a universal “disable” switch. Arc’s settings can differ between releases, and a dedicated off switch may not be available in every version. If you cannot find a clearly named option, do not change an unrelated setting just because it sounds similar.
Changing the default browser instead of Arc’s link behavior. macOS’s default-browser control decides which app receives web links. It does not decide whether Arc uses Little Arc or its regular window.
Confusing Little Arc with a regular Arc window or a tab. A compact, separate window is different from a tab in your main Arc window. Confirm which one is appearing before changing window or tab preferences.
Expecting a setting change to close windows already open. Preferences generally affect what happens next; close existing Little Arc windows separately.

Tips

When a Little Arc window appears, note what opened it: a link in Messages, Mail, another app, or a link clicked inside Arc. The source helps narrow down which behavior to adjust.
Try the test link again after changing one setting at a time. That makes it easier to undo a change if it affects normal browsing.
If you prefer to keep Little Arc available but want it out of the way, close the compact window after use rather than changing broader new-window preferences.
Check Arc’s in-app help or current release notes if your settings do not match these descriptions. Labels and controls may change as Arc is updated.

Troubleshooting

I can’t find a Little Arc setting. Search the settings for “Little Arc” or browse for link-opening and window preferences. If there is no explicit control in your version, Arc may not offer a way to turn it off globally. You can still close individual Little Arc windows; avoid changing unrelated settings.

Links still open in Little Arc after I changed a setting. Confirm the switch or selection was saved, quit and reopen Arc, and test again. Make sure the control you changed specifically describes Little Arc or link handling. If the behavior persists, check Arc’s current help for your installed version.

Links from another app open in a different browser. Set Arc as the default web browser in macOS under System Settings > Desktop & Dock. Then test the link again. This can route links to Arc, but you may still need an Arc preference to control which Arc window receives them.

Command-comma does nothing. Click an Arc window to make the app active, then use the macOS menu bar and choose Arc > Settings. If Settings is missing or will not open, restart Arc and check for an available update.

The window closes but comes back immediately. Another link may be opening it, or a second link may still be queued. Close the window, then pause before clicking or opening anything else. If it reappears without a new link, restart Arc and check whether the behavior continues.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I disable Little Arc completely?
That depends on the Arc version. If Settings has a dedicated Little Arc or link-opening control, turn it off or route links to the regular window. If no such control exists, closing each Little Arc window may be the available option.

Does Command-W turn off Little Arc?
No. Command-W closes the current window. It does not necessarily change how Arc opens future links.

Will setting Arc as my default browser stop Little Arc?
No. It makes Arc the app that receives web links from macOS. Arc’s own link or window preferences determine how those links open inside Arc.

Is Little Arc available on Windows?
Little Arc is a macOS feature. Windows users may see different Arc window behavior and should use the settings available in their version.

Will changing this setting close my open tabs?
Changing a link-opening preference should not be treated as a way to close open windows or tabs. Close the Little Arc window separately, and save any work before quitting Arc.

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

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