Instant Links in Arc Browser: How to Enable

Instant Links in Arc Browser is a feature that lets you open a search result or a link in a new tab instantly, without waiting for the page to load, by pre-loading it in the background. To enable it, go to Arc Settings > Links, and toggle on “Instant Links.” This article explains what the feature does, how it works, how to turn it on, and how to get the most out of it.

What Are Instant Links?

Instant Links is a setting in Arc (the Chromium-based browser from The Browser Company) that pre-loads pages you’re likely to click. When you hover over a link or a search result, Arc fetches the page in the background before you actually click. If you do click, the page appears almost instantly because it’s already loaded. If you don’t click, the pre-loaded page is discarded, so you don’t see a difference.

The feature is similar to Chrome’s “Preload pages” option and Firefox’s “Network Prediction,” but Arc’s implementation is more aggressive and tied to its unique tab and sidebar interface. It’s designed to make browsing feel faster, especially when you’re clicking through search results or navigating a site with many links.

Why Arc Added Instant Links

Arc positions itself as a browser that replaces tabs with a sidebar and spaces, and it aims to reduce friction in everyday browsing. The Browser Company’s team noticed that a lot of time is spent waiting for pages to load, especially on slower connections. Instant Links is part of a broader effort to make the browser feel “instant,” alongside features like Split View and Peek.

The feature is also a response to the perception that browsers are slow. By pre-loading the most likely next page, Arc can cut perceived load times to near zero. It’s a small but noticeable improvement for people who open many links in a short time, such as researchers, journalists, or anyone who spends hours in search engines.

How Instant Links Works

When you hover over a link, Arc checks if it’s a candidate for pre-loading. It looks at the link’s URL and the page’s headers to see if pre-loading is allowed. If the site doesn’t block it, Arc fetches the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript in a hidden tab. This hidden tab is not visible in your sidebar or tab bar; it’s just a background process.

If you click the link, Arc swaps the hidden tab into view, and you see the fully rendered page. If you move your mouse away without clicking, Arc cancels the pre-load after a short delay (usually a few seconds) to save bandwidth and memory. This is different from simply opening a link in a background tab, because the tab is never visible and is discarded if not used.

One important detail: Instant Links only works with normal HTTP/HTTPS links. It won’t pre-load links that open in a new window, links with JavaScript handlers, or links to PDFs or other file types that require a download. Also, if you have a slow connection, the pre-load might not finish before you click, so you’ll still see a loading spinner.

How to Enable Instant Links

Enabling Instant Links is straightforward, but the exact steps depend on your operating system and Arc version. As of mid-2024, here’s how to do it:

Open Arc and click on the Arc menu (the Arc logo) in the top-left corner of the window (on macOS) or the three-dot menu (on Windows).
Select Settings (or press Cmd + , on macOS, Ctrl + , on Windows).
In the Settings window, click on the Links tab in the left sidebar.
Find the Instant Links section and toggle the switch to On.

If you don’t see the toggle, make sure your Arc is updated to the latest version. The feature was introduced in early 2023, so any version from that point onward should have it. On Windows, the setting might be under a different name, such as “Preload links,” but the location is the same.

Common Problems and Troubleshooting

Instant Links is generally reliable, but you might run into a few issues:

It doesn’t seem to work: First, check that the toggle is on. Then, try hovering over a link and waiting a second before clicking. If the page still loads slowly, the site might be blocking pre-load (some sites send a X-Content-Type-Options: nosniff header). You can’t force it to work on those sites.
It uses too much data: Pre-loading pages consumes bandwidth, even if you don’t click. If you’re on a metered connection, you might want to turn it off. Arc doesn’t give you a per-site whitelist, so it’s all or nothing.
It causes high memory usage: Each pre-loaded page uses some RAM. If you have many tabs open, this can add up. If you notice slowdowns, turn it off or close unused tabs.
It interferes with privacy: Pre-loading means you’re fetching pages you haven’t clicked, which could be seen as a privacy issue. If you’re concerned, disable it. Arc doesn’t send your browsing history to the site, but the site’s server will see a request from your IP.

Instant Links vs. Other Browsers

Chrome’s “Preload pages” (found in Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data) does something similar, but it only pre-loads pages that Google’s algorithm predicts you’ll click, and it sends some of your browsing data to Google. Firefox has “Network Prediction” which does DNS prefetching and TCP pre-connection, but not full page pre-load. Safari has no equivalent feature by default.

Arc’s approach is more aggressive because it pre-loads every link you hover over, not just search results. This can lead to more accurate pre-loading (since it’s based on your actual cursor movement), but it also uses more resources. In practice, most users won’t notice a difference unless they have a very slow connection or a very old computer.

Is Instant Links Safe?

Yes, Instant Links is safe from a security standpoint. It uses the same network stack as normal browsing, so it respects HTTPS, cookies, and other security features. However, there are a few things to keep in mind:

Privacy: When you hover over a link, Arc fetches the page, which means the site’s server sees a request from your IP address, even if you don’t click. This could be used to track your cursor movements indirectly. If you’re privacy-conscious, you might want to disable it.
Resource usage: Pre-loading uses bandwidth and memory. On a limited data plan, it could eat up your allowance. On a low-memory device, it could slow down other tabs.
Malicious links: Pre-loading a malicious link could trigger a drive-by download or exploit a vulnerability. However, this is the same risk as clicking the link, and modern browsers have protections in place. Arc doesn’t execute JavaScript that could harm your system without your interaction, but it does render the page, which could load third-party scripts.

If you’re worried about any of these, the simplest solution is to keep Instant Links off. You won’t lose any core functionality; pages will just load normally.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Instant Links work on all websites?
No. Some sites send headers that prevent pre-loading, such as Cache-Control: no-store or X-Frame-Options: DENY. In those cases, Arc will not pre-load the page, and you’ll see a normal load when you click.

Will Instant Links slow down my computer?
It can, if you have many tabs open or a low-memory device. Each pre-loaded page uses some RAM, but Arc discards them quickly if you don’t click. If you notice slowdowns, turn it off.

Can I use Instant Links on mobile?
Arc for iOS and Android does not currently have Instant Links. The feature is only available on desktop (macOS and Windows).

Does Instant Links work with private windows?
Yes, but it’s worth noting that pre-loaded pages in a private window are also private. They won’t be stored in your history, and cookies are isolated to that session.

How do I turn off Instant Links?
Go to Settings > Links and toggle the switch to Off. You can also use the same path to turn it back on.

Is Instant Links the same as opening a link in a background tab?
No. Background tabs are visible and stay loaded until you close them. Instant Links uses a hidden tab that is discarded if you don’t click. This saves memory and keeps your tab bar clean.

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

More in this bed

The whole Tech How-To bed →