How to use Arc Max in Arc Browser to get the most out of its built-in AI

If you've been using the same browsers for a while, you probably think everything's already been invented. But then Arc Browser comes along and proves there's still more to come. Plenty of room to reinvent how we work on the webAnd when you add Arc Max, with its artificial intelligence layer, things change completely: from a simple browser to a serious productivity tool.

In this article we will see, step by step, How to use Arc Max in Arc Browser to get the most out of it: what it does, how to activate it, what keyboard shortcuts it has, how it helps you organize tabs, better understand the pages you visit, and what differentiates Arc from other Chromium-based browsers like Chrome, Edge, Brave, or Opera.

What is Arc Browser and why is it generating so much buzz?

Arc Browser is a browser developed by The Browser Company, a startup with former employees from Google, Tesla, and Instagram, which has decided to break almost all the dogmas of the classic browser: goodbye to the address bar at the top, goodbye to horizontal tabs and hello to an interface designed for projects, workspaces and real task flow.

It's based on Chromium, so it maintains compatibility with the Chrome Web Store extensions and the rendering engine you already knowBut it wraps everything in a new layer: a vertical sidebar, more flexible tabs, separate spaces for work and personal life, split view, a mini browser called Little Arc, and extreme customization of the websites you visit.

Since its launch in 2022 on macOS, and after arriving on Windows 11 Mobile, Arc has been gaining traction among power users, people who are glued to their browsers and want something More modern and productive than Chrome, but without sacrificing compatibility.However, it also has its learning curve: it's not the typical browser that you open and know how to use 100% in five minutes.

One of the things that has most boosted its popularity is precisely Arc Max, the layer of generative artificial intelligence functions integrated into the browser itselfIt's not just "an AI chat stuck to the side," but a set of tools that permeate the internal search engine, tab management, downloads, and link previews.

Getting started with Arc: installation, migration, and setup

Before you start playing with Arc Max, you need to have the browser properly installed and configured. Arc is available for MacOS and Windows 11 (and recent versions of Windows 10 19H1 or higher)In addition to mobile apps, although the full experience is currently on desktop.

To download it, just go to arc.net from your computerThe website detects your system and offers the appropriate installer. The process is typical: you run the installer, accept permissions, and in a couple of minutes Arc is ready to boot without needing to enter system passwords or anything unusual.

The first time you open it, Arc will ask you to create an account. That account is used for Sync spaces, history, bookmarks, and settings between devices via their cloud infrastructure (they use GCP Firebase with encrypted data). This is an important step if you plan to use it on multiple computers.

Next, it suggests importing what you already have in other browsers. You can import bookmarks, history, passwords, and even some extensions from Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Brave, Edge, Opera, or other Chromium-based browsers. On macOS, you do it from the menu bar in Arc > Import from Another Browser, and on Windows from the Arc menu in the top left corner.

The bookmarks you import don't appear as a simple, classic favorites bar: Arc turns them into pinned tabs or spaces. within the sidebar, so that they fit better into your project-based workflow and not as an endless list of forgotten links.

A different interface: sidebar, spaces, and smart tabs

The first surprise when you open Arc is that You won't see the classic address bar at the topEverything is organized around a vertical sidebar on the left side of the screen, where tabs, favorites, pinned web applications, and spaces are mixed together.

At the top of that bar is the address and search box, right below are the apps you have marked as important (Gmail, Google Calendar, X, YouTube, Slack, Notion, Spotify, etc.) and further down are the normal, temporary, archived tabs and pinned tab folders. To open a new tab, use Cmd + T (or Ctrl + T) and a floating search box will appear. where you write the website or the term you want, without having to look at the top of the screen.

Tabs in Arc have a "personality of their own": some close automatically if you don't use them again after a while, others can be pinned so they are always at hand, and others are grouped into folders. You can rename them, assign them to specific spaces, or let Arc Max automatically rename pinned tabs. to make them easier to identify.

In addition, Arc integrates a feature called “Air Traffic Control”: you can define rules so that Certain domains always open in a specific spaceFor example, all your company's Slack links can go to the "Work" space, while your personal Gmail opens in the personal space, without you having to manually switch tabs.

Split View, Little Arc, and other features that change your daily routine

One of Arc's star features is the Split view, which lets you see multiple tabs in a single windowThey can be arranged vertically or horizontally. You can have two, three, or even more tabs sharing the screen and adjust the percentage of space each one occupies.

This is perfect for tasks such as comparing documents, writing while having documentation at hand, reviewing statistics and a spreadsheet at the same time, or reading an interview while taking notes. You can even save a specific split-view configuration as a tab in the sidebar., so you can get it back whenever you want without having to set everything up again.

Another very useful tool is Little Arc, a small floating browser that opens to quick tasks or external links that come from other appsWhen you click a link from Slack, iMessage, or other apps, Arc can open it in Little Arc, a lightweight window designed for one-off queries.

Little Arc can be moved between virtual screens and desktops, and by default It automatically archives your sessions every few hours to avoid filling your main space with junk tabs.If you need to retrieve anything from those sessions, you can search for it with Cmd + T, type "View file" and filter for what you want.

Arc also includes built-in screenshot tools, a Picture-in-Picture mode for pinning a video on top of other windows, and Direct shortcuts to Google services like Gmail or Calendar from the sidebarAll of this is combined with a command bar (Cmd + T on macOS, Ctrl + T on Windows) that not only searches websites, but also commands from the browser itself.

Boosts and extreme website customization

One of The Browser Company's slogans is that with Arc you can “customize each web page your way”And it's not just an empty phrase: so-called Boosts are small modifications that you apply to any website to change it to your liking.

With Boosts you can change colors, fonts, font size, button styles and even hide elements of the page that bother youFor example, you can clean up YouTube by removing Shorts, the trending tab, or sections you never use, or modify the appearance of a tool you use daily to make it easier to read.

Arc saves these changes individually for each website, and you can turn Boost on or off whenever you want. It's also possible to write your own CSS for maximum control, something that It appeals to web designers and developers who want to tailor each site to their workflow. or to their visual needs.

In addition to customizing the web, Arc allows you to use the browser as a small local media center: You can open videos, music, or files that you have on your computer directly within Arc., integrating your local content with the websites you visit daily.

All of this is complemented by a notes system, dedicated "quick documents" spaces, and bookmark folders that function almost like small projects, making Arc feel more like a work tool than a simple traditional browser.

What is Arc Max and how do I activate it in Arc Browser?

Arc Max is the set of artificial intelligence functions integrated directly into Arc BrowserIt's not an external extension or a separate website, but a set of tools that blend in with actions you already perform daily: searching within a page, opening links, managing downloads, etc.

Underneath, Arc Max uses AI models such as OpenAI's GPT-3.5 and Anthropic modelsHowever, The Browser Company insists that everything can be activated or deactivated from a central panel, and that data collection is minimal and focused on improving the product without recording your browsing history or specific URLs.

To activate Arc Max, you have several options. One of the simplest is to simply type “Arc Max” in the command bar (Cmd + T / Ctrl + T) and open its panel. Another way is to go to Settings (Cmd + , on macOS, or from the main menu) and open the MAX section, where you will see a list of functions with individual switches.

If you prefer the quick way, in some versions of Arc you can simply type “Arc Max” in the address bar / search box or in the main search box itself to The assistant will appear to turn on the AI ​​functionsOnce activated, you can try out each tool as needed.

The good news is that you're not forced to use everything. You can have only link previews enabled, or only the download renaming feature, or the "ask on page" option, and disable the rest. Arc Max is designed like a menu of parts that you choose to your liking.not like a monolithic block that you can't get out of.

Use Arc Max to query the page and better understand the content

One of Arc Max's most powerful and, in practice, most useful features is "Ask on Page." Instead of simply searching for a specific word with the typical Cmd + F, you can ask complex questions about the content you are viewing and that the AI ​​answers you using only that page as context.

The process is very simple: you press Cmd + F (or Ctrl + F on Windows) as usual, but if you have Arc Max active, you'll see the option to ask a question. There you can write things like “What are the key points of this article?” or “Just summarize the part about performance and RAM usage.”, and the assistant will return an answer at the top of the page.

You can also invoke a more classic ChatGPT mode linked to the current tab with the shortcut Option + Command + G on macOS (Ctrl + Alt + G on Windows). This opens a chat window where You can ask for explanations, summaries, translations, or clarifications about the content in front of you.without having to copy and paste text on another website.

Another convenient feature: if you type “ChatGPT” in the address bar, Arc opens an integrated window with the chatbot ready to use. This is incredibly helpful when you're reading technical documentation, long articles, papers, or texts in another language, because AI focuses only on what you're viewing, not the entire internet..

In everyday use, this feature transforms the browser into more than just a passive window: Arc Max becomes a kind of assistant embedded in every page, which helps you find what's important, avoid getting lost in endless texts, and resolve doubts without leaving the tab.

Link previews and faster navigation with Arc Max

Another very interesting capability of Arc Max is the smart link previewsThis feature allows you to see a quick summary of the page behind a link without having to open it completely.

On macOS, when you have the "5-second previews" option enabled, you can hovering the mouse over a link while holding down the Shift keyArc will then generate a short, AI-powered summary of the page's content. This is ideal when you're browsing Google, DuckDuckGo, Twitter, or any website full of links and don't want to keep opening tabs like there's no tomorrow.

Arc already had a feature called Peek, which displayed a page in a "look and drop" style floating window, but with Arc Max that idea goes a step further: Not only do you see the page, you can also receive a summary of the most relevant information. without investing time in reading it all.

In addition to previews, Arc Max incorporates the concept of "Instant Links": when you type a search in the bar and press Shift + Enter, Arc can directly open the first relevant result without going through the results pageIt's a way to get to what you were probably looking for sooner.

All of this translates into fewer clicks, fewer useless tabs, and a smoother browsing experience. Arc Max tries to save microtasks that, over the course of the day, add up to many wasted minutes. jumping from tab to tab unnecessarily.

Organize tabs and downloads with the help of Arc Max's AI

If your browser is often cluttered with open tabs and your downloads folder is a mess, Arc Max can help with that too. One of its tools is... “Ordered Downloads”, which automatically renames downloaded files so that they are easy to identify later.

Instead of leaving you with files like “gu2004.pdf” or “document(1).pdf”, Arc Max analyzes the content or context and suggests more descriptive names, for example “Adaptive Design – CIRP Annals.pdf”This way, when you return to the downloads folder, you won't have to open three files to find the correct one.

Something similar happens with pinned tabs. The "Organized Tab Titles" feature condenses and cleans up the names of your pinned websites so that Don't take up half the sidebar with endless and irrelevant titlesAI makes the name more usefully short, especially when you're working with many web tools at once.

Arc also implements automatic archiving of tabs you haven't used in a while, moving them to a separate section for free up visual space and, incidentally, help with memory usageCombined with spaces and Max, the result is a browser that cares about keeping your “digital clutter” under control.

Tab management relies heavily on keyboard shortcuts and the command bar: from there you can search for open, recently closed, or archived tabs, change their location, open split-view combinations, and of course, invoke Arc Max functions to sort and rename without touching the mouse.

Privacy, security, and ad blocking in Arc Browser

Although Arc is built on Chromium, The Browser Company places great emphasis on its focus on the privacy and reduced dependence on Google servicesTo begin with, Arc disables some unnecessary Google services and comes pre-installed with uBlock Origin as an ad blocker.

This means that, as soon as you install it, you already have Block ads and trackers without adding extensionsIn addition, the team is working on more native blocking and tracking protection tools to strengthen that aspect without you having to complicate things.

Regarding data collection, Arc states that it only collects minimal telemetry information related to browser errors and internal actionsnot with your browsing activity. They do not store URL history, page content, search terms, or data that personally identifies you.

Data that is processed (for example, usage metrics) is encrypted in transit and at rest, and is deleted after a short period of time. They update their Chromium version very quickly (usually within 48 hours of a major update), which allows them to patch security vulnerabilities quickly.

To reinforce all of this, they collaborate with external security companies like Latacora, conduct regular audits, and maintain a bug bounty program so security researchers can report vulnerabilities. In short, The aim is to combine the power of the Chromium ecosystem with a much more restrained data policy than that of an advertising-oriented browser..

Performance, resource consumption, and comparison with Chrome and Safari

Arc shares its engine with Chrome, so it's natural to wonder if it's equally memory-intensive. Tests on macOS with ARM chips show that Arc consumes around 4,8 GB of RAM compared to the more than 8 GB that Chrome uses. in similar scenarios. That is, Arc can reduce memory usage by around 40% compared to Chrome.

In terms of pure speed, tests with Speedometer 3.1 place Chrome and Edge slightly ahead of Arc, but Arc continues to outperform Firefox and is close behind Safari. in terms of JavaScript performance and interface responsiveness. In practice, it feels like a fast and stable browser, especially on macOS thanks to its Swift implementation.

Where Safari still reigns supreme is in battery life: if your only priority is maximizing the battery life of a Mac laptopSafari still holds a clear advantage over any Chromium-based browser, including Arc. There are no miracles involved, but Arc occupies a fairly reasonable middle ground.

Looking at the cross-platform experience, Safari remains limited to the Apple ecosystem, while Arc offers a consistent experience across macOS and Windows, and on Windows 11 you can optimize boot with account synchronization included. Chrome remains king in absolute compatibilityBut Arc offers many of the same advantages (same extensions, same engine) with a much more modern interface and approach.

To summarize this point: Arc isn't the fastest in benchmarks nor the most battery-efficient, but It strikes a balance between performance, resource consumption, and advanced features. which makes it very attractive for those who live with dozens of tabs and web applications open at the same time.

Arc Browser, business, and workflow automation

Arc isn't just for advanced personal use. Thanks to its workspaces, commands, and integration with third-party tools, it has become an interesting option for teams that want to organize their digital workflows within the browser.

The spaces allow a marketing team, for example, to have a space per client with their website, social media, analytics, task manager and shared documents always open and organized. Developers can create spaces for development, pre-production, and production environmentswith its consoles, panels and documentation separate so as not to mix anything up.

With Air Traffic Control you can automate even further: all Jira links go to one space, intranet links to another, and support tools to a third. Thus, Each type of task automatically jumps to the appropriate context without the user having to think about it.

Arc also integrates well with apps like Gmail, Google Calendar, Notion, and various AI-focused productivity tools. Furthermore, automation platforms like Latenode allow you to connect Arc with over 300 applications. You can set up workflows where what you research in Arc is transferred to Google Sheets., it is transformed into summaries in Notion and shared in Slack, to give a typical example.

This approach makes Arc a good fit not only for the individual browser geek, but also for teams that want to reduce the strain of constant context switching, having everything grouped by projects and taking advantage of Arc Max's AI to get rid of mechanical tasks.

Arc Browser and Arc Max still have a number of rough edges and design choices that won't please everyone, and their interface can be a bit intimidating at first, but they offer a very particular combination: the familiarity of the Chromium ecosystem with a radically different way of understanding the browsersupported by automation and artificial intelligence. If you spend many hours a day online, it's worth taking the time to master it and see how well it can fit into your workflow.