StorableSidebar.json explained
Arc keeps its sidebar (Spaces, Favorites, pinned tabs, folders) in a local JSON file called StorableSidebar.json. Most third-party Arc migration tools read this file.
Where it is
- macOS:
~/Library/Application Support/Arc/StorableSidebar.json(in Finder: Go > Go to Folder…) - Windows:
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\TheBrowserCompany.Arc_<id>\LocalCache\Local\Arc\StorableSidebar.json
Back it up now
Quit Arc, then copy the file (and ideally the whole Arc folder) somewhere outside it. After Dec 22, 2026 Arc won't open, so the file is your only copy of the sidebar structure unless you exported. Whether third-party tools will still parse it after Arc stops working is unverified; convert it before then.
What reads it
- arc-export: converts it to a bookmarks HTML file any browser can import.
- arc2zen and similar: write it into Zen (Arc to Zen).
- Helium's Arc sidebar importer (PR #1067).
The format is undocumented and not officially supported; treat any parser as best-effort. Arc's official alternative is Export Data.
FAQ
Is StorableSidebar.json an official export format?
No. It's Arc's internal storage file and isn't documented. The official export is Arc Data Export.md.
Can I import StorableSidebar.json into Chrome directly?
No. Convert it to a bookmarks HTML file first, for example with arc-export.
Related: compare alternatives · quiz · export guide · all guides
Want it done in one sitting?
Everything above is free. If you'd rather follow one checklist with tested scripts (Mac and Windows) and a verification step, the Arc Migration Kit is $12 with a 30-day refund. You don't need it if the free route works for you.