A practical guide to Arc hidden features: Command Bar shortcuts, Spaces, Split View, Air Traffic Control, and pinned tab tricks.
Key takeaways
- The Command Bar (Cmd+T) gives access to nearly 100 browser actions, not just URL navigation.
- Spaces and Profiles keep work accounts, projects, and personal tabs completely separate.
- Air Traffic Control routes specific domains to designated Spaces automatically.
- Split View lets you see two pages side by side — activate by holding Option and clicking any tab.
- Pinned tabs in Arc lock to a specific URL and support hover previews of the page content.
Use the Command Bar for everything, not just URLs
Most browser users treat the address bar as a place to type URLs. In Arc, the Command Bar is the control center for the whole browser — switching spaces, managing tabs, running extensions, and triggering any action in the app without touching the mouse.
Double-clicking the empty area below your tabs also opens it, which is fast once it becomes muscle memory. If you are transitioning from Chrome, building the Command Bar habit first makes everything else in Arc easier.
- Press Cmd+T to open the Command Bar, or double-click the empty sidebar space below your tabs.
- Type any URL, search term, or action — nearly 100 browser actions are accessible, including opening split views and jumping to Spaces.
- Cmd+Shift+D reveals a traditional toolbar if you need to see the full URL of the current page.
Separate work and personal browsing with Spaces and Profiles
Chrome handles multiple accounts awkwardly — you switch profiles and lose all your other tabs. Arc Spaces let you define named contexts (Work, Personal, Side Project) and switch between them without disrupting your other tabs.