Arc Search on iPhone is useful because it does more than hand you a list of links. You type a question, and it builds a quick answer with sources underneath so you can keep moving.
I had been using Arc Browser on my Mac for a while, but I wanted that same Arc Search experience on macOS. The good news is there is a simple workaround using Arc's built-in site search settings.
Quick Answer
To use Arc Search on your Mac, open Arc's search engine settings, add a new site search entry, give it a shortcut like @search, and use the Arc Search URL with %s as the query placeholder. After that, type your shortcut in Arc's address bar, press Tab, enter your question, and Arc will open the AI-style search result.
The setup is quick, but the important part is remembering the workflow: shortcut first, then Tab, then your search question.
What Arc Search Does
On the iPhone, Arc Search feels different from a normal Google-style search. When I searched for Apple events in 2024, it pulled together the dates and context directly on the page instead of making me click through several links first.
It also keeps the source links available in a deeper dive section. That is the part I like. You get a quick answer up top, but you can still check where the information came from.
Why Use It On Mac
On a phone, this kind of search makes obvious sense because you are usually looking for a quick answer while you are out and about. On a Mac, I do not necessarily want every search to work this way.
But I do want the option. Sometimes I just need a direct answer to a question, with sources nearby if I want to keep digging. This workaround lets Arc Search live beside regular browsing instead of replacing it.
How To Set It Up
First, you need Arc installed on your Mac. Then open Arc's search engine settings by going to arc://settings/searchEngines.
Scroll down to the Site Search section and choose Add. For the name, I used Arc Search. For the shortcut, I used @search, but you can choose whatever shortcut you will remember.
In the URL field, use the Arc Search URL with the search placeholder included: https://search.arc.net/?type=ask-arc&q=%s
Save the new site search entry. Once it is added, Arc will recognize your shortcut from the address bar.
- Open arc://settings/searchEngines in Arc.
- Scroll to Site Search.
- Click Add.
- Name it Arc Search.
- Set a shortcut, such as @search.
- Use https://search.arc.net/?type=ask-arc&q=%s as the URL.
- Save the entry.
How To Use It
Open a new tab or go to Arc's address bar. Type your shortcut, such as @search, then press Tab. Arc should show the site search name in the bar.
Now type your question. In my test, I searched for Apple events 2024, and Arc returned a generated answer with event details and source links. I also tried Apple Vision Pro, and it pulled together images, features, pricing context, user experience notes, and deeper source links.
The Tab step matters. If you just type the shortcut and keep going, Arc may treat it like a normal search. Type the shortcut, press Tab, then enter the question.
What To Expect
This is not the same as making Arc Search your default search engine for everything. That is actually why I like this setup. Regular browsing stays normal, but the Arc Search-style answer is available whenever I want it.
I would not be surprised if Arc builds this more directly into the desktop browser over time. Until then, the custom site search method gives you a clean way to get the same basic experience on macOS.
Key Takeaways
- Arc Search on iPhone gives direct answers with source links instead of only showing a list of search results.
- You can recreate that experience on Mac by adding Arc Search as a custom site search in Arc Browser.
- The settings page is arc://settings/searchEngines.
- A shortcut like @search lets you trigger Arc Search only when you want it.
- Remember to press Tab after typing the shortcut before entering your search.
- This is best used as an optional search mode, not necessarily as your default for every search.
Watch the Video
The video above above if you want to see the setup on screen, including where the Site Search section lives in Arc and how the shortcut works from the address bar.
