On the ARC server computer, ARC runs quietly in the background. You manage it from the launcher — a small icon in the Windows system tray, plus a little status window that appears when ARC needs your attention.
You rarely need to touch it during the day. It’s there for starting up, updates, and the occasional restart.
The tray menu
Click (or right-click) the ARC tray icon to open its menu:
- Open ARC — opens the ARC screens in your default browser. Until ARC is ready, this same slot opens the launcher window instead and reads Show Setup, Show Attention, or Show Status.
- This computer’s network address — a greyed-out line such as
192.168.1.50:1183. It isn’t a button; it’s there so staff can type that address on another computer whenarc.localdoesn’t resolve. - Account — opens the Portal, where your account, subscription, and license live.
- The version number — another greyed-out line. It reads
(latest)next to the version when you’re on the newest release. - Restart — stops and restarts ARC’s background services without closing the launcher.
- Quit — fully stops ARC on this computer (with a confirmation first).
When an update is waiting, an extra item appears at the very top — Update ready, Downloading update 47%, or Review update. Update ready and Review update are clickable and take you to where you finish installing it; Downloading update 47% is just a progress line.
ARC starts on its own
ARC is set to start automatically when you sign in to Windows. After a reboot or a power blip, the server computer signs in and ARC comes back up on its own — no one has to remember to launch it.
Good to know after a power outage
As long as the ARC server computer is set to sign in on its own, your rooms come back without anyone opening ARC manually.
Updating ARC
When a new version is available, ARC notices in the background and shows a notification — ARC Update Available — then downloads the update quietly while it works. When it’s ready, you’ll see ARC Update Ready.
You choose when to actually install it: open the update line from the tray (or go to System → Overview in the ARC screens) and finish the update when it’s safe to restart. Installing the update briefly restarts ARC, then everything comes back on its own — connected displays, control stations, and browser tabs reload themselves onto the new version.
Updates wait for you
ARC won’t restart itself in the middle of a game to update. The download happens in the background, but the final install only happens when you choose it. While a game is running, both the download and the install are held back with a note asking you to end or reset the session first.
Early access versions are opt-in
Sometimes ARC offers an early access version — a preview build that’s still being tested. Those are never downloaded automatically. You’ll see Early access available on System → Overview, and nothing happens until you choose Download early access. Regular releases are the ones that download quietly in the background.
Restarting ARC
If something seems off, Restart from the tray menu is the quickest fix — it restarts ARC’s background services while leaving the launcher running. (ARC also restarts itself automatically if it ever stops unexpectedly.)
Quitting ARC
Quit fully stops ARC on this computer. Because that’s a big deal, ARC asks first:
Quit ARC Software? This will stop all automations, active timers, and ARC Software services on this computer.
You can Restart instead, or confirm Quit.
Quitting stops everything on this PC
Quitting ends all running games, timers, and automations on the ARC server. During open hours, you almost always want Restart instead of Quit.
What’s next
Now that ARC is running, learn how to open ARC in a browser from any computer on your network.