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Android System WebView

System appAndroid 5 and laterSafe to delete: No
Checked against official documentationLast reviewed 1 min read

Android System WebView is the system component that lets apps show web content inside the app, for example help pages, sign-in screens and ads, without opening a browser. It is based on Chromium and is updated through Google Play like an app, so security fixes reach phones without a full system update.

1Why it is installed

Many apps depend on WebView. On Android 7 to 9, Chrome provided the WebView implementation; on Android 10 and later the separate Android System WebView package does it again. It cannot be uninstalled because it is part of the system, but updates can be removed.

2Updates

WebView receives the same security fixes as Chrome. Keeping it up to date in Google Play matters because apps load web pages through it.

3When apps crash

If several apps crash at the same time, a faulty WebView update can be the cause. Updating WebView and Chrome to the latest version in Google Play usually fixes it.

How to update Android System WebView

  1. Open Google Play and search for Android System WebView.
  2. If an Update button is shown, tap it.
  3. Do the same for Chrome.
  4. Restart the phone if apps still crash.

Cautions

  • Do not disable WebView; apps that show web content may stop working.
  • Install WebView only from Google Play or your phone maker, never as an APK from a website.

Sources

  1. Build web apps in WebView (Android Developers) developer.android.com
  2. Android System WebView on Google Play play.google.com

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