Wondering what is Android System Webview and why your system keeps updating it every now and then? Here’s everything you need to know about this preinstalled app and how you can find the general Android System WebView errors on your Android device.

Mobile phones were initially rolled out to be nothing more than wireless devices for basic communication, but the evolution of smartphones is what changed everything. From allowing you to operate your device as your social media hub, a portable gaming console, and your small-screen entertainment system, you get all of this with the help of apps. The Google Play Store was developed for the very reason of allowing you to do more than just what’s expected of a mobile phone, empowering you to do more.

Apart from the apps and games that you fetch from the Play Store, you can also find a bunch of them pre-installed on the Android system. While most pre-installed apps are controlled by the Android OEMs, there are certain apps that Google chooses to ship out with the release of every new version of Android. One such app has been Android System WebView, which generally just seems to blend into the Android OS and does not seem to be bothersome at all, but why does it exist in the first place?

What is Android System WebView

You may have never actually encountered WebView (or at least you may believe so), since it does not exist as a standalone app. In reality, Android System WebView is fused into the Android OS, and is actually the service which allows rendering of webpages in most of the Android apps that you use. Whether it is a system app or a third-party app that you have installed from the Google Play Store, if you see web content within an app, it is thanks to the Android System WebView service.

Apart from the Google Chrome app which uses its very own rendering engine to access webpages on the internet (and other third-party browser apps such as Opera), all of the webpages that you access through an app is made possible with the help of WebView. Up until Android 4.3, Google used the code based on Apple Webkit to create the service, but it now implements the open-source Chromium code. It was after the release of Android 5.0 that Google decided to offer Android System WebView as a standalone app, which makes it easier to update the service without making the users wait for a software update.

How to Fix Android System WebView has Stopped Error

The reason you’re most likely even looking up the Android System WebView app and details about it is that you most likely encountered an error related to it. Whether it was an app that crashed and displayed an error, or you were greeted with a pop-up window that notified you with an error notification, it might be time to inspect what is Android System WebView app, what it actually does and how you can resolve the issues related to it for good.

Solution No. 1: Update Android System WebView

The very reason Google decided to release Android System WebView as a separate app and not include it as a system update module is so that it can be updated frequently. However, if you have the automatic updates for Google Play Store turned off, you might be stuck with an older version of the app. This can cause third-party apps that use the System WebView service to crash, so the sure-shot way to fix it is by ensuring that the app is up to date.

  1. From the home screen of your Android device, head over to the Google Play Store app.
  2. Tap on the three-line menu icon in the top-left corner of the screen, and then select the My apps & games tab from the list.
  3. Under the Updates tab, you should be able to see the Android System WebView app (in case the app has not been updated in while).
  4. Press the Update button right next to the app and wait while Google Play Store downloads the new update and installs it.
  5. For good measure, go ahead and reboot your Android device and check to see if the issue has been resolved.

Outdated version of the Android System WebView app has been regarded as the primary cause behind the error. However, it the System WebView app is up to date and yet you seem to encounter the issue over and over again, you can proceed to the next solution.

Solution No. 2: Reset Android System WebView

Whether it was a secondary app or the Android System WebView app itself that is directly causing the “Unfortunately, Android System WebView has stopped” error, there is yet another way to fix it. Clearing the saved data of the WebView app can help you set the settings to default and start using the service optimally.

  1. Head over to the Settings app on your Android device from the main screen or by swiping down and accessing the notification shade.
  2. Scroll down to find the Manage Apps (or Apps) tab and open it to access the list of apps installed on your device.
  3. Press the three-dot menu button on the top-right corner and select the Show all apps tab from the pop-up menu.
  4. Among the list of all the apps and services installed on your device, scroll down to find the Android System WebView app and tap on it.
  5. Press the Clear Data button at the bottom of the screen and then select Clear all data to proceed.
  6. Now head back to the main screen and reboot your Android device for good measure before you check to see if the issue has been resolved.

Uninstall/Disable Android System WebView

Allowing you to access a webpage from within a third-party is app is what is Android System WebView and its actual purpose. Now imagine not being able to open a webpage when you’re accessing an app such as Instagram. If you cannot seem to get rid of the “Unfortunately, Android System WebView has stopped” error or simply don’t find the app useful enough, you can choose to uninstall it.

However, the app can only be uninstalled on Android devices running Android 7.0 Nougat and lower, although you can choose to disable the app on devices running a newer version of Android. We recommend that you leave the default setting be and keep Android System WebView enabled and updated at all times to enjoy an optimal experience when using your Android phone or tablet. However, if you do choose to remove it from the system (possible only on Android 7.0 Nougat and lower), here’s how you can do it:

  1. From the home screen of your Android device, head over to the Google Play Store app.
  2. Tap on the three-line menu icon in the top-left corner of the screen, and then select the My apps & games tab from the list.
  3. Tap on the Installed tab and scroll down to find the Android System WebView app and select it.
  4. Press the Uninstall button and confirm your action to remove the app from your Android device.

This action will remove the service from your device, barring your ability to access webpages from within apps.

Final Words

All the way up to Android 4.3 Jellybean, Google chose to keep Android System WebView as a part of the core system, and rightfully so. The ability to access webpages from within the app is a feature on which almost every Android app depends. However, to make sure that errors are fewer in occurrence, Google decided to roll out System WebView as a separate app, which gives you the ability to decide whether you keep it enabled or not.

In our experience, the “Unfortunately, Android System WebView has stopped” error can be easily resolved using the methods highlighted above, which should deter you from trying to uninstall the essential service. If you have any questions regarding the Android System WebView, be sure to ask us in the comments section down below and we’ll get back to you right away.

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What's my model number?

There are several ways to locate your model number:

Option 1
On your device, go to Settings, then "About device" and scroll down to "Model number"
Option 2
Often times you can view the model number inside the device, by removing the battery
Option 3
Using Samsung's model/serial number location tool

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