Often, users need clarification about whether they need to delete an Android System WebView app. The App's presence in the app list can be baffling, but it is not malware or a virus, as suspected by some users, because the App appears on the Android phone whenever a link is clicked.
It is software that can help to open a link in an application. When it is clicked, a new window may open, which is not a browser but a smaller version of the browser.
Users using previous versions of Android get an alternative option to view and read the link's content in the Webview.
What is Android WebView?
Android WebView is a very popular feature of Android. Many people use this feature to browse the internet. But they need to learn what it is and what they can do with it. First, you should know some basics about the web browser to know more about it. A web browser helps people navigate and find websites on the internet.
Websites are not just static text on a page; they contain graphics, icons, CSS codes and other tools integrated into a web browser. That's why we see flash games in web browsers.
Web browsers also show information like website ratings, alerts and messages. In addition, some apps can design web pages out of HTML or any other standard coding language. Many web browsers are available today, but Google Chrome is the most used web browser.
So what is an Android web browser? Android is a special web browser that works on the Android operating system. The special feature of the Android mobile OS is to show online content to web users on a small hand-held Android device and mobile app.
So, for example, users must be able to read online books on their browsers and find free online books by browsing the web and accessing online reading tools through an Android web browser.
What Is An Android System Webview App?
The Android System WebView app offers users an optimised and highly accessible experience required to succeed on all mobile devices. In addition, the platform is being used to power web apps to help users find and shop more effectively online.
Google integrated the web browser into the platform's core to provide users with the best experience on all their platforms. As a result, users have access to a plethora of content, which helps them maximise their searches and navigate websites they may be interested in visiting.
Users can easily log into websites without worrying about being redirected to a different website when using these apps.
One way to access the Android System WebView app is by visiting the Google Play Store. The App will be available immediately to download for free. In addition, the App will be compatible to work on any Android device running version 4.
Users can install the App from the Google Play Store, the device's data, or a sideload method. This process allows users to gain access to the App without having to create a user account.
Users can access the functionality by installing the App without signing up or creating a new account.
It is an app that enables users to navigate the internet with ease. This App works with the operating system to offer users an optimised experience when shopping online and accessing websites easily.
This App also helps users find the best sites to shop for and download new apps to ensure they are always aware of the newest features and new apps.
In addition, this App allows users to browse websites easily and keep up with the newest apps without downloading new updates.
What Does An Android System Webview Do?
The Android system Webview comes as a preinstalled app in the lower versions of the Android system. In 4.4, KitKat Webview was changed to a user-friendly version from the Jellybean version. In Android KitKat, it was Chromium-based, similar to the Chrome browser.
After KitKat, Android version 5.0 was released, where the Android WebView changed into a separate app in the Play store, which provided the Google store with an option to update and bug fix which can fix issues with the Android WebView instead of updating the whole system as it was happening before.
The user may not have to install or run the App; it is installed by default and runs in the background. It is executed when the user clicks on the link from an app that supports Android WebView. However, all App does not support it.
If the OS version is higher, one may not even notice the Android System Webview as it has been moved, but it is still part of the Android ecosystem. In addition, the App allows opening links within other apps when you are using it without leaving the page.
It allows the user to search for content on the internet while using the App. However, some apps do not support it and may allow the links to open in Chrome but not in the App itself.
What Is The Use Of An Android System Webview?
Webview is a Chrome-powered component which allows apps to show web components within the App. You do not require a browser to view the websites, and it does not require closing the App.
The App allows the third-party App on the device to open pages instead of the web pages on the default browser. It is a mini-browser that contains various features - required to read an article, text search, zoom in & zoom out, navigate history and, scroll up & down etc.
For example - One can use the Facebook app and open the link in a web browser.
Such applications require the mini browser to approve logins from Facebook and Google+.
Earlier, it came as a part of the operating system. Still, recently, the App was decoupled from the operating system and was offered as a standalone system component, which one can update through Google.
The system allows 3rd party apps to show content in an in-app browser or on the app screen, which pulls from the web.
The system decoupled as a standalone component allows Google to push security fixes and promote enhancement without pushing the entire system update.
Android developed the Android System Webview, where you tap the app link to open it. It is executed with the user clicking on the link from the App that supports Android WebView.
However, it is not supported by all applications, and some links may still require a browser to show up.
What Is The Function Of The Android System Webview?
The feature allows surfing pages. For example, one can click on the Instagram or Facebook links using the App directly without going to the browser. The access to the pages is similar to what we get on Chrome.
It is a system tool that Chrome can control and is an important device component. As one can open any web page on the browser through the system's in-built solution, you do not require moving out of the application to view a page on the browser.
It displays web content on the Android Operating System for most in-built apps.
Why Is The Android System Webview Disabled?
Recently, users complained the App was enabled but not working on their devices.
Many users face problems like errors during transactions where they get the system message "Android web disabled", or they may face issues as the modifications in the new versions are not in sync with the preinstalled apps.
Some users face problems when they try to install the updates. In such conditions, even solutions like restarting the device may not help and may slow down.
It can also create issues if you have installed a new browser, uninstalled the previous one, or enabled Chrome or Mozilla. In such conditions, uninstall or disable the browser, and the App will automatically start working.
The update of the Android System Webview can is used to enable the feature. Android System WebView feature is found in the latest updates of Android. Once the updates are completed, the App automatically starts working.
It is also advised to stop using the Chrome app from running in the background to avoid issues.
If you are using it and want to disable it - you need to go to the option Chrome and disable it.
How To Enable The Android System Web View In Android 7?
Android System WebView Enable-Feature
For Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) or lower versions
For Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) or lower versions, it is best advised to keep the WebView in Android"On" to get the best performance. At the same time, you can disable the feature for Android 7(Nougat), as Chrome handles all such features.
Moreover, it does not require processing the external links as the apps can employ the help of rendering engines provided by different web browsers.
For lower versions, the App was an integral part of the basic component found in the operating environment. Unfortunately, after Lollipop, it became impossible to implement the update of Android System WebView using Google Play.
There are options to uninstall and disable the App, but it is not recommended as it is connected to many apps, and one can open the embedded links only through it.
The developers can add browser functionality to the App by including the library related to WebView. They can even create an instance of the class to render web pages and execute JavaScript.
If a developer wants to add it, they require internet permission in the Android Manifest files and must open the code within the App.
For Versions Released After 2015 –
If the user has a device released after 2015 or those with Android 5.0 or later versions, it is advised to install Webview manually, as the device is not equipped with a default option.
If you install it without considering the risk factors, the smartphone or tablet will fall victim to hackers as the code can access the device's memory.
Users who want to use the features in higher versions of Androids must deactivate or uninstall the web browsers on their devices.
Then they will have to download the latest version of the WebView in Android from Google Play, for which they will have to click the links to download and install set up.
If they want to use the application, they need first to enable the library of WebView and then create the class.
After that, the web permission and code are added to the Android Declaration file, allowing the launching of pages inside the apps. Users of Android 7.0 and above can also download and install the App on their systems.
Such actions ensure the integration of the browser capabilities into the software. It also allows rendering the web pages and the JS code.
Is It Safe To Uninstall Android System Webview?
The tool is resource-intensive, consumes a lot of RAM, and affects overall OS performance. Still, there are certain advantages where instead of having both Chrome and WebView, Android devices may use a single browser.
According to Google, the system is more energy efficient as you use only one option to view pages, then why would anybody want to uninstall it?
Android System Webview Uninstall
The updates of older versions of Androids are no more being released, and we can find such apps in the system components of the older version of androids.
Therefore, if the user experiences any problems or vulnerabilities, they may be unable to find a fix or solution due to a lack of updates.
Since you do not get any solutions to the new problems created by such an App, it raises the risk of your device getting compromised and to prevent it, one may think of uninstalling Webview.
If you want to get rid of the Android System WebView, you can uninstall only the updates and not the App, especially if the device is not running on Nougat or a higher version. In Nougat, the standalone App has been removed, and it uses Chrome itself as Webview.
If your device is running on Nougat, and you have Webview running on Chrome and not on the App, then you can disable the App. You can even uninstall it from Google play if you are using the higher versions of Android, but for the lower versions, it is advised to leave the App as it is.
If you want to disable it, but you find that Chrome is disabled, then you are using other browsers to use the feature, and in such conditions, you can avoid uninstalling the App.
How Is Android System Webview Disabled For Users?
On Play Store, most users ignore the type of preinstalled apps, although some unwanted apps may need updating to the latest version frequently. It is not possible to miss looking at the Android System, but some may not find any use for such apps and may not like to update them.
Google had issued a security fix in the latest update where it is claimed that 3rd party apps use web data, leading to a system crash that can freeze phones.
Such installations may require regular reboots, temporarily restricting the functions or transforming themselves.
An app that needs to be updated regularly can make the system slow, and one may experience issues which can also lead to the App crashing or random restarts of the phone.
Android System Webview Uninstall
Android system webview is a part of the operating system and cannot be uninstalled. However, one can disable the Android System webview on the device. Disabling the App for Android versions of Marshmallow or lower is not recommended, but you can disable the feature if you use version Nougat or higher.
Since Google Chrome has taken up the task of rendering the feature for the entire device, it works for all the pages opened to make the process efficient.
The WebView feature was first added in Android Nougat, which helped set the Chrome WebView. In addition, the initial system disabled the Android System WebView app by default, which helped users minimise the solution's resource footprints when not in use.
Many users uninstall the latest update to prevent a crash. Users would like to uninstall the App as it takes up a lot of storage space and RAM, but if you are unsure which App is creating issues, you cannot uninstall one App to find a solution.
If the App is preinstalled on the tablet or smartphone, there are no ways to remove it since it is a system app.
One of the best ways is to deactivate it. The user should clear the cache and data residue after deactivating and deleting the updates or deactivating the tool / or stopping it from reducing its impact on the overall performance of the system.
