Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Mobile
  3. Guides

What is Android System WebView? Can I disable it?

By

You may have come across an app called Android System WebView on your smartphone. It’s a piece of software that enables other apps on your Android device to display web content without having to open a dedicated web browser. However, it’s had a slightly more complex history since Android 7.0 Nougat, which incorporated its functionality into Chrome. This article explains what exactly it does and whether you can safely disable it or not.

Do I need Android System WebView?

The short answer to this question is yes, you do need Android System WebView.

Recommended Videos

There is one exception to this, however. If you’re running Android 7.0 Nougat, Android 8.0 Oreo, or Android 9.0 Pie, you can safely disable the app on your phone without suffering adverse consequences. This is because Chrome handled WebView duties for these three OS versions, making Android System WebView largely redundant.

Related

Assuming you still have those versions of Android running on your phone, here’s what you can do to disable System WebView. First, go to Settings > Apps/Application > More > Show system. Next, scroll down and tap Android System WebView, and then tap Disable.

It’s worth pointing out that you can’t uninstall Android System WebView, since it’s a system app. You can, however, uninstall updates for it. This might be something you’d want to do if you need extra storage space, although it’s worth remembering that updates usually contain important bug fixes, so it’s probably not a great idea from a security standpoint.

If you want to know more, you can also check our guide on how to uninstall Apps in Android.

Assuming that security isn’t a concern for you in this case, you can uninstall System WebView updates by opening Google Play Store on your phone, finding Android System WebView, and then tapping Uninstall. Again, this is advisable only if you’re running the aforementioned versions of Android, since Chrome — rather than Android System WebView — handles WebView tasks for these systems.

Lastly, Google returned WebView duties to Android System WebView for Android 10, Android 11, and now Android 12. So if you are running any of these systems (or Android 6.0 Marshmallow or earlier), we strongly recommend you don’t disable the app or delete its updates.

What exactly is Android System WebView?

To provide a little more detail on what exactly the app does, Android System WebView is a system component for Android that lets your phone display content from the web directly inside an app that isn’t a browser. Developers can use Android System WebView to add browser functionality to the apps they develop, by including the WebView code library in their software. By including this, they can effectively insert a browser within their apps, so that you can use these apps to interact with web pages and web-based apps.

WebView used to be a core part of the Android operating system, capable of being updated only by updating to a new Android version. However, Google separated WebView from the core OS with Android 5.0 Lollipop, so updates to WebView had to be downloaded through the Google Play app store. It then moved the System WebView component to Chrome with the advent of Android 7.0 Nougat, so you can update the app only by updating Chrome. It then moved it back to the separate Android System WebView app with Android 10, where it still remains.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Simon Chandler
Simon Chandler
Mobile Writer
Simon Chandler is a journalist based in London, UK. He covers technology and finance, contributing to such titles as Digital…
I record interviews for work. These are my favorite free recorder apps
The iPhone 14 Pro and Google Pixel 7 Pro's voice recording apps running together.

The Voice Recorder app on a phone (left) and the Voice Memos on another phone Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Before you head to the app store on your phone to buy a voice-recording app, take a moment to consider the apps that may already be installed on your phone. Why? In my experience, they're likely all you really need. I’ve recorded interviews and voice-overs for work for years, and I’ve found the two best examples come preinstalled on your phone already, so they’re entirely free to use.

Read more
The best Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 cases: 10 best ones so far
Two Galaxy Z Fold 5 phones next to each other -- one is open and one is closed.

Samsung’s next-generation foldable is here with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5. This iteration has some notable improvements, including a new hinge design that eliminates the gap from previous generations when the device was folded. You also get a 6.2-inch HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display on the outside while having a 6.7-inch QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display on the inside, with both screens having a 120Hz refresh rate. In other words, they're about as nice as you could ask for.

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is made with premium materials, and the triple-lens camera system packs in a 50MP main shooter, 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom, and a 12MP ultrawide lens. There’s a 10MP selfie camera on the front cover, and a 4MP camera on the inner display. You also get a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chip inside for the best performance and power efficiency.

Read more
Google Pixel Tablet just got its first big discount and it’s worth a look
Google Pixel Tablet on its charging dock.

Tablets are a dime-a-dozen these days, with offerings from all the great brands including Apple, Samsung, Lenovo, and more. So, if you really want to stand out in a sea of similar tech, you need to do things a little differently. That's what Google's Pixel Tablet offers. How? It comes with a unique speaker dock that can be used to both charge the device and offer room-filling sound -- almost like a smart speaker add-on. Better yet, when your Pixel Tablet is docked it benefits from the Hub Mode, turning the device into a smart display, with digital photo frame support, smart home controls, and hands-free Google functionality. Of course, it could set you back at full price, normally $499 unless you find it included in a roundup of the best Google Pixel deals. Well, guess what? Thanks to a Best Buy Google Pixel Tablet deal, you can get it today for $439 and save $60. Hurry, though, it's part of Best Buy's recent 48-hour sale so it won't stick around for long.

Why you should buy the Google Pixel Tablet
Okay, okay, so in our Google Pixel Tablet review, Joe Maring did give it less than stellar remarks, but he called out its reliable fingerprint sensor, comfortability during use and excellent speaker dock. Honestly, how many tablets come with a matching speaker dock that transforms the entire experience? This tablet also marks a "lot of firsts" for Google, as it's the first tablet from the company in nearly five years, the first Android tablet in eight years, and can be converted into a smart home display with the speaker dock. All of which are notable milestones.

Read more