How To Enable Or Disable Android System WebView (2023 Guide)

You must have accessed web pages inside your in-built apps. While surfing when you click on that link in Instagram, it directs you to a web page within the app.

The access to the web pages is similar to what we get on Chrome. Android System WebView is the app that makes it possible but we rarely know how it happens.

While on the Play Store, we mostly overlook the apps which are pre-installed and just let them stay up to date regularly.  It’s not possible that one missed looking at the Android System WebView app.

But some of us don’t quite find the use of certain apps and thus won’t update it. Now do you think it will affect your Android device in any way?  Whether the purpose of the app is known to you or not, it does make an impact on your system.

 

How To Enable Android System WebView?

How To Disable Android System WebView?

What Is Android System WebView?

What Is Android System Webview

Android System WebView is a system tool which is controlled by Chrome. It is a very important component for your device, allowing you to view web pages in the apps. Just like you are able to open any web page on your traditional web browser, this app is made for system’s in-built apps.

Android System WebView is responsible for the display of web content on Android Operating System for the in-built apps.

Why is WebView Implementation Disabled For Users?

Android smartphones running Nougat (7.0) or later versions (8.0/9.0) have Android system WebView disabled for users because all its associated functions are covered by Google Chrome now. Additionally, it consumes a high number of resources and memory on your device, hence it is kept disabled by default for users. But what developers do not realize is the fact it prevents users from opening links from other applications. As a result, users may encounter an annoying error message “Android System WebView has failed.”

How To Enable Android System WebView?

Let’s find out how to enable Android System WebView because this can hamper the performance of the apps. This is an option available only to the Android version 6.0 and below. After these versions, developments were made, and Chrome was enhanced to be used to open web pages in apps as well.

But for the Android devices which work on this, will need the Android System WebView. Apps can malfunction without it simply or refuse to open the web pages.  Enable this tool to correctly use the feature on Android versions below 7.0

To do so, launch the Play store, scroll the apps on your home and locate Android System WebView. Click on Open, and now you see the disabled button, click on Enable.

How To Disable Android System WebView?

Being a contribution to the operating system, Android System WebView can’t be uninstalled. However, you can disable Android System webview on your device. Although it is not recommended to disable the app for Android versions of Marshmallow and lower.

If you are using Android Nougat or any versions above it, disabling Android System WebView is fine. As Google Chrome has taken up the task of rendering it for the entire device. To make the process more efficient for your device, Chrome works for all the web pages opened up on it.

Open Play Store on your device, search for Android System WebView and click on it.

Disable Android System Webview

Now you can see the option of Disable, press it, the app is now disabled. Many versions will show Android System WebView as disabled on default as its best for the device.

How To Disable Android System Webview

By disabling the app, you can save up battery and the background running apps can perform faster.

Android Apps Crashing Due To WebView Implementation: How To Fix?

Lately, several users have reported that Android System WebView has been causing a variety of applications to crash. To fix it, follow the instructions stated below:

STEP 1 = Navigate to the Settings menu on your Android smartphone.

STEP 2 = Head towards the Manage Apps section.

STEP 3 = Now search for Android System WebView and once the relevant options appear, simply hit the Disable button next to Disable WebView on your device.

Later, you can enable the Android System WebView option by following the same steps mentioned above.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q1. How Do I Enable The Android System WebView Disabled?

If you want to get away with the issue “Android system WebView disabled for user”, here’s what you need to do:

STEP 1 = Launch Google Play Store and scroll down to the Manage Applications option. (The name may differ from device to device.)

STEP 2 = Locate Android System WebView and open the same.

STEP 3 = At this point, you should see the Android System WebView option be disabled. Simply, hit the Enable button to activate it

Q2. What Is The Android System WebView And Do I Need It?

In layman’s terms, Android WebView is a system component powered by Google Chrome browsers that assist applications in flawlessly displaying web content. It comes pre-installed on your smartphones and should be updated to ensure no latest vulnerability or bugs hampers your experience. Nougat (7.0) or later versions (8.0/9.0) have WebView implementation disabled for users because all its associated functions are covered by Google Chrome now.

Q3. How Do I Activate WebView Implementation?

Enabling the “Android system WebView disabled for users” is super easy, all you need to do is:

STEP 1 – Launch Settings.

STEP 2 – Find and click on the System/About Phone/This Device option.

STEP 3 – Locate Build Number and tap on the same at least 7 times to enable Developer options.

STEP 4 – As soon as the Developer options are unlocked, simply look for WebView implementation or similar.

Enable proprietary WebView APIs and you are done!

Q4. How do I fix unfortunately Android System WebView has stopped?

If the Android System WebView stops working and shows an error on your device, update it from the Play Store. If that does not work, reinstall the application.

Conclusion:

You must know why the Android System WebView is on your device. It will help you with smooth operation of your Android device. The performance of all the apps which can include web links to open within depend on a WebView. In this article we discussed whether the tool – Android System WebView is needed or not for your device. You can easily judge this by knowing your Android version, it will decide whether to enable or disable the tool.

38 COMMENTS

  • comment_avtar
    Dorothy Russell
    Android System WebView app is disabled on my phone and I don’t if it came that way or if someone else disabled it but I can’t get the app to work or be undisabled.

    5 years ago
    • comment_avtar
      Mridula Nimawat
      For higher version of Android i.e. above 6.0 Android System Webview is disabled by default and there is nothing to worry about it.

      5 years ago
  • comment_avtar
    Jeff Altorfer
    And if “Captive Portal” and other system functions suddenly stop working, look no further than your having disabled Web View (and this is all the way up to and through android 10)

    5 years ago
  • comment_avtar
    Thomas Strother
    I have went to my apps and brought up android systems webview and the disabled button is gray you can’t push it to enable again. I’ve went to Google play store and went to the app and all is says is disabled and won’t let me do nothing to enable the android systems webview app. My phone is running like carp. Its the only app that is messing with me. I’ve never run into this before and don’t know what to do now.

    5 years ago
    • comment_avtar
      Mridula Nimawat
      Android webview opens the web page within the apps. If your Android version is above 6, it will show as Disabled and it can not enabled for higher versions.The app still exists on your phone because Google needs it to update a few system settings. Check this blog to boost your Android phone – Android Optimizer and Booster apps.

      5 years ago
  • comment_avtar
    Jabulile
    System Webview is on your device. It will help you with smooth operation of your Android device. The performance of all the apps which can include web links to open within depend on a webview. In this article as we discussed whether the tool – Android System Webview is needed or not for your device. You can easily judge this by knowing your Android version, it will decide that enable or disable the tool.

    5 years ago
    • comment_avtar
      Mridula Nimawat
      Hello, yes you are correct, thank you for you information.

      4 years ago
  • comment_avtar
    LT
    I have Motorola Moto Z4, Android 9. Have several apps that won’t open. Android Webview shows as installed but Disable button is gray and inactive. Disabled Chrome, went to Play Store and to Webview. Clicked Uninstall. Got button saying Update. Clicked Update, which it did but no Open button, just Uninstall button. Went into Apps on phone and found Webview. Disable is gray and status shows as Installed, not Enabled. But apps I need still won’t open correctly or open but won’t accept logins, etc. How do I get this stupid webview either to Enable or get rid of it??? The instructions you give are not working on this phone.

    5 years ago
  • comment_avtar
    Saiful
    Am i the only one cant see the Disable option there on the picture? I look everywhere but nothing appear as ‘Disable’ when i opened it. Come some one help me. This apps is keep updating itself and i can’t cancel it. It disrupts other apps to get updated.

    5 years ago
  • comment_avtar
    Linda
    Somehow my android system webview is disabled on my tablet & I can’t figure out how to enable it as the enable tab doesn’t do it

    4 years ago
    • comment_avtar
      Mridula Nimawat
      Hello, see if the application can be uninstalled and then reinstall it. Also if you can give us more information on the Phone model and the Android version, it will be helpful.

      4 years ago
  • comment_avtar
    Chris Quinn
    I don’t have this Android system WebView on my Samsung S8 or does it come up in the Google play store, so what do I do? Nearly all the apps I use are not working!!! 🙁

    4 years ago
    • comment_avtar
      Mridula Nimawat
      Hello, yes the app can be found on Google Play Store. Thank you

      4 years ago
  • comment_avtar
    Kent Wince
    This worked for me (3/23/21)…I have a Galaxy S6 and am running Android 7.0 version: Go to the chrome app in app settings and disable/uninstall it. They won’t work together. Once I uninstalled Chrome, everything worked correctly on my phone.

    4 years ago
  • comment_avtar
    Johnny lawson
    This didn’t help at all. It gives no way to enable if it’s disabled.

    4 years ago
  • comment_avtar
    azamywy
    My android system webview is disabled and I can not enable it. I notice you tell a previous commenter that this means there is nothing to worry about. Unfortunately, there is something to worry about because my apps keep crashing.

    4 years ago
    • comment_avtar
      Mridula Nimawat
      Hello, see if the application can be uninstalled and then reinstall it. Also if you can give us more information on the Phone model and the Android version, it will be helpful.

      4 years ago
  • comment_avtar
    Bruce Chalmers
    I did look for it in the installed apps and it doesn’t appear there. Because it is disabled and if you press the three dots on the top of the app page and look at system apps. I’ve gone on to it and it won’t let it enable. Completely feed up with this crap

    4 years ago
  • comment_avtar
    rhea
    My apps are still crashing, outlook, messenger, google news, gmail and other game apps. I can’t uninstall it. No option at all. I forced stop it on apps management, that’s all i can do. Disable is greyed out.

    4 years ago
  • comment_avtar
    Gus
    Not sure what this tutorial is using for a demo, but the enable and force stop buttons are off. They do not function. The app is disabled, not by me. There are no buttons at the bottom of the screen to enable, as you show. (This is Version 7.1.1) When i go to playstore and search ASW, i see the app, but there is no option to download it or update it, there is only an explanation and picture of the app. The webview fix app I installed doest fix anything so i uninstalled that. There is a webview pro i installed that crashes like several other apps, so i uninstalled that as well. Now what?

    4 years ago
  • comment_avtar
    Karen
    I have an S9 edge. Webview is disabled and stopped. Play Store keeps crashing si I cannot update. HELP!

    4 years ago
  • comment_avtar
    Roland
    I have now wasted two days on this problem. Random apps no longer open. Can no longer read the newspaper. Apps report back that they can not find the internet. Moto G6.

    4 years ago
  • comment_avtar
    Victoria Richardson
    I cannot enable my Samsung Android System Webview as both buttons are grey and don’t respond when pressed. Most of my Apps are affected and keep crashing. So frustrating as I’m having no luck enabling it at all. Any suggestions or tips would be really appreciated. Thank you

    4 years ago
    • comment_avtar
      Mridula Nimawat
      Hello, see if the application can be uninstalled and then reinstall it. Also if you can give us more information on the Phone model and the Android version, it will be helpful. Thanks.

      4 years ago
  • comment_avtar
    CS MEMUSI
    Is it not funny? In my Android the webview implementation has being disabled. Disabled by owner. What is the meaning of that surely?

    3 years ago
    • comment_avtar
      Krishan Vijay
      Hello, Thank you for responding, and the latest Android modesl have the System Webview set on default and it is nothing to worry unless you can not open webpages in your applications.

      3 years ago
  • comment_avtar
    Jagjit
    Android system web view app doable please enable

    3 years ago
    • comment_avtar
      Krishan Vijay
      Hello, Please follow the instructions shown in the blog. Thank you.

      3 years ago
  • comment_avtar
    Vishnu Bhagwandeen
    Is it safe my Samsung galaxy j5 phone can work good without the android webview

    3 years ago
    • comment_avtar
      Mridula Nimawat
      Hello, It serves a purpose of viewing webpages in other apps, although in the latest versions of Android it does not give you an option to disable/enable it. So, we would suggest you to not uninstall it from your Android phone to avoid unforeseen issues. Although if it has been working fine for you, there is no problem. Thanks.

      3 years ago
  • comment_avtar
    Stefanus
    I want to enable my webview bt it has dissapeared

    3 years ago
    • comment_avtar
      Mridula Nimawat
      Hello, In the latest Android devices, it is enabled on default so no need to worry it does not show up. Thank you

      3 years ago
  • comment_avtar
    Faisal
    Android system WebView not allowed

    3 years ago
    • comment_avtar
      Mridula Nimawat
      Hello, For higher version of Android i.e. above 6.0 Android System Webview is disabled by default and there is nothing to worry about it. Thank you

      3 years ago
  • comment_avtar
    Loknath duria
    My android system desible the enable

    3 years ago
    • comment_avtar
      Mansi Vijay
      Hello Loknath, Can you please elaborate about the issue you’re encountering on your Android?

      3 years ago
  • comment_avtar
    Sharon Renee Duncan Smith
    I have been trying for a very long time to enable my Android system webview on my Android phone.i have never had anything else but Android and never will and I would be so grateful if you could help me my Android phones haven’t run right in years because of the Android system webview is disabled.

    3 years ago
    • comment_avtar
      Dheeraj Manghnani
      Hi Sharon, To enable this feature, launch the Play store, scroll the apps on your home and locate Android System WebView. Click on Open, and now you see the disabled button, click on Enable.

      2 years ago

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