Android System WebView 153.0.8010.36

Android System WebView 153.0.8010.36 is a system component from Google that lets Android apps show web pages inside the app without opening a browser. It is preinstalled on Android phones and updated through Google Play, so most people meet it only when they see an Android System WebView update in the store.

What is Android System WebView?

Many apps display web content: login screens, help pages, news articles, terms of service, in-app shops, even whole interfaces built with web technology. Instead of each app shipping its own browser engine, Android provides one shared engine, WebView, that any app can use. It is built from Chromium, the open-source project behind Google Chrome, and follows the same versions and security fixes. When you open a link inside a social or email app and the page appears in a panel within the app, WebView is usually doing the work. Google documents WebView for developers in the Chromium source repository.

Why should I keep it updated?

WebView processes content from the internet, so it is a common target for attacks. Updates close security holes and fix crashes. When WebView is outdated or broken, apps that depend on it can crash immediately after opening. Keeping automatic updates on in Google Play is the simplest protection.

Can I uninstall or disable it?

On most current Android versions, you cannot remove it completely, and disabling it can break apps. On some older versions and devices, Chrome can take over the WebView role, which is why WebView may appear disabled there; that is normal. If you uninstalled updates to fix a problem, reinstall them once the issue is solved.

How do I fix apps crashing after an update?

1. Open Google Play and update both Android System WebView and Google Chrome.
2. Restart the phone.
3. If crashes continue, go to Settings, Apps, Android System WebView, and choose Uninstall updates, then update again from Google Play.
4. Clear the cache of the affected app.

What about beta versions?

Developers and testers can try WebView Beta, Dev or Canary builds to check apps before new versions reach everyone; the prerelease guide explains how to switch. Regular users should stay on the stable version.

What are the requirements?

WebView runs on Android devices with Google Play. The package is large, about 255.60 MB according to catalogue data, because it contains a full browser engine; updates may need some free storage.

Is it safe? Is it free?

Yes, when it comes from Google Play: it is an official Google component and free. Do not install WebView APK files from third-party sites, since a modified copy would see content from all your apps.

Pros and cons

• Pro: one shared, regularly patched engine for all apps.
• Pro: updates independently of Android system updates.
• Con: large download for a background component.
• Con: a faulty update can make several apps crash at once.

What are related apps?

Google Play Store delivers WebView updates, Google App uses web content heavily, and browsers like Google Chrome share the same Chromium engine. Shizuku and Activity Launcher on our site are other system-level tools for advanced users.