Microsoft is speeding up how it updates WebView2, and the change starts this month

WebView2 updates are getting faster starting at the end of this month. WebView2 is the underlying software that lets apps on Windows show web pages or web-based content inside them. Think of it like a mini-browser that’s built into the app. Many popular apps/programs use it to display websites, sign-in pages, and other interactive features without you needing to open the full browser.

Information about the change in update cadence was published directly on Windows Blogs.

Right now, Microsoft Edge and WebView2 get major updates roughly once a month, or once every four weeks. Soon, they’ll switch to a two-week release schedule instead. So, instead of new versions coming out every 4 weeks, you’ll now get them every 2 weeks.

Since Microsoft Edge itself is moving to the faster two-week schedule, WebView2 is following along so it stays in sync. The last release that follows the older, slower pace of updates would be v152, which is due around August 27. Beginning from v153, which will arrive around September 10, major versions will begin shipping every fortnight.

This change mainly affects developers and companies that build Windows apps using WebView2. If an app uses the default “Evergreen” mode, the update will also occur automatically in the background. If a company decides to ship a fixed/locked-down version of WebView2, the company has to issue the update. However, most apps use the default mode.

If you’re not a developer or tester and just a casual user of WebView2 (without previously knowing what it does), then you’ll just get security fixes and overall improvements faster. You don’t need to install anything extra or change existing settings.

In other Microsoft Edge news, new themes are available on the Android version with a familiar catch. More on that here. Additionally, there’s a new referral program for Edge; you can check that out here.

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