WebView upgrade on Android 15 to allow quicker fixes for app crashes

If you use Android, you’ve probably experienced an app crashing unexpectedly. While frustrating, crashes usually only impact the app itself. But sometimes, an issue with a core system component called Android System WebView can cause widespread problems, making many apps unusable. Google aims to prevent these frustrating scenarios on your Pixel or other Android smartphones with a WebView update planned for Android 15.

Think of Android System WebView as a mini-version of the Chrome browser built into your Android phone. Apps use it to display web pages without having to leave the app itself. Since so many apps rely on WebView, problems with this component can have major consequences.

In the past, Google would fix WebView issues with updates through the Google Play Store. That approach works for the main browser part of WebView, but certain core components are tied to operating system updates, which are controlled by phone manufacturers and can take a long time to arrive.

With Android 15, Android Police reports Google is introducing a new way to update these core WebView parts called “WebViewBootstrap.” This will allow Google to send crucial fixes directly to your phone, much like they already do with the main WebView browser component. In an emergency, like a widespread crash caused by WebView, Google could roll out fixes much faster.

While still under development, this change signals Google’s commitment to improving Android stability. Though WebView-related crashes may still happen on Android 15, this update should help get your apps back up and running much faster if WebView is the culprit.