With recent Android versions, Google added a new system app named Android System Webview. It is a lite browser engine attached to Google Chrome, which is an essential part of it. This app lets third-party apps (like Gmail, Instagram, Facebook, etc.) display web content without leaving the app altogether.
In simple words, when you open any link on a third-party app like Instagram, Facebook, etc., the link will not open in the Chrome browser but within the app itself. It is because of the Android System Webview. Of course, you can open the links in Chrome from there, but that is another thing.
Recently, when I got a notification update, I tried updating my Chrome browser but failed. After several tries, I learned that Chrome and the Android System Webview are also not updating. Updating these apps is very important as they get new security features with every update.
Here I will provide these solutions for you guys regarding Chrome and Android webview not getting updated.
First, we will try a few essential solutions as it doesn’t need to happen because of significant issues. If the essential solutions don’t fix the problem, then try the other solutions mentioned below:
Reboot your device
Sometimes a simple reboot fixes the problem, as rebooting the device restarts all of its system processes. This way, if some Android process is causing the error, it will be fixed automatically.
Check your internet connection.
It would help if you had good data speed to update all from the PlayStore. If you have a good internet connection and still face the issue, then use any third-party app to check if any other app is using the data in the background.
Close all other apps that use a data connection and then retry the download, and this should fix the issue.
Stop auto-updating all apps
If you have enabled the update all apps automatically option, this may cause the download issue. To stop this, you need to stop all the apps from updating together and update them manually.
Here are the steps to stop auto-updating all android apps:
- Open your Google PlayStore on your Android phone.
- Click on the profile icon in the top right corner.
It will bring out a menu.
- Tap on the Manage Apps and Devices option on the menu.
It will show you all the apps that are updating. - Hit the button to stop updating.
- Now update Chrome and Android System Webview app to fix the download issue.
These were essential solutions, and they often fixed the issue; if they didn’t, try the below-mentioned methods.
Clear Google Play Store Cache and Storage
There is a high probability that Play Store data may get corrupted, causing the issue with app updates. Since we downloaded and updated the Google Chrome and Android System WebView from the Google Play Store, it’s a good idea to clear the cache and storage of the Play Store.
Here are the steps to clear storage and clean up Google Play Store on Android:
- Open your Settings app on your Android Phone.
- Tap on the Apps and Notifications tab.
- Select the See all apps link to open the installed apps list.
- Search and open the Google Play Store app.
- Within the Google Play Store app info page, select on Storage & Cache option.
- Hit on command and .
Relaunch the Google Play Store app and try updating the Chrome and Android System WebView app. Launching the Play Store app might take a while since we have cleared the storage data.
If that doesn’t work, clear the cache and storage of the Google Play services.
Uninstall Android System Webview and Chrome
There is a high chance that the Android System Webview is the main problem, and because of it, Chrome is not updating. To solve this, first of all, uninstall the Android System Webview app.
It is a system app, so you cannot uninstall it entirely, but you can go back to the factory version. It means you can uninstall all the previous updates. You cannot uninstall it directly from settings as in most devices, and there is no such option.
Here are the steps to uninstall Android System Webview from the phone:
- Open the Google play store app.
- In the search bar and search for the Android System Webview app.
- Proceed and tap on the option.
- It will uninstall the Android System Webview updates.
That’s all. Now retry updating the Google Chrome browser to check whether the problem is fixed. If not, repeat the same process with the Chrome app.
Clear cache and Force stop the app
If an app is running in the background, then it is possible that it won’t update. You can force stop any app from stopping such a background process. After that, if the app has a lot of cache memory, which might prevent it from updating. In such scenarios, you need to clear cache and storage as well.
Here are the steps to force stop the app on an Android OS phone:
- Open your Settings app on your Android Phone.
- After that, scroll down, look for the Apps and Notifications tab, and tap on it.
- In the next window, you will see an option named see all apps; tap on it to open a list of all installed apps.
- Tap More
on the upper right corner to open a menu. - Select the ‘Show system’ option to see all the available apps.
- Tap to open the Android System Webview app from the list of apps.
- Tap on that to Force stop the app.
Now try updating the app; if the issue persists, you must clear the cache and data.
Here are steps to clear the cache and data of Android Webview:
- Repeat the above steps till #6,
- Click on the Storage option on the app information window.
It will open a new window with a clear cache and data option. - Tap on those options to and
- Lastly, try to update the android webview app from Google PlayStore.
If this doesn’t work, repeat the same process with the Chrome and Google Playstore apps.
Leave the beta testing program
The google play store has a feature called beta testing. It gives its users early access to any new update before it goes public. This service is for testing the new updates, and there is a high chance that the beta updates have bugs.
If you are also a part of beta testing or opted for it by mistake, you might use a beta update app. Now, this might be the reason behind the downloading issue. You can fix it by leaving the beta testing program.
Here are the steps to leave the beta testing for the app:
- Open the Google PlayStore app.
- Search for the Android system Webview app.
- Scroll down until you see the option as shown in the below image.
- Tap the option to the beta program.
After leaving the beta testing program, uninstall the updates just like we did in the third method. It will solve your issue.
Download the updates Manually
If you have tried all the methods and none of them worked for you, then this solution will work. You can download and install the latest Android System Webview and Chrome update from third-party APK sites and install it manually.
Here are the steps to manually download the Android app updates from a third-party site:
- Search for Android System Webview on APKmirror.com (direct download link below)
- Scroll down until you see a list of all versions.
- Click on the download icon on the right side.
- Scroll down until you see all the downloadable app variants.
Choose any variant according to your device. - Click on the Variant number to proceed.
You can use a Google search to find a compatible variant with your device. - Click on the button to download the APK.
If you see a download Waring them, allow it by clicking as it is not a threat to your device. Lastly, install the APK file by tapping on it, and your work is done.
Bottom Line: Chrome and Webview are Not Updating
To sum up, I have given all the possible solutions for Chrome and Android System Webview is not getting updated issues. These might take some time, but they will surely fix your issue.
It is tricky to update the system apps, so you need to be patient. Also, only use trusted APK sites to download the APK file.
If you are using the last method, you should be cautious, as a few fake sites can harm your device. APK files from such fake sites may contain malware, so be aware.
Once you can update the google chrome app, it will also update the android system webview.
FAQs: Chrome and Android Webview Not Updating
Now, let us go through the frequently asked questions regarding the fixes for Chrome and Android System Webview is not getting updated.
How to Fix Chrome and Android System Webview not getting updated?
You can reboot your device, check your internet connection, stop auto-updating all apps, clear Google Playstore cache, and storage, leave the beta testing program, and manually update the software.
How to stop auto-updating all the apps in the play store?
Launch the PlayStore, tap on the profile icon, open Settings > Network preferences, and select Auto-update apps. Choose the option Don’t auto-update apps.
How to uninstall the Android System Webview from Playstore?
Open the play store and search for Android System Webview. Now, tap on the uninstall tab and confirm the uninstallation.
Thank you for all these proposals. For me, the solution was to stop the google play store app and clean it’s cache and data. After that chrome was installed successfully. And after a second time stopping and clearing the data of play store app, also android system webview got updated successfully.
Thank you Harald, that protocol worked perfectly! I was beginning to pull my hair out here, you came and saved the day!!
OMG thanks! I was so frustrated. My gmail, google maps and even the ride-sharing app that’s using google maps were crashing. Tried many things. None of them worked. Then I did what you said and it worked! Everything’s fixed now.
Same for me. Very helpful article.
Clear Google Play Store Cache and Storage
That worked for me too! BUT, I did also first remove two other Google accounts from the phone. The Store said they were associated with another account, but didn’t say which, so I removed those first and then cleared the data. And I DID double check that I was logged in as my main account, and all of the other Store activity was working normally for this account. (I have never associated anything with the other accounts, so that was an odd message.) And they’re in the same usual list as everything else …
Thank you! Your method worked for me above all else I tried!
Harald’s comment actually worked!
This better work or I’m blocking both of you forever
IT WORKED !!!!!!
THANK YOU !!!!
I have moto gfast I have tried everything you mentioned above including a full reset on a new google account and no luck any new suggestion cause I have 4 devices same story running andriod 10
My solution was also force stopping, clearing cache and storage of the playstote app. And then it worked. Same as haralds.
Sh&+! that took awhile to get there.
Thank you for confirming, Lisa! This will help other users facing the same problem with webview and chrome not getting updated in playstore.
Seems to have worked for me too! Thanks, has taken me all morning on and off (as at work) trying to get this sorted.
For me none of these things worked but I found a weird fix. When I would click update for Chrome or web services in the app page, it would say pending forever and if I cancelled that and clicked it from the my apps and games list it just did nothing (but works for other apps), but I finally gave in and just press the update all button in the updates tab of my apps and games in the Play store it finally worked! No idea why I wouldn’t update them individually.
Thank you. Been struggling with this the whole afternoon, even though I’ve been telling other people how “I’ve read” to fix it.
You are amazing! Many, many thanks, Jacob. I’ve been pulling my hair out on this, and I’m in the business. No other “fixes” worked, and I think I tried them all today before coming to your suggestion. “Update all” worked where none other did, and I thank you. With no Outlook and other apps broken without this fix, my phone was basically unusable.
Thanks again.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! That totally worked!
Thank you Jacob! your fix worked for me as well and I encountered the same issue after clearing cache and storage of the Play Store app
Howeever, first of all I cleared cache and data Android System Webview, Google PlayStore and PlayServices. And removed updates Android System Webview, to system default. No fix. Then I tried Jacob’s solution. Thanks! That worked, fixed well!
For me, the same solution as Harald & Lisa (cleaning the cache & data of Google Play Store app) worked.
Thank you!
I had issues with email,gmail and teams crashing as well as a few other news apps.
For me uninstalling the Android web view in play store did it….everything seems back to normal now.
I did try to update both Android web viewer and chrome in play store but they would not update and remained in a perpetual pending mode. guess they can be updated later once the bugs are fixed but for now uninstalling android web viewer did the trick.
This worked for me as well ,thanks for your suggestion
Edit….this morning both Chrome and Android system web viewer apps automatically updated in the play store – they were previously in the queue or continuous pausing previously.
No more issues following the updates – hope everybody gets the latest updates ok and we can put this nightmare behind us.
Got as far as 1.6 Force Stop, but there is no Show All Files option. There us a Special Access option, and all suboptimal are “allowed,” but the Android System Webview app does not appear.
hi, when I go to the play store, I click on the ‘android system webview’ but there are no options to uninstall or download the app. I have a Samsung Galaxy S7. How do I fix this issue?
KMS – Im on android 11 with a S21…when you go into play store and type in Android system webview it gives the option to update or uninstall. I tried updating without success…ie it just spins around trying to connect without updating (ditto chrome update)…so I uninstalled it…and everything returned back to normal. Try going into settings / Apps/ Android system webv iewer – and then clear cache and disable app…then go back to play store search for android web viewer….Hope that helps?
Ron
Thank you so much for this!! The generic responses online did NOT fix my issue but you DID!!
Thank you so much for this article – it saved me and my phone!
Heralds worked for me , after hours of trying to update. thank you
Thanks for this
Jacob’s comment worked!
Thank you so much! the solution that worked for my Xiaomi Redmi 7, was to uninstall the Webview app. 🙂
This worked! Thank you!
Thanks for this !
Been trying all day.
Had to clear Google Play cache (along with Web View cache) – force stop both apps and finally updated
Thanks again – great article
Man this worked !! Thanks.. you need to clear cache for both play store and web view
Thank you to the author for laying out all of these potential solutions, in great detail, and in a simple way to understand what to do. It was driving me nuts not being able to use certain apps and now I finally can again. I literally would not have been able to figure this out on my own – Google needs to hire you.
Worked perfectly and was able to update both apps. Cleared storage and cache on both, uninstalled beta and rebooted. Thanks so much! You’re awesome.
Thanks so much, clearing the cache and storage of Google Play worked for me.
You are a real lifesaver.
Thank you. Clear storage and clear cache of the playstore app worked for me.
Thanks very much for this, been frustrated for days! Now all ok.
THANK YOU!!! This post is so helpful – I was beside myself trying to poke around and fix the issues, and your information was EXACTLY what worked to get my phone back to “normal.” YOU ARE AWESOME!
None of the solutions given worked for me. Not even the APK download. Any thoughts on a solution that might work?
Hi Linda, seems like clearing the cache and storage of Google Play Store app is working well for the most. Can you give this a second try? Please reboot your device after clearing the data.
Does not work 😔
I’m sorry Linda, that’s all we have. But, please do not lose hope and keep trying. Maybe it’s something to do with your device storage.
The uninstalling of the webview worked for me, then I was able to get everything updated to the unf*&ked version. Thank you!
Thank you very much. That worked perfectly!
Thanks for your support! Your advices helped me in fixing my phone!
Clearing play store app data and cache helped, thanks
Thank you so much this has aggravated me all week y’all are doing great I definitely love the picture of the phone on where you can find it on your phone again thanks so much
Hey guys, I had to clear cache and data and then it started to update.
Kind Regards
Dwayne Saint.Rose
My phone is a Google Pixel 2. For several days the Chrome and Webview app updates refused to install but suddenly they just did. One thing I have found is that some updates will only install if battery saver is turned off. So if anyone has problems installing the Chrome, Webview or any other update just check if battery saver is on, trying turning it off and click update again. It might just work.
I’ve tried this but when I go to play store there is no update or install button on the web viewer so how do I do it
For me, the only thing that worked was waiting till another app needed an update too, then I was able to press ‘update all’ which pushed through the update of webview and chrome too. Clearing cache wasn’t doing a thing on my device.
I was just on a chat message thing with Google and they told me the reason mine won’t update is because I’m trying to do it manually. Their solution was to change my settings to update automatically.
Thank you, Rachel. The automatic update isn’t happening unless we manually clear the cache.
Rebooted, Cleared Cache and Data, then went to update. Worked fine for me. Perfect fix and solved my issue. Thanks for the great hints.
I’m in the same boat as Linda- none of these solutions worked, not even the new ideas that commenters came up with. If anyone gets any other ideas, let us know!
Update- After scrolling around nearly everywhere on the internet, I’ve found some new suggestions that didn’t work for me but that one could try, and one that actually did work.
Things you could try-
-Installing the beta. In the reviews for the Android System Webview app, one person says that installing the beta helped them be able to update the stable app.
-Switch between wifi and data. If you are using one, try the other.
-If you are on Samsung, try updating via the galaxy store instead.
-Uninstall updates for the play store. The process for doing so is the same as explained above.
And finally, what work for me was a hybrid of a couple different approaches. First, Uninstalling updates for the play store, waiting a few minutes for the play store to re-update itself in the background, then using specifically the ‘update all ‘ option that an earlier commenter found success with. For me, this specific combination worked. Note: when I first selected ‘update all,’ chrome and Android System Webview had not even appeared on the list of apps needing updating. However, after clicking ‘update all’ they magically appeared and updated.
Hope that helps anyone who still needs it
Thanks for the suggestion, SJ!
I found the solution by launching the chrome app and accepted new privacy agreement.
This helped me updating. Clear Google Play Store Cache and Storage did the trick.
Thank you Herald
Thanks buddy. Clearing the data & cache of play store and play services worked for me.
Thanks factory reset of Android system webview did it!
I needed to clear the cache for Chrome and Android System Webview and stop them.
After that I updated the Google app first, then Chrome and finally Android System Webview.
Updating Google App first was essential for me in order to get them all updated.
Many thanks for this article. Method one worked – after the reboot the download and installation immediately followed!
Not yet tried but “replies” seem promising. Any way to have formatted(PDF)version that can be printed out. A lot of steps for this senior citizen…I’m 29 and holding, I don’t care what my sisters may say.
You can refer to save as a PDF file in Chrome Android.
My issue apparently started when I tried to add an SD Card and convert it to internal storage so I can install more than 30 apps (Samsung A01 with only 16GB internal). It didn’t work but I left the card in and never had time to mess with it again. I was not able to update Chrome/Webview for months even after trying all these options many times. Removed the SD card, cleared Play Store cache/data, rebooted, and now it finally updated. Going to try the SD Card mounting trick again.
All the best, Jeff! Let us know how it goes 🙂
Does this apply to upgrading Chrome 74 to 79 because I have already manually updated Chrome and the other app you mentioned, Web something? This seems like a pretty intense process before and tech is not my forté, so I want to be sure it’sthe right step to take before I begin!
Thank you so much. It’s been a while since I’ve been trying to update chrome but it never starts the download. I don’t know why I searched how to fix it because I wasn’t that desperate to update chrome, but disabling “auto-update apps” worked. So yeah, now chrome’s on it’s latest version.
Once again, thanks a lot!
Thanks for sharing
I’ve hit the Subs button on tube as a thank you.