Android System WebView Update Not Updating - My Solution / Fix

[ExploringFate]

Sorry everyone I am not a technical person, just posting what worked for me after trying tons of common troubleshooting. Apparently this app is a key functionality component in Android for other apps to work like Chrome, Gmail, and non Google apps to function or be allowed to update in the Play Store. And has a history of causing issues with other apps because of this version or previous version of the app itself & with Android 10 and previous versions of Android like android 8. After trying this it work for me on a new phone that came out in January (2021) plus a friends Samsung phone running Andriod 8.

Not saying this the answer for everyone just something to consider, I am not a tech expert.

 

Long Story short. Figured out a solution that works for me and my new phone (2021) and passing this information so that it may help others Since Google can't and doesn't monitor the app.

 

Update: Was ask to provide a little more information.

Again keeping it short don't want to write a book on this or the history of the issue.

For some time Android users have been having issues with apps or apps updating and this is because of Android System Webview.

So if anyone is having issues updating Google Chrome, or any other app, or Android System WebView in the Google Play Store this was my solution.

This was done on Android 10 and could be use to solve it on Android 10 and previous versions of Android.

Again worked for me but may not work for everyone.

 

Latest Update (3/17/2021): A new update for this app showed up. Again it wouldn't let me update it. I tried all the other apps first and they updated. Then before having to try this annoying process again I tried to update it and it did. I don't know what's going on but after doing this solution if you get an update for Android System WebView you have to update all the other apps first before it will allow you to update it.

 

Solution / Fix

This is a lot of work but it will have the device working better faster than ever. Follow step by step.

Solution:

1) Go to system settings, then apps, click to see all apps.

2) Click on Android Systems WebView then click the 3 dots & hit uninstall updates. Then clear its cache & then clear data.

3) Next, go back to apps list click the 3 dots then choose show systems apps.

Foot Note: On different devices the names will have different variations but it is something like Download or System Download

and the other app is going to be called Download Manager or Systems Download Manager every device is going to be a different variation of the name.

4) But for both these apps you're going to have clear its cache & then clear the data.

Next and this is key follow in this order exact.

5) In system settings under apps and viewing all listed. Go to Google Play Store click on the 3 dots and uninstall updates, then clear its cache & then clear data.

6) Next go to Google Play Services click on the 3 dots and uninstall updates, then clear its cache & then clear data.

7) Key thing to do immediately restart the phone or device.

8) Once the phone or device is rebooted wait like 3 minutes so Google Play Store can load.

9) Very important to do Google Chrome first in the Play Store, I don't know why. Open up Google Play Store and in the search bar type Google Chrome.

Click on Google Chrome and click update and wait to fully finish updating.

10) Next exit out and in the search bar type Android Systems WebView. Do not go to the Beta or Dev versions of it.

Click on the plain regular one. Once inside click update and wait to fully finish updating.

Then exit out. This is what worked for me, may not for everyone but now in your apps you will see they have been updated and actually work better & faster than ever before.

[Eigenvektor]

You should probably mention:

- Which phone are your talking about?

- Which Android version are you talking about?

- Which version(s) of the WebView are you talking about?

 

(Also, your text is hard to read on dark theme, you should usually not mess with the font color)

[ExploringFate]

29 minutes ago, Eigenvektor said:

You should probably mention:

- Which phone are your talking about?

- Which Android version are you talking about?

- Which version(s) of the WebView are you talking about?

 

(Also, your text is hard to read on dark theme, you should usually not mess with the font color)

Thank you. I thought the tag would help but I added the android version and a little more context. Sorry I can't specify all the Andriod System WebView. This is the solution that worked for me and was sharing it to try to help others who may need it or come across something similar.

[RAS_3885]

Android 10, Oneplus 6T here...

 

Force stop of the Play Store, clear cache and storage, restart phone is all I usually need to do to resolve this.

 

Usually happens every few months. Maybe the above would resolve permanently, IDK.

[ExploringFate]

10 hours ago, RAS_3885 said:

Android 10, Oneplus 6T here...

 

Force stop of the Play Store, clear cache and storage, restart phone is all I usually need to do to resolve this.

 

Usually happens every few months. Maybe the above would resolve permanently, IDK.

You are correct that is one of the solutions out there. Each device has a different solution or issue related to Android Systems WebView, some can't use the internet other have various issues with different apps or Google Chrome browser either updating or function issues being one of them. For me it was Both Android Systems WebView & Google Chrome browser not updating and Google Chrome browser glitching on new the new phone. I tried it on my previous phone and it helped also, but that phone was running Android 9 and just found out a friend of mine was having a issue with her phone but it was older running Android 8, and this for whatever reason worked (I am not a Tech person or expert). How I came about this solution was after trying a lot of other solutions some I could do, some I couldn't like rooting. I said WTH kept combining several solutions together in different variations until I tried this long solution. And it worked but also surprised me because the device in certain things is faster and smoother. I don't know if this is a permanent solution but it is something to try if other options aren't working. I was sharing it to try to help other who may come across similar issues. I'm just glad to be able to update things again and Chrome is definitely a great improvement. I hope this can help others. It's just another option to consider or try. I don't know how permanent it is. People shouldn't have to go through this but that is another topic.

[ExploringFate]

On 3/16/2021 at 3:24 PM, RAS_3885 said:

Android 10, Oneplus 6T here...

 

Force stop of the Play Store, clear cache and storage, restart phone is all I usually need to do to resolve this.

 

Usually happens every few months. Maybe the above would resolve permanently, IDK.

Latest Update (3/17/2021): A new update for this app showed up. Again it wouldn't let me update it. I tried all the other apps first and they updated. Then before having to try this annoying process again I tried to update it and it did. I don't know what's going on but after doing this solution if you get an update for Android System WebView you have to update all the other apps first before it will allow you to update it.

[ExploringFate]

On 3/16/2021 at 2:42 PM, Eigenvektor said:

You should probably mention:

- Which phone are your talking about?

- Which Android version are you talking about?

- Which version(s) of the WebView are you talking about?

 

(Also, your text is hard to read on dark theme, you should usually not mess with the font color)

I added a screenshot of the information. I apologize I couldn't tell you more. Hopefully my text is better.

Latest Update (3/17/2021): A new update for this app showed up. Again it wouldn't let me update it. I tried all the other apps first and they updated. Then before having to try this annoying process again I tried to update it and it did. I don't know what's going on but after doing this solution if you get an update for Android System WebView you have to update all the other apps first before it will allow you to update it.