Android apps crash: How to solve the problem

There are currently numerous Android apps that crash immediately after starting or during use. This includes, for example, popular apps such as the Gmail email app, TikTok, some games and more. This is due to the Android WebView, which is used to display web content.
The problem has been going on for a few hours – it started yesterday afternoon. Google has addressed the issue to “TheVerge“ has now been officially confirmed and a bug fix has been released in the form of an update. A bug in a current version of the Android System WebView causes some apps to crash unexpectedly when certain content is clicked on. There may also be isolated crashes immediately after starting. In this article, we will show you how to solve the problem.
Error in Android System WebView: Android app crashes - this is how you can fix it
There are two possible solutions to make the apps work again. The simplest variant is to bring the Android WebView up to date. If you update to version 89.0.4389.105, everything should work again. This update is available to all users in the Google Play Store to disposal. If the app does not update automatically, simply switch to the Play Store, type in "Android System WebView" and click on "Update". Alternatively, you can click on the following link:
If you can't update, a second option can help. Like Samsung Support via Twitter recommends that you can reset the Android System WebView to solve the problem. To do this, you need to go to Settings > Apps > Android System WebView > three dots top right > uninstall updates. Then restart the smartphone and open the desired app. Then Android apps will no longer crash. If you cannot find Android System WebView directly under your apps, there may be a menu (usually three dots) with the option to display "System apps". If the app does not appear then either, scroll down, there we have another alternative solution.
- An update for the Android System WebView in the Play Store is available. (Image: TechnikNews)
- Alternatively, you can uninstall the latest version of the Android System WebView in the settings. (Image: TechnikNews)
Doesn't work or Android system WebView deactivated? Another solution
With older (Samsung) smartphones, the above solutions may not work, as some did for us TechnikNews Readers have reported this. This may be due to a deactivated Android WebView or it may not be installed on the smartphone at all. Then the app cannot be updated and updates cannot be uninstalled. In earlier Android versions and manufacturers, the WebView was still linked to Google Chrome. To solve the problem anyway, you can try updating Google Chrome to version 89.0.4389.105. Google has now released an update for Google Chrome in the Google Play Store rolled out.
If the update is not available, you can use the Google Chrome APK download directly here. As a further alternative, you can also search for “Google Chrome” in the apps and uninstall the updates there as described above. This can also fix the app crash when Android WebView is deactivated.
Sorry for the German ^^ So again ... The Android System WebView application is deactivated by default. That means, I can't undo anything regarding the update either. In the Playstore it does not appear under the applications ^^ Neither when installed nor in the media library.
Hello Holger, protry the following workaround. Search "Google Chrome" in the apps and uninstall the updates there. It may be that on older smartphones the WebView is still linked to Chrome.
Please let me know if that worked!
LG David from TechnikNews
I have exactly the same problem as Holger and unfortunately Google Chrome doesn't work for me either 🙁
Hi Sunny, it's a shame that doesn't work either.
Another solution: Google has now published an update for Google Chrome in the Google Play Store. Try refreshing your browser and then let me know if it works. Thanks!
You can find Google Chrome in the Play Store here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.android.chrome
LG, David from TechnikNews
Updating Google Chrome works for me! Thanks!
Hello Jannic,
Top! Have fun with TikToken, emailing, surfing or whatever apps.
LG, David from TechnikNews
Thanks so much. Now it actually seems to be working again after being almost desperate for an hour. Thank you 🙂
Feel free to delete my other comment below if you can. Accidentally appeared twice
Great, thank you for confirming the solution! 🙂
Removed your duplicate comment, it should fit now.
LG, David from TechnikNews
Top. I have now downloaded the new version of Chrome from the App Store and it works now. Thanks very much!
Hi Hannes, nice to hear! Have fun with "Appen" 🙂
LG, David from TechnikNews
Perfect. For me, too, it works again with the Google Chrome update.
Otherwise the app was deactivated and could not be touched.
I thank myself. 🙂
Hello Rainer, thank you for your comment and great that it worked. Nothing to thank for! 🙂
LG, David from TechnikNews
Thanks, the Chrome update helped here too.
Hi JoBu,
Thanks for the feedback. Excellent!
LG, David from TechnikNews
Thank you very much for the helpful tip!
Hi Anna,
thank you for your feedback, we are pleased!
LG, David from TechnikNews
Hello 😉
Yes, with the installation of Chrome everything went smoothly. What I don't understand, however, is why the Android System WebView is deactivated on my Samsung S7? If it's part of the Android system, why would you turn it off and use the Chrome Webview instead? It's strange. Especially since it's likely that problems will occur whenever Chrome isn't up to date. I'm practically forced to use Chrome now, otherwise the known problems will occur again. But I'm afraid you can't give any advice on that.
My first thought was to reset the cell phone to the delivery state. But if I'm unlucky it just looks like it does now and I wanted to save myself that 😉
Ergo, the actually intended Android WebView system is deactivated by default at Samsung and instead the system accesses the Chrome. Then so be it.
Thank you for your help.
Hello Holger,
Thank you for your feedback signal!
It's great that it worked this way. You're right, that's a mystery to me too and I can't really answer it here. Manufacturers like Samsung modify their Android themselves and do it a little differently than in the "Stock Android" directly from Google.
Fortunately, we were able to save you from resetting your smartphone 😉
Beautiful evening!
LG, David from TechnikNews
For me, too, the weather and email work again after the Google Chrome update. Thanks for the great help here! LG, Arno
Hello Arno,
That's how it should be. You're welcome!
LG, David from TechnikNews
Hello, thanks for the tips, unfortunately they didn't work. I have a problem with my A51 where I can no longer turn on my WiFi, Bluetooth and the mobile hotspot. Sometimes I get a message saying that Bluetooth has been turned off. And the following also happens: when I turn off my phone and then restart it, it usually takes 5 attempts before it turns on and doesn't restart again.
Maybe you can help me.
Hello, I have a Redmi 8T and can neither update the WebView application nor Chrome. Only "update pending" comes up for hours. Emptying the cache did not help either. Other forums do not recommend uninstalling Chrome's updates. Apart from that, I still haven't understood how I could even do it, I haven't found a button for it. Do you have another tip for me? Thank you very much!
Hi Danny,
deleting updates from Chrome can probe carried out seamlessly. The only thing that can happen is that the browser history or any bookmarks may no longer be available.
In the settings under "Apps" of your smartphone, there should be a small menu in the detailed settings of Google Chrome (usually at the top right), which you click on and then "Uninstall updates" appears.
Unfortunately, it is difficult to adjust this because I do not have a Xiaomi / Redmi test device here. Basically it should work like this.
Otherwise empty the cache of the “Google Play Services” and the “Google Play Store”, which can sometimes help if the update is pending.
I hope it helps!
LG, David from TechnikNews
Hi, thank you very much - I was able to uninstall the updates from Google Chrome and also clear the cache of the Google Play Store and services. Unfortunately, the Chrome update still does not work and my apps are still crashing .... Any ideas? Can you assume that sooner or later an update will be installed automatically and everything will work again? Thank you in advance!
Hi, great that it has now worked!
Try downloading the APK linked above manually, that should solve the problem at least in the short term. A long-term solution to the update problem in the Google Play Store is to wait a few days.
LG, David from TechnikNews
Thanks for the tips! You guys helped me a lot
Cheers 🙂
Hello Anika,
thank you for your feedback - we are of course pleased! 🙂
LG, David from TechnikNews
Imam proproblem.. Viber mi ne radi drugi dan… Sve sam probala.. Ne samo meni.. Puno mojih prijatelja ima isti problem
Thanks - the tip with the Google Chrome update worked!
Hello Blaboll,
we are happy that we could help you too! 🙂
LG, David from TechnikNews
Hello, I got yesterday's Chrome update (it was installed automatically), but my gmx app does not work. And gmx says I should update the Android System WebView application in addition to the Chrome update. That in turn does not work, it is not displayed in the Play Store. What now?? Thank you for your help!
Hello Julia,
that's annoying ... it's difficult to say from a distance, of course, but I try:
Please have a look at your settings (may vary depending on your mobile phone) under "Apps" and "Google Chrome". Then click on "Advanced" or scroll all the way down and you should see the version number. Is that for sure 89.0.4389.105? If not, your Chrome is not up to date - then the best thing to do is to download the APK linked from above.
If you don't see the Android System WebView, the app shouldn't be relevant. Look in the list of (system) apps to see whether it is deactivated there or even appears.
Please let me know if it works!
LG, David from TechnikNews
Hello, I have a Samsung S20, both updates installed. It took forever. In the evening the status was still "Installation pending", in the morning the update was done. Since then, the mobile phone hangs up almost every step of the way with "Surface does not react". Or it restarts automatically all the time. If I switch off WLAN, mobile data, ... it works. What can I do now?
sorry you made a mistake… S10, not S20 🙂
Hi Sylvia,
The problem can have several causes, so it's a bit tricky.
Try the following:
I look forward to your feedback!
LG, David from TechnikNews
Thanks for the solution with the Chrome update!
Today I am almost desperate with my S8 because I did not activate Androit System Webview or got no update and luckily I found your site or tip!
Updated Chrome and now no more problems.
@David, thank you very much !!!
Hello Markus,
We are very pleased - technology doesn't always have to make you desperate 🙂
Thank you for the praise!
LG, David from TechnikNews
Thanks - been making out all afternoon. It worked. You're great
Hi Ute,
It's good that the above methods worked for you too. I'm glad we could help!
LG, David from TechnikNews
Updating Chrome worked, it looks like I would never have thought of it Thank you very much
Hi Peter,
this is actually a bit tricky & is not communicated directly everywhere in such a way that an update of Chrome can also help. But the main thing is that it is now back to normal.
LG, David from TechnikNews
Thanks for the tip. My S7 works again after the Chrome update 🙂
I wanted to reset the phone to factory settings ...
Hi Stefan,
thanks for confirming the solution! Have fun using your apps 🙂
Have a nice evening, David von TechnikNews
My web view thing is deactivated by default ^^ What now? I can't press activate either, it doesn't work. Samsung Galaxy S7 ...