Is Android WebView necessary?

Do I need Android System WebView? The short answer to this question is yes, you do need Android System WebView . There is one exception to this, however. If you’re running Android 7.0 Nougat, Android 8.0 Oreo, or Android 9.0 Pie, you can safely disable the app on your phone without suffering adverse consequences.

The WebView class is an extension of Android’s View class that allows you to display web pages as a part of your activity layout . It does not include any features of a fully developed web browser, such as navigation controls or an address bar. All that WebView does, by default, is show a web page.

Android System WebView is also not spyware or bloatware , so, in general, there’s no reason to be worried about it—unless your apps are crashing, of course.