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Android 2 Developer Preview 2.1 fixes some all-too-familiar app crashes
- Google has released Android 12 Developer Preview 2.1.
- The upgrade fixes WebView bugs that led some apps to crash.
- It’s available for the Pixel 3 and newer Google phones.
Google is patch Android 12 Developer Preview 2 just days after its debut — and this is an update you’ll want to grab. The company has released Android 12 Developer Preview 2.1 with a fix for the WebView flaws that led to app crashes.
The bug affected all apps that use the WebView system component to render content, including Gmail and the Google search app. The company fixed the problem for most devices by releasing updated versions of WebView and Chrome — the Android 12 release should ensure you have those solutions without requiring separate downloads.
Read more: All the Android 12 features confirmed so far
There are no other listed changes for Developer Preview 2.1, but that’s not surprising given the focus on WebView. We’d expect changes beyond WebView to come only with Android 12 Developer Preview 3 when it arrives sometime in April. That version will focus on preparing apps for the operating system’s public beta.
As before, you’ll need a Pixel 3 or newer Google phone to install the latest Developer Preview. You should get an over-the-air update if you’re already running DP2, but you can flash images if necessary. Just don’t use this on your main phone — as always, these early previews are meant for app creators who can put up with potential instability and other glitches. If you’re an enthusiast, you’ll want to wait until at least May to try the beta.