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Are your Android apps crashing? You're not alone. (Update: Fixed)
- Android apps are randomly crashing for some users.
- The issue seems to stem from a bad Android System WebView update.
- Google has issued new Android System WebView and Google Chrome updates to address the issue.
Update: March 23, 2021 (4 AM ET): Google’s Workspace status page indicates says that the problem with Gmail on Android is fixed.
The company says updating Android System WebView and Google Chrome via Google Play Store should now resolve the issue for all users. The Play Store listing for WebView shows Google has pushed out a new version of the apps (ver. 89.0.4389.105). Chrome has also received an update today.
It’s unclear whether this fixes problems with other Android app crashes as well. Nevertheless, you should try getting the new versions of both apps to see if the issue is resolved. Else, read on for possible workarounds.
Original article: March 23, 2021 (12:12 AM ET): Android users have been experiencing random app crashes over the past few hours. Apps like Gmail, Google, Yahoo Mail, and others are constantly shutting down and behaving erratically. However, Google is aware of the problem and working on a fix.
In a statement to multiple publications, a Google spokesperson said, “We are aware of an issue with WebView causing some apps on Android to crash. We are currently working to fully validate the scope and a fix is in progress.”
The bug seems to be impacting all Android apps that use the WebView system component. Google apparently pushed out a bad update to WebView, resulting in Android app crashes.
Some users have found removing the latest WebView update or uninstalling WebView entirely fixes the issue. Samsung’s official US support Twitter account also recommends removing the update.
Hi! Thanks for bringing this to our attention. Please remove the Webview Update and then restart the phone. Here are the steps: Go settings > apps > tap the three dots in the top right corner > show system apps > search for Android System WebView > select Uninstall updates. ^Nina— Samsung Support US (@SamsungSupport) March 22, 2021
If removing the update doesn’t work for you, try uninstalling WebView. To do that, head to the Google Play Store > My Apps & Games > Installed. Android System WebView should appear in this list of installed apps. Tap on it and hit uninstall. You should then reboot your Android device for the best results.
Remember to reinstall the latest version of WebView once Google fixes the issue. It’s an important component that lets apps display web pages.
Meanwhile, if you’re trying to access Gmail, you should use the desktop interface for the time being. The company has also
acknowledged the problem with Gmail on Android on the Google Workspace status page.
Also read: Gmail not working? Here’s how to fix common issues.