With the larger attack surface WebView brings to Android, it’s not just about whether an app will crash or content won’t render, it’s also about security.

Android System WebView is an essential part of the Android OS that lets apps display web content without starting a separate web browser app.

The main purpose of Android System WebView is connecting application developers directly from the apps towards the different web content, offering the media or other information on a direct basis.

Instead of dumping the user into the browser or using a WebView, developers can use Chrome custom tabs to leverage all of the browser’s features while still maintaining the app’s design.

If you are encountering issues with app crashes and are running the latest Android 12 Beta, your problem could be Android System WebView.

Currently, developers who create “sideloaded” Android apps are exempt from Google’s verification requirements.