How to Enable Android WebView on Xiaomi: A Complete Guide to Error Solutions

The Android WebView system component is responsible for displaying web content inside applications on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO. Without it, many programs (from social networks to banking customers) either fail or refuse to run at all, a problem complicated by the fact that the manufacturer often disables WebView by default in new versions of MIUI - ostensibly to "optimize performance."

In this article, you will find not only basic instructions for enabling the component, but also solutions to typical problems: why WebView suddenly stops working after an update, how to choose between Android System WebView and Google WebView, and what to do if the settings are gray and inactive. We tested all methods on Xiaomi 13 Pro (MIUI 14), Redmi Note 12 and POCO F5 – ensure relevance for devices 2020-2026.

What is Android WebView and why include it in Xiaomi

Android WebView is a system engine that allows applications to display web pages without opening a full browser. For example, when you read a Twitter article or confirm a payment to SberBank Online, content is loaded through WebView. On Xiaomi, this component is often deactivated out of the box, which leads to:

• 🚫 White screens instead of content in apps;
• ⚠️ Errors such as "Web page not available" or "ERR_ACCESS_DENIED";
• 🐢 Slow operation of social networks, instant messengers and banking programs;
• 🔄 Apps to be sent when you try to open a link.

Xiaomi devices use two versions of WebView: the system (Android System WebView) and Google (Google WebView), the first comes with MIUI, the second is installed through Google Play. The manufacturer recommends using the system version, but in practice Google WebView works more stable — especially on older models like Redmi 9 or POCO X3.

⚠️ Note: On some devices (e.g. Xiaomi Mi) A3 or POCO F1) After resetting to the factory settings, WebView may disappear from the list of applications. This is not a mistake - the component will recover after the first Internet connection and update via Google Play.

How to check if WebView is enabled on your Xiaomi

Before you activate the component, make sure it is actually disabled.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management;
2. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select "Show all apps";
3. In the search bar, enter WebView;
4. If the results do not include Android System WebView or Google WebView, the component is removed or hidden.

You can also check WebView through a test application: open any messenger (such as Telegram or Viber) and try to open a link. If instead of a site you see an empty screen or an error, WebView is inactive.

Step-by-step: how to enable WebView on Xiaomi

The activation method depends on the version of MIUI and the device model, and below is a universal algorithm that works on 90% of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones:

Method 1: App settings (for MIUI 12–14)

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management;
2. Click on three dots → “Show all applications”;
3. Find Android System WebView (or Google WebView) and tap it.
4. Click "Enable" (if the button is grey - see the section on error solving);
5. Reset the device.

Method 2: Google Play (if WebView is not available)

If the WebView system is removed or not updated:

1. Open the Google Play Store;
2. In the search, type Google WebView;
3. Install the application (developer – Google LLC);
4. After installation, go to Settings → Applications → Google WebView and turn it on.
5. Go back to Settings → Developer → WebView settings and select Google WebView.

Method 3: Through ADB (for power users)

If the settings are grey and inactive, try enabling WebView via the ADB command:

adb shell pm enable com.google.android.webview


adb shell pm enable com.android.webview

For this:

1. Turn on USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (tap 7 times on the build number);
2. Connect your phone to your PC and execute commands above in Terminal or PowerShell.

💡

If the applications still do not work after turning on WebView, clear the cache and component data in Settings → Applications → WebView → Storage.

Table: comparison of Android System WebView and Google WebView on Xiaomi

On Xiaomi devices with MediaTek processors (such as the Redmi Note 11 or POCO M4 Pro), Google WebView may conflict with system libraries.

Solving Common Errors from WebView on Xiaomi

Even after you turn on WebView, you're facing problems, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

1. The "Include" button is inactive (gray)

Causes and solutions:

• 🔒 Limitations MIUI: Go to Settings. → Special facilities → Simplified mode and turn it off;
• 📱 Developer Mode: Activate Debugging by USB (see section on ADB);
• 🛠️ Package Conflict: Remove Updates for Android System WebView in Settings → Annexes → Three points. → Show system-based.

2. "WebView is not responding" error or application crashes

In order:

1. Clear the cache and data of WebView and the problem application;
2. Switch to another version of WebView in Settings → Developer → WebView settings;
3. Reverse Google Chrome Updates (sometimes conflicts with WebView)
4. Install the official version of WebView from Google Play.

3: WebView disappeared after MIUI update

This is a typical problem when you upgrade to a new firmware version.

adb shell cmd package install-existing com.google.android.webview

If ADB is not available:

• Reset application settings to Settings → System → Reset settings → Reset application settings;
• Install Google WebView manually via APKMirror (the version should match your Android).

Optimize WebView for maximum performance

Turn on WebView, half the battle, so it works fast and without lag.

• ⚡ Update to the latest version: Go to Google Play and check for updates for Google WebView or Android System WebView;
• 🧹 Clean the cache regularly: In Settings → Annexes → WebView → Press "Clear Cache" (do this once every 1-2 weeks);
• 🔧 Turn off unnecessary extensions: In Google Chrome, go to Settings → Additional settings → Extensions and deactivate everything except the necessary;
• 📶 Use a stable connection: WebView slows down on slow internet – check speed through Speedtest.

For devices with 4GB of RAM or less (such as the Redmi 8A or POCO C31), it is recommended that:

1. Limit Background Activity in Settings → Battery → Application Selection → WebView → Background Activity → Limit;
2. Turn off animations in Settings → Special features → Remove animations.

💡

On Xiaomi with a Snapdragon processor (e.g. Xiaomi 12T or POCO F4), Google WebView is 20-30% faster than the system due to optimization for the ARMv8 architecture.

Frequent questions about WebView on Xiaomi