Where is the Android System WebView on Xiaomi and how to manage it?

The Android System WebView component is an invisible but critical element of Xiaomi’s firmware that is responsible for displaying web content within apps, without which the built-in browsers in instant messengers, social networks, and even some games will not work correctly. However, many users face problems: the application suddenly disappears from the menu, stops updating, or gives errors when running other programs.

In this article, we will discuss exactly where Android System WebView is hidden in MIUI firmware on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones (including the 2020-2026 models), how to find it in settings, update manually or restore it after a crash. We will focus on the nuances for devices with MIUI 12/13/14 and HyperOS, where the path to the component may differ, and you will learn why WebView sometimes “disappears” after a system update and how to fix it without resetting.

What is Android System WebView and why is it necessary for Xiaomi?

Android System WebView is a system application from Google that renders web pages inside other applications, and in fact, it replaces the built-in browser engine for all programs that don't want to use their own.

• 📱 Social networks (Facebook, VK, Instagram) – open links and stories within the app.
• 💬 Messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp) – show a link preview and a mini browser for web versions.
• 🎮 Games – Some titles (such as those with events or stores) use WebView to display the interface.
• 🏦 Banking applications – often open web versions of personal accounts through a built-in promoter.

On Xiaomi smartphones, this component is integrated into MIUI or HyperOS firmware, but its behavior depends on the Android version:

If WebView is not working properly, you can see:

• ⚠️ The Android System WebView has stopped when you open links.
• 🔄 Apps freeze when trying to show web content.
• 📉 Memory leaks if the component version is outdated.

Where to look for Android System WebView in Xiaomi settings

Depending on the smartphone model and the MIUI/HyperOS version, the path to WebView may vary, and the following is the current search algorithm for Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices (including Xiaomi 13/14, Redmi Note 12, POCO F5, and others).

Method 1: Through the All Apps menu

The easiest method for most devices is:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Show All Applications (or System Processes).
3. In the list, find the Android System WebView (could be called WebView).
4. Slap it on to open the information card.

Open Settings → Annexes|Enable the display of system processes|Find Android System WebView in the list|Verify version and rights-->

Method 2: Developer Settings (for Android 13+)

On newer versions of HyperOS or MIUI 14, WebView can be hidden to find it:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and tap the MIUI version 7 times.
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
3. Find WebView Implementation (or WebView Implementation).
4. You can choose the current version of WebView or reset your settings.

Attention! Some models (e.g. Xiaomi 12T or Redmi K50) may not have this item.

Method 3: Search through ADB (for power users)

If WebView is not displayed in the interface, it can be found using the command line:

adb shell pm list packages | grep webview

This command will display the name of the package (usually com.google.android.webview or com.android.webview).

adb shell dumpsys package com.google.android.webview

How to Upgrade Android System WebView to Xiaomi

The WebView update is critical to app security and stability, and on Xiaomi smartphones, there are several ways to do this:

Method 1: Through Google Play

The most reliable method for devices with Google services:

1. Open the Google Play Store.
2. In the search, type in Android System WebView.
3. If an update is available, click Update.
4. After installation, restart the smartphone.

Attention! Some firmware (e.g. MIUI China ROM) may have Google Play disabled. In this case, use Method 2.

Method 2: Hand-mounted APK

If automatic updates are not available:

1. Download the latest version of WebView from the official APKMirror website (select the version for your Android).
2. Install the.apk file manually (allow installation from unknown sources in Settings → Security).
3. Reset the device.

Method 3: Through the Mi App Store (for Chinese firmware)

On devices without Google Play (e.g. Xiaomi for China):

1. Open the Mi App Store (or GetApps).
2. Find Android System WebView in your search.
3. Update the app if a new version is available.

💡

If applications continue to issue errors after the WebView update, clear the cache and component data in Settings → Applications → Android System WebView → Storage.

Why Android System WebView is Disappearing in Xiaomi and How to Get Back

Many Xiaomi users are faced with a situation where WebView suddenly disappears from the list of applications.

• 🔄 Update MIUI – New firmware can reset a component or replace it with an outdated version.
• 🧹 Cleaning the system with utilities like Security or Clean Master.
• 🛠️ Manual removal via ADB or Root access.
• 📦 Duplicate packet conflict (e.g., com.android.webview vs com.google.android.webview).

How to Recover a Missing WebView

If the component has disappeared, use one of the methods:

1. Reinstall via Google Play: Open the WebView page in your browser. Click Install (even if the button is inactive). Reboot your device.
2. Install the APK manually (see Method 2 in the previous section).
3. Reset your app settings: Go to Settings → Apps → App management → Three dots → Reset your app settings. Confirm the action and restart your smartphone.

Recovery through Recovery

adb shell pm install -r --user 0 com.google.android.webview.apk

Attention! On HyperOS devices (such as Xiaomi 14 or Redmi K70), manual removal of WebView can cause all applications using web content to fail, in which case only firmware will help.

💡

If WebView goes missing after each MIUI update, turn off automatic optimization in Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization and add WebView to exceptions.

Android System WebView Errors on Xiaomi: Causes and Solutions

Common WebView-related errors and how to fix them:

Frequent scenarios and solutions

• 🔹 After the MIUI update, the links stopped opening: Reset WebView: Settings → Applications → Android System WebView → Storage → Clear Data.
• 🔹 Apps fly when you try to show a web page: Check if WebView is disabled in the developer settings (WebView Implementation → Android System WebView).
• 🔹 Unable to update WebView via Google Play: Remove updates to the Google Play Store in Settings → Apps, then try again.

Android System WebView on Xiaomi with custom firmware

If you use an informal firmware (like LineageOS, Pixel Experience, or crDroid), WebView may work differently.

• 📌 Google Apps Absence: WebView may not be updated on firmware without GApps, so the solution is to install NikGapps or Open GApps.
• 📌 Bromite WebView conflict: Some custom firmwares are replacing the standard WebView with Bromite. To return the original, delete the org.bromite.webview package via ADB: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 org.bromite.webview
• 📌 Manual setting in Magisk: If WebView doesn't work, try disabling modules associated with system modifications (e.g. Universal SafetyNet Fix).

For firmware based on Android 12+, it is recommended to use Google's WebView, even if the firmware offers an alternative.

https://github.com/ChromiumWebView/android_webview

FAQ: Frequent questions about Android System WebView on Xiaomi