Some apps like Gmail close themselves on Android: this is how you can fix it

Some users they are having problems to use various applications on your Android phones: apps like Gmail, Google, Paypal or basically anyone that shows web content they close on their own, without explanation or warning of its own.

The error does not seem to affect all Android phones in such a massive way as the Gboard bug from a few years ago, but it does seem to affect all kinds of apps on all types of mobiles. Luckily, there seems to be a simple workaround that makes apps work again.

Blame it on the System WebView

To the incredulity of users, a bug in one of the Android components that many applications use is causing many apps to close on their own or act erratically. The exact causes have not yet come to light, but everything seems to indicate that the problem is in a problem with Android System Webview.

Android System Webview acts as a link between the browser and the applications, allowing an application to display content from the Internet without having to implement all the browser logic again. It is a very practical idea that reduces the size and complexity of the applications although, in return, what is happening today can happen: when you have a problem, affects all applications that use the system’s WebView, and that there are many.

The good news is, since the bug came, you can go. Multiple users and even Samsung technical support recommend uninstall Android WebView updates and restart the mobile. After doing so, the applications that were affected by this error should work again.

To uninstall updates from Android System WebView

you must enter the Android settings and touch Applications. The process can vary from layer to layer, although you generally need to use the ⋮ menu to choose Show system apps And now it should appear in the list of applications.

By touching the application, the page with information about it will be displayed, including its version and the buttons to stop its execution or disable it (which, on occasions, is not available). Press the menu button ⋮ and choose Uninstall updates. When doing so, you are prompted for confirmation.

This will uninstall all Android System WebView updates, including the latest one that is causing all the problems. You will return to the version of Android System WebView that came pre-installed with the latest firmware for your mobile, and everything should work as before.

It is foreseeable that Google fix this bug in a future update of Android System Webview, so that in a few hours -or days- you can update Android System WebView again through Google Play.

–
The news

Some apps like Gmail close themselves on Android: this is how you can fix it

was originally published in

Engadget Android

for
Ivan Ramirez

.