---
title: WebView
description: "**WebView** is a system component in Android that allows apps to display web content (like webpages) directly inside the app — without needing to open a separate web browser. ### How It Works: - **Powered by Chromium**: On most Android…"
url: "https://iode.tech/documentation/webview/"
updated: "2026-02-13"
category: System and Technologies
---

# WebView

**WebView** is a system component in Android that allows apps to display web content (like webpages) directly inside the app — without needing to open a separate web browser.

### How It Works:

- **Powered by Chromium**: On most Android devices, WebView is based on Chromium (the open-source version of Chrome).
- **System Component**: WebView is usually updated separately from the OS via Google Play (unless you're using a custom ROM like iodéOS).
- **Customizable**: Developers can use WebView in their apps using Android APIs, and users of privacy-focused OSes can sometimes choose which version to use (e.g., Bromite WebView or Vanadium WebView).

### In iodéOS:

Unlike other components, we don't replace WebView with a fully degoogled alternative as this might break functionality in apps. Instead, we rely on the adblocker to block unwanted traffic from WebView.

### To switch between available WebView providers:

1. **Enable Developer Options**: Navigate to `Settings > About phone` and tap the **Build number** multiple times until you see a message confirming that Developer Options are enabled.
2. **Access WebView Implementation Settings**: Go to `Settings > System > Developer options > WebView implementation`. By default, Android System WebView will be selected.
3. **Install and Select Your Preferred WebView**: Install the WebView provider of your choice - such as [AOSmium](https://github.com/dsys1100/AOSmiumWebView), [Bromite](https://www.bromite.org/fdroid), or Vanadium Webview - and select it here.