Description
Sometimes an app greets you with a "WebView2 is missing" message, or opens to a blank window where buttons do nothing, and reinstalling it does not help. Many modern desktop programs draw their interface with web technology and need a browser engine to display it, and WebView2 Runtime is the one Microsoft provides: built on the Microsoft Edge (Chromium) platform, it lets native applications embed web content directly, so those apps can finally render their interface.
It has no window of its own and works more like a runtime that stays out of sight. The default evergreen build updates itself to the latest secure version with no upkeep from you, and for software with strict compatibility needs there is a fixed version variant that ships a specific engine with the app. For developers it blends web and native: write the UI in HTML, CSS and JavaScript while still reaching native capabilities, and the official page links to the download, documentation and a feedback channel.
Chromium engine: uses the modern Microsoft Edge (Chromium) platform to bring web experiences into native apps
Native integration: apps can give WebView2 controlled access to native capabilities, mixing web and native code
Evergreen distribution: updates automatically by default, keeping the engine and security fixes current without manual work
Fixed version option: applications with strict compatibility requirements can pin a specific version and avoid surprises from engine updates
Web technologies in native apps: build parts of a Windows application's interface with HTML, CSS and JavaScript
Official documentation: the download page links straight to docs and a feedback channel for development and troubleshooting
It has no window of its own and works more like a runtime that stays out of sight. The default evergreen build updates itself to the latest secure version with no upkeep from you, and for software with strict compatibility needs there is a fixed version variant that ships a specific engine with the app. For developers it blends web and native: write the UI in HTML, CSS and JavaScript while still reaching native capabilities, and the official page links to the download, documentation and a feedback channel.
Features
Chromium engine: uses the modern Microsoft Edge (Chromium) platform to bring web experiences into native apps
Native integration: apps can give WebView2 controlled access to native capabilities, mixing web and native code
Evergreen distribution: updates automatically by default, keeping the engine and security fixes current without manual work
Fixed version option: applications with strict compatibility requirements can pin a specific version and avoid surprises from engine updates
Web technologies in native apps: build parts of a Windows application's interface with HTML, CSS and JavaScript
Official documentation: the download page links straight to docs and a feedback channel for development and troubleshooting
