Many people have reported problems with the Gmail app on Android.
James Martin / CNET
Google says it solved an issue that caused Gmail and other Android apps to crash for some people on Monday. The problem apparently originated from a bug in an earlier version of the Android System WebView, a component of the system that allows Android applications to display web content.
To fix the problem, the tech giant said people should go to Google Play to update the Android WebView system and Google Chrome.
Here are the steps that Google has defined:
1. Navigate to the Play Store app
2. Search for Android WebView system
3. Select the “Update” option
4. Repeat these steps for Google Chrome
Problems with Gmail and other Android apps started showing up on Monday afternoon and lasted about seven hours, according to the Google status panel for Gmail. Many people have turned to Twitter and Reddit for reporting problems with Android application failures, including owners of Samsung and Pixel phones.
See too: 7 hidden Gmail features that can even help you reach zero inbox
“We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience and continued support,” said Google in the final update to its Gmail status panel. “Make sure that system reliability is a top priority for Google, and we are making continuous improvements to make our systems better.”
While Google fixed the problem, some people found that uninstalling the buggy version of WebView provided a temporary solution. Samsung support account on Twitter he even suggested that people take this step.
Hi! Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention. Remove the update from Webview and restart the phone. Here are the steps: Go to settings> apps> tap the three dots in the upper right corner> show system apps> search the Android WebView system> select Uninstall updates. ^ Nina
– Samsung Support in the USA (@SamsungSupport) March 22, 2021
If you used this workaround while waiting for Google to fix the problem, you must reinstall WebView to restore full functionality to your phone, as well as update Chrome. Keeping apps up to date is important for get the latest security fixes.