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Microsoft Edge Webview2 Runtime

Anonymous
2021-03-02T00:26:35+00:00

I was checking my storage under the apps in my settings and I saw  Microsoft Edge Webview2 Runtime which I never had before. What is this exactly and is it safe to uninstall it?

Microsoft Edge | Other | Windows 10

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Anonymous
2021-03-02T01:12:43+00:00

Hi HaylieAnn!

I am Anna, your independent advisor for today. I will be more than glad to assist you.

Webview2 Runtime is a backing web platform. This is needed when WebView2 app is being distributed (installed), which provide you with Office features that look and feel the same across device platforms. For example, by using WebView2, the Room Finder feature will look the same when using Outlook on a device running Windows and when using Outlook on the web. Office Add-ins will also start relying on WebView2.

Yes, think it is safe to uninstall if Webview2 has been installed already.

Thanks,

Anna M.

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  1. Anonymous
    2021-04-06T17:28:39+00:00

    Thank you for the reply, but, and with all due respect, it did not answer the crucial questions about consent and preventing it being reinstalled yet again.

    No software will be installed without your consent. However, this may be covered by the blanket consent you gave when you accepted the Windows EULA, giving Microsoft permission to install whatever it likes to keep Windows up to date and functioning. 

    If you install an application, regardless of where it comes from, you will be asked to accept a EULA for it and/or give administrator permission for it to be installed. This may well include permission to install .NET framework versions or runtime modules not already present on the machine, like those for various versions of Visual C. WebView2 is just one of the 177 runtime modules installed on the computer I'm writing this on. Please check for yourself: in File Explorer, navigate to C:\Windows\System32 and conduct a search for runtime. I'm sure you didn't give explicit consent for each of the DLLs you find to be installed. I'm also sure that if you were to remove any of them, Windows or bits of it or of installed programs would stop working properly.

    If Microsoft cannot setup a functioning online text editor in one of its forums......

    This site introduced a new post editor a few weeks ago. There are teething troubles that the site engineers are working hard to deal with. Please be patient.

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  3. Anonymous
    2021-04-05T15:54:17+00:00

    Please explain at what point Microsoft Edge Webview2 Runtime is installed and advise me and what necessity the software fulfils on a PC running the Windows 10 but not using the Edge browser. 

    Some applications can display web content, e.g. help documentation, and WebView2 makes this possible. At the moment, it may be distributed along with the Edge browser or brought along by an installed application. It will eventually be installed with Windows in much the same way as the .NET framework is.  It isn't needed for Edge, but some applications may not run properly without it. It's a good idea to have it ready and updated for when an application needs it, and this will normally happen without any input from the user.

    There's plenty of reading material about WebView2 on the Internet; this article gives a good introduction: The Most Exciting Part of Microsoft Edge is WebView2 | Medium

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  4. Gérard Oomens 123.9K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2021-03-02T01:21:39+00:00

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