How to Fix Instagram and TikTok Crashing From a Bad WebView Update

If Instagram and TikTok both started crashing on the same day, the problem is usually not your account. It is also not a coincidence. On Android phones, many social apps depend on a small system component called Android System WebView to show links, login pages, and some in-app content.

When a faulty WebView update rolls out, dozens of apps can crash at once. You open Instagram, it closes. You open TikTok, it closes. Gmail, Chrome, and banking apps sometimes fail too. The good news is that you can fix this in a few minutes without resetting your phone or losing your photos.

Quick Answer

Go to Settings, open Apps, find Android System WebView, and uninstall its updates or update it again from the Play Store. Also update Google Chrome, because Chrome provides WebView on newer Android versions. Restart your phone afterwards, and Instagram and TikTok should open normally again.

What Is Android System WebView and Why Does It Crash Apps?

Android System WebView is like a mini browser built into your phone. Apps use it when they need to display web content without sending you to a full browser. For example, when you tap a link inside Instagram, reset a password, or view a help page inside TikTok, WebView often handles that screen.

Because so many apps share this one component, a single bad update can break all of them at the same time. Google has had this problem before, and the fix was almost always to update or roll back WebView and Chrome together.

Common Signs the WebView Update Is the Cause

• Instagram and TikTok both crash on opening or within a few seconds.
• Several unrelated apps started failing on the same day.
• The crashes began right after apps updated automatically overnight.
• Clearing the cache of Instagram or TikTok alone did not help.
• Other people online are reporting the same crash on the same date.

If only one app crashes and every other app works fine, the cause is more likely that single app. But when two or more social apps fail together, WebView should be your first check.

Step-by-Step Fix: Update or Roll Back WebView

Start with the Play Store method, because it is the safest. If the Play Store itself crashes, use the Settings method described after it.

Method 1: Update WebView and Chrome From the Play Store

1. Open the Google Play Store on your phone.
2. Tap your profile picture and choose Manage apps and device.
3. Tap Updates available and look for Android System WebView.
4. If an update is listed, install it. Google often releases a fixed version within hours.
5. Do the same for Google Chrome, as both apps are closely linked.
6. Restart your phone completely, not just closing the apps.
7. Open Instagram and TikTok again and test them for a minute.

You can find more official guidance on updating Android apps in the Google Play Help Center for app update problems, which explains how to check for pending updates safely.

Method 2: Uninstall WebView Updates in Settings

If there is no newer update, removing the faulty update returns WebView to the factory version that came with your phone. That version is older, but it is stable.

1. Open Settings and tap Apps or Applications.
2. Tap See all apps and then tap the three dots in the corner.
3. Choose Show system apps, because WebView is hidden by default.
4. Find and tap Android System WebView.
5. Tap the three dots at the top and choose Uninstall updates.
6. Confirm the action. Your personal data and photos will not be deleted.
7. Repeat the same steps for Google Chrome if it also crashes.
8. Restart your phone and test Instagram and TikTok again.

Do not worry if the Uninstall updates button looks scary. You are not removing WebView forever. You are only removing the broken update layer. Later, you can install the corrected update from the Play Store once Google releases it.

What to Do If the Play Store Also Crashes

Sometimes the crash loop affects the Play Store itself, which makes the first method impossible. In that case, use Settings to roll back WebView first, as shown above. Once WebView is back to the factory version, the Play Store usually opens again.

Another option is to use a second device or a computer browser to check whether Google has announced an outage. If the problem is worldwide, waiting a few hours for the patched update is often smarter than trying risky fixes from random forums.

Clear the Cache of the Affected Apps

After fixing WebView, old corrupted cache files can still make Instagram or TikTok misbehave. Clearing the cache removes temporary files only. It does not delete your account, drafts, or saved logins in most cases, though you may need to sign in again on some phones.

1. Open Settings and go to Apps.
2. Select Instagram, tap Storage and cache, then tap Clear cache.
3. Repeat the same steps for TikTok.
4. Do not tap Clear data yet, because that resets the app fully.
5. Open each app and check if the crashing has stopped.

If you also have login trouble after fixing the crash, our guide on fixing Instagram login errors and something went wrong messages walks through the account side of the problem.

Other Fixes to Try If Apps Still Crash

Update Instagram, TikTok, and Your Phone Software

Once WebView is stable, update Instagram and TikTok themselves. App developers quickly release compatibility fixes after a WebView incident. Also check for a system update under Settings, then Software update, because manufacturers sometimes bundle a WebView correction with it.

Check Your Storage Space

A phone that is almost full can crash apps for a different reason. If you have less than one gigabyte free, delete old downloads, clear large video caches, and try again. Social apps need working space to load feeds, stories, and videos.

Test in Safe Mode

Safe mode runs your phone with only basic system apps. If Instagram still crashes in normal mode but your phone is stable in safe mode, a recently installed app may be interfering. Remove apps you installed just before the problem started, one by one.

Reinstall the Social Apps as a Last Step

If only TikTok still crashes after everything else, uninstall it and install a fresh copy from the Play Store. Your account and cloud drafts are stored online, but locally saved drafts will be lost, so export anything important first. Do the same for Instagram only if needed.

How to Prevent This Problem in the Future

• Keep WebView and Chrome updated together, never one without the other for long.
• Turn on automatic updates in the Play Store so patched versions arrive quickly.
• Avoid downloading WebView or social app files from unofficial websites.
• Restart your phone once a week to clear small system glitches.
• Wait a day before installing major system updates if your phone is your main work device, and check the news for reported problems.

Prevention is mostly about using the official Play Store versions. Modified app files found on file-sharing sites often conflict with newer WebView releases and crash far more often.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Factory resetting the phone first: This deletes everything and is almost never needed for a WebView crash.
• Disabling WebView completely: Some guides suggest disabling it, but many apps will then fail in new ways. Roll back updates instead.
• Installing APK files from random sites: These can contain malware and may not match your Android version.
• Clearing data for every app: This logs you out everywhere and can remove drafts without fixing the real cause.
• Ignoring Chrome: On Android 10 and above, Chrome and WebView work as a pair. Fixing only one sometimes leaves the crash in place.

Conclusion

When Instagram and TikTok crash at the same time, think shared component, not broken accounts. A bad Android System WebView update is the most common reason, and the repair is simple. Update WebView and Chrome, or uninstall their updates in Settings, restart the phone, and clear the cache of the affected apps. In most cases, both apps work again within ten minutes, with no data loss and no need for a reset.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will uninstalling WebView updates delete my photos or accounts?

No. Uninstalling updates only removes the downloaded update for that system component. Your photos, contacts, Instagram account, and TikTok account stay untouched. The factory version of WebView remains on the phone and keeps working.

Why did Instagram and TikTok crash but my other apps worked?

Not every app uses WebView in the same way. Apps that rely on it heavily for login screens, links, or embedded pages crash first. Simple offline apps, like a calculator, do not use WebView at all, so they keep working.

Should I disable Android System WebView to stop crashes?

No, disabling it usually creates more problems. Many apps need WebView daily. The safer fix is to uninstall its updates or install the corrected update from the Play Store, then restart your phone.

How long does Google take to fix a bad WebView update?

For widespread crashes, Google usually releases a patched version within a few hours to one day. Keep checking the Play Store for updates to WebView and Chrome, because installing the patch is the permanent solution.

My phone does not show Android System WebView in the app list. What should I do?

Make sure you enabled Show system apps in the Apps menu. On some newer phones, Chrome handles the WebView role, so update or roll back Chrome instead. Samsung, Xiaomi, and Pixel phones label this slightly differently, but the option is always under Apps in Settings.