SOTI Pulse Logo

Android System WebView update by a script

N
Norbert
Best Food Logistics

Hi,

Could you please advise if there is a script to remotely force PDA's in lockdown mode for a prompt to update Android System WebView application?

Alternatively PDA's could be unlocked, but I would need to force the update prompt remotely, rather than user going into Play Store and manually click (we have 600+ devices across UK). The reason for this question is that while we need to update some application on our PDA's, we found that it required relatively new version of Android System WebView.

We are using mostly Samsung devices (A02, A04, A12) but also some old Motorola's (G8 and G9) on Work Managed type of enrollment.

Our MC control is 2024.1.2.1046

If you will any ideas which could point me into the right direction, that will be appreciated.

Kind regards,

Norbert

3 months ago
SOTI MobiControl
ANSWERS
RC
Raymond Chan Diamond Contributor
3 months ago (edited 3 months ago)

As your devices are in Work Managed mode,  you should be able to add the latest Android system webview app (bundle ID : com.google.android.webview.dev) as a mandatory app to be either pushed silently on targeted devices, or as an optional app installed on-demand by end-user from MobiControl app-catalog UI on the device.

 

MD
Matt Dermody Diamond Contributor
3 months ago

WebView version control continues to be a frustrating management issue. There are numerous hybrid web apps that have heavy dependence on WebView and yet we don't have the ability to really lock in an maintain a given WebView version given how it can only be updated from Google Play.

You can approve WebView as a Managed Play application and then set the install to High Priority to try to get it to upgrade automatically.

Alternatively if you send this script it will take you directly to the manual install page

sendintent -a “https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.webview#Intent;action=android.intent.action.VIEW;end”

N
Norbert
3 months ago

Hi @Matt Dermody

Thank you for your prompt response, I have tried above script on Samsung device, however, it didn't prompt me for the update, on both locked and unlocked mode.

Kind regards,

Norbert

MD
Matt Dermody Diamond Contributor
3 months ago
KW
Katie Williams
a month ago

I tried this script and it goes through the update process but webview is not updated and it shows the prompt again to 'update'. we are on 131 and it is inteferring with our velocity app and we need to upgrade to 141, the latest, and it is not upgrading. We have upgraded our Zebra TC78 devices to the latest firmware and only 1 of 3 devices upgraded the webview version to the latest version and only that device is working properly with Velocity, So trying to figure out how we can get webview upgraded manually for the others. not sure why they wouldn't have upgraded to the same webview version though, as they are all on the same zebra firmware.

AC
Andrzej Chojnowski
2 months ago

@Raymond Chan@Matt DermodyDo you have a script to update teh webview on a device in China - without GMS?

MD
Matt Dermody Diamond Contributor
2 months ago

WebView is a system application which means it can only be upgraded via Google Play or via OEM provided firmware update. Since you are talking about China, you don't have access go GMS and Google Play based updates and therefore you would need to rely on the manufacturer bundling new WebView versions in new firmware updates and you'd need to apply those firmware updates in order to successfully upgrade WebView. WebView cannot be upgraded standalone or independently which is quite unfortunate given how many hybrid web applications have extreme dependencies on it. 

I see based on your post history that you may have Zebra TC73 devices. Luckily for you Zebra is one of the manufacturers that recognizes the importance of WebView and therefore is keeping it relatively up to date within their LifeGuard firmware updates. 

Similar Discussions