Microsoft Edge WebView2 process activity


RickC

Member
VIP
Local time
9:03 PM
Posts
16
OS
Windows 11
I'm using Windows 11 (22000.51.210619-2323.CO_RELEASE) on a Dell Latitude E7450 I'm using as a test device whilst I look around. Note that I haven't yet connected this laptop to my home network, let alone the internet.

I had Process Monitor (ProcMon) running when I noticed the amount of msedgewebview2.exe events being captured. (I also had the Services MMC snap-in, an elevated PowerShell console and a File Manager window open.)

I stopped what I was doing, filtered on the msedgewebview2.exe process and let ProcMon chunder on capturing events.

The number of events quickly became overwhelming so I stopped ProcMon's capture and looked at just one single minute's worth of events (from 21:51:01 to 21:52:02):

ProcMon_WebView2.png

The results show 2980 msedgewebview2.exe events... the overwhelming majority being related to network settings in the Windows registry. That's an average of almost 50 events every single second.

Does anyone else see similar results? This is a standalone laptop doing nothing... supposedly. Does anyone know why this Edge control is continually querying network settings?

For those who don't know (and I didn't at first), Microsoft Edge WebView2:

allows you to embed web technologies (HTML, CSS, and JavaScript) in your native apps. The WebView2 control uses Microsoft Edge (Chromium) as the rendering engine to display the web content in native apps. With WebView2, you may embed web code in different parts of your native app. (Microsoft Docs)

That's fine, except as far as I know neither ProcMon, Services, PowerShell console nor File Manager use web technologies... and I wasn't running any other apps.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Latitude E7450
    CPU
    i5-5300 @ 2.30 GHz
    Motherboard
    Dell 0D8H72
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 5500
    Sound Card
    Realtek Audio
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    Samsung PM851 128GB SSD
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
I wish we could uninstall the WebView2 crap. .
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro x64 23H2 v22631.2861
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Built Myself in 2013
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 1800X 8-Core @ 3.60GHz
    Motherboard
    Asus Crosshair VI Hero
    Memory
    16GB G.Skill Trident Z RGB Series
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon RX 580 8GB GDDR5
    Sound Card
    On Board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung 27" , PLANAR 22", eMachine 22"
    Screen Resolution
    1920 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    ~ P34A60 512GB NVMe PCIe Gen3x4 M.2
    ~ 3TB WD Red HDD (extra storage)
    ~ SanDisk 250GB SSD
    ~ 2 X 1TB HDD
    ~~~~~~~~~~
    PSU
    Corsair RM850 Fully Modular (850watts)
    Case
    NZXT Phantom 630 CA-PH630-W1
    Cooling
    CORSAIR iCUE H100i RGB PRO XT
    Keyboard
    Logitech K860
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master
    Internet Speed
    752Mbps (Download) / 537Mbps (Upload)
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Malwarebytes
    Other Info
    *This is my Main Computer That I use*
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD A10-5700 APU @ 3.40Ghz
    Motherboard
    Asus CM1745
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics card(s)
    AMD Radeon R7 350x GDDR5 4 GB
    Sound Card
    On Board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dual Monitor Setup ONN 22" Monitors
    Screen Resolution
    1920 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    ~~~~~~~~
    250GB SSD

    500GB HDD
    ~~~~~~~~
    PSU
    350Watt PSU
    Cooling
    Air Cooling
    Mouse
    MX Master
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Ergonomic 4000
    Internet Speed
    752Mbps (Download) / 537Mbps (Upload)
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Malwarebytes
    Other Info
    *Computer for Weather Software*
I wish we could uninstall the WebView2 crap. .

It's on my ToDo list to look at. I'm amazed my laptop has any oomph left to run MY programs. I cannot think of any reason why I would want it bolted on to an OS by default... and I'm only ever going to use Edge to download an alternate browser. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Latitude E7450
    CPU
    i5-5300 @ 2.30 GHz
    Motherboard
    Dell 0D8H72
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 5500
    Sound Card
    Realtek Audio
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    Samsung PM851 128GB SSD
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
It's on my ToDo list to look at. I cannot think of any reason why I would want it bolted on to an OS by default... and I'm only ever going to use Edge to download an alternate browser. :)
I use Edge as my default browser, but I don't need the Webview stuff.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro x64 23H2 v22631.2861
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Built Myself in 2013
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 1800X 8-Core @ 3.60GHz
    Motherboard
    Asus Crosshair VI Hero
    Memory
    16GB G.Skill Trident Z RGB Series
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon RX 580 8GB GDDR5
    Sound Card
    On Board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung 27" , PLANAR 22", eMachine 22"
    Screen Resolution
    1920 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    ~ P34A60 512GB NVMe PCIe Gen3x4 M.2
    ~ 3TB WD Red HDD (extra storage)
    ~ SanDisk 250GB SSD
    ~ 2 X 1TB HDD
    ~~~~~~~~~~
    PSU
    Corsair RM850 Fully Modular (850watts)
    Case
    NZXT Phantom 630 CA-PH630-W1
    Cooling
    CORSAIR iCUE H100i RGB PRO XT
    Keyboard
    Logitech K860
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master
    Internet Speed
    752Mbps (Download) / 537Mbps (Upload)
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Malwarebytes
    Other Info
    *This is my Main Computer That I use*
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD A10-5700 APU @ 3.40Ghz
    Motherboard
    Asus CM1745
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics card(s)
    AMD Radeon R7 350x GDDR5 4 GB
    Sound Card
    On Board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dual Monitor Setup ONN 22" Monitors
    Screen Resolution
    1920 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    ~~~~~~~~
    250GB SSD

    500GB HDD
    ~~~~~~~~
    PSU
    350Watt PSU
    Cooling
    Air Cooling
    Mouse
    MX Master
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Ergonomic 4000
    Internet Speed
    752Mbps (Download) / 537Mbps (Upload)
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Malwarebytes
    Other Info
    *Computer for Weather Software*
I use Edge as my default browser, but I don't need the Webview stuff.

Wait until MS mandate developers include support for WebView in their apps... just so it doesn't die a slow and painful death like Silverlight.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Latitude E7450
    CPU
    i5-5300 @ 2.30 GHz
    Motherboard
    Dell 0D8H72
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 5500
    Sound Card
    Realtek Audio
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    Samsung PM851 128GB SSD
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
Wait until MS mandate developers include support for WebView in their apps... just so it doesn't die a slow and painful death like Silverlight.
lol haven't seen Silverlight be mentioned in a while
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro x64 23H2 v22631.2861
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Built Myself in 2013
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 1800X 8-Core @ 3.60GHz
    Motherboard
    Asus Crosshair VI Hero
    Memory
    16GB G.Skill Trident Z RGB Series
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon RX 580 8GB GDDR5
    Sound Card
    On Board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung 27" , PLANAR 22", eMachine 22"
    Screen Resolution
    1920 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    ~ P34A60 512GB NVMe PCIe Gen3x4 M.2
    ~ 3TB WD Red HDD (extra storage)
    ~ SanDisk 250GB SSD
    ~ 2 X 1TB HDD
    ~~~~~~~~~~
    PSU
    Corsair RM850 Fully Modular (850watts)
    Case
    NZXT Phantom 630 CA-PH630-W1
    Cooling
    CORSAIR iCUE H100i RGB PRO XT
    Keyboard
    Logitech K860
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master
    Internet Speed
    752Mbps (Download) / 537Mbps (Upload)
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Malwarebytes
    Other Info
    *This is my Main Computer That I use*
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD A10-5700 APU @ 3.40Ghz
    Motherboard
    Asus CM1745
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics card(s)
    AMD Radeon R7 350x GDDR5 4 GB
    Sound Card
    On Board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dual Monitor Setup ONN 22" Monitors
    Screen Resolution
    1920 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    ~~~~~~~~
    250GB SSD

    500GB HDD
    ~~~~~~~~
    PSU
    350Watt PSU
    Cooling
    Air Cooling
    Mouse
    MX Master
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Ergonomic 4000
    Internet Speed
    752Mbps (Download) / 537Mbps (Upload)
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Malwarebytes
    Other Info
    *Computer for Weather Software*
I wish we could uninstall the WebView2 crap. .
I updated to Windows 11 22000.65.210704-1725.CO_RELEASE and confirmed that WebView2 processes were still running amok.

I used Geek Uninstaller to uninstall the WebView2 app, restarted and now Windows 11 is more responsive on my test laptop (which only has 4GB RAM).
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Latitude E7450
    CPU
    i5-5300 @ 2.30 GHz
    Motherboard
    Dell 0D8H72
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 5500
    Sound Card
    Realtek Audio
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    Samsung PM851 128GB SSD
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
I updated to Windows 11 22000.65.210704-1725.CO_RELEASE and confirmed that WebView2 processes were still running amok.

I used Geek Uninstaller to uninstall the WebView2 app, restarted and now Windows 11 is more responsive on my test laptop (which only has 4GB RAM).
IS BS that we have to install and run a 3rd party software just to get rid of it. That means that we are only getting rid of "2", instead of 3 since we are having to run a 3rd
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro x64 23H2 v22631.2861
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Built Myself in 2013
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 1800X 8-Core @ 3.60GHz
    Motherboard
    Asus Crosshair VI Hero
    Memory
    16GB G.Skill Trident Z RGB Series
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon RX 580 8GB GDDR5
    Sound Card
    On Board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung 27" , PLANAR 22", eMachine 22"
    Screen Resolution
    1920 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    ~ P34A60 512GB NVMe PCIe Gen3x4 M.2
    ~ 3TB WD Red HDD (extra storage)
    ~ SanDisk 250GB SSD
    ~ 2 X 1TB HDD
    ~~~~~~~~~~
    PSU
    Corsair RM850 Fully Modular (850watts)
    Case
    NZXT Phantom 630 CA-PH630-W1
    Cooling
    CORSAIR iCUE H100i RGB PRO XT
    Keyboard
    Logitech K860
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master
    Internet Speed
    752Mbps (Download) / 537Mbps (Upload)
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Malwarebytes
    Other Info
    *This is my Main Computer That I use*
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD A10-5700 APU @ 3.40Ghz
    Motherboard
    Asus CM1745
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics card(s)
    AMD Radeon R7 350x GDDR5 4 GB
    Sound Card
    On Board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dual Monitor Setup ONN 22" Monitors
    Screen Resolution
    1920 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    ~~~~~~~~
    250GB SSD

    500GB HDD
    ~~~~~~~~
    PSU
    350Watt PSU
    Cooling
    Air Cooling
    Mouse
    MX Master
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Ergonomic 4000
    Internet Speed
    752Mbps (Download) / 537Mbps (Upload)
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Malwarebytes
    Other Info
    *Computer for Weather Software*
IS BS that we have to install and run a 3rd party software just to get rid of it. That means that we are only getting rid of "2", instead of 3 since we are having to run a 3rd

Geek Uninstaller is a portable app so no installation is necessary.

I'm just doing a 'Reset' now so I can see what - if any - difference a couple of tweaks, including removal of WebView2, make to the restart times.

Update: Hmm, a 'Reset' did NOT reinstall WebView2 (which surprised me)... so I'm about to carry out an 'inplace' upgrade to dump Windows 11 22000.65.210704-1725.CO_RELEASE back on top of itself.

Further update: Bearing in mind that I've already used this same mounted ISO before to carry out an 'inplace' upgrade, I'm at a loss why I'm now seeing this (two attempts, both failed with same error):

setup_failed_to_validate_the_product_key.png

I used Rufus to create a new installer USB and carried out a clean install of Windows 11 22000.65.210704-1725.CO_RELEASE.

There was little to no difference in the restart times before and after uninstalling WebView2.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Latitude E7450
    CPU
    i5-5300 @ 2.30 GHz
    Motherboard
    Dell 0D8H72
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 5500
    Sound Card
    Realtek Audio
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    Samsung PM851 128GB SSD
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender

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