Always include a check in your app startup code to see if the WebView2 runtime is present. If it’s missing, direct the user to the download page or trigger the bootstrapper.
While Evergreen is the recommendation for 99% of use cases, there are times to consider the alternative: Evergreen WebView2 Fixed Version Automatic (Microsoft) Manual (Developer) Disk Space Low (Shared) High (Bundled) Stability Small risk of breaking changes Absolute version control Offline Use Requires initial sync Works fully offline evergreen webview2
On Windows 10 and 11, the Evergreen WebView2 Runtime is often already installed as part of the OS or alongside Microsoft Edge. Always include a check in your app startup
In the "Fixed Version" model, if a major security flaw is found in Chromium, you have to patch your app, recompile it, and push an update to every user. With Evergreen, Microsoft handles the update. As soon as Edge is patched, your app is protected. 2. Smaller Installer Sizes In the "Fixed Version" model, if a major
Instead of checking version numbers, use JavaScript feature detection to ensure the environment supports the APIs you need. Conclusion
