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Bug #811

closed

Unable to scroll any webpage with WebView = 99.0.4844.48

Added by Steffen Liebscher about 2 years ago. Updated about 2 years ago.

Status:
Closed
Priority:
Next Release
Start date:
03/03/2022
Due date:
% Done:

0%

Estimated time:

Description

Hi.
- I'm unable to scroll (up and down) any webpage.
- This was working before.
- The problem was introduced with the latest update of Google Webview from version 98 to 99.
- It happens on two different devices (one with Android 11 and the other one with Android 10, both with the latest February updates).
- The problem remains, even if Privacy browser is reinstalled.
- The problem does not occur with other Webview based browsers (e.g. "FOSS browser").
- I'm at the latest version of Privacy browser (3.10) from F-Droid store

Actions #1

Updated by Soren Stoutner about 2 years ago

  • Assignee set to Soren Stoutner
  • Priority changed from 3.x to Next Release

It appears that this problem is caused by a bug in WebView 99.0.4844.48 relating to enableSlowWholeDocumentDraw(), which is required to save images of entire webpages.

https://developer.android.com/reference/android/webkit/WebView#enableSlowWholeDocumentDraw()

I am going to see if there is an easy way to work around this.

Actions #2

Updated by Soren Stoutner about 2 years ago

  • Status changed from New to In Progress
Actions #3

Updated by Soren Stoutner about 2 years ago

The workaround is to temporarily disable `enableSlowWholeDocumentDraw()`. This breaks the saving of websites as images, but because this is an app-wide setting that must be initialized before any WebViews are populated, there is no way to just enable it for saving webpage images. Hopefully Google is quick to respond to the bug report and fix the issue in a future WebView release.

Implemented in https://gitweb.stoutner.com/?p=PrivacyBrowserAndroid.git;a=commitdiff;h=333ec579b52efbfbad89e0150c7c320822ba9ecf and scheduled for the upcoming 3.10.2 release.

Actions #4

Updated by Soren Stoutner about 2 years ago

  • Subject changed from Unable to scroll any webpage to Unable to scroll any webpage with WebView >= 99.0.4844.48
Actions #5

Updated by Soren Stoutner about 2 years ago

Because this bug broke so many apps (and, specifically, because Samsung complained) Google has paused the rollout of the affected WebView and will shortly release a fixed version. As such, I will hold off releasing 3.10.2, although I will not close this bug report until I have verified that a fixed WebView has been rolled out.

Actions #6

Updated by Steffen Liebscher about 2 years ago

Webview update just landed through Play store. Seems to have fixed the issue

Actions #7

Updated by Mike Reeves about 2 years ago

I still have the scroll issue with a recent update (3.10) from F-Droid. I cannot get the fix from the Play Store since I have Graphene OS on my Android phone. Would the update for me be through Graphene OS?

Actions #8

Updated by Soren Stoutner about 2 years ago

  • Subject changed from Unable to scroll any webpage with WebView >= 99.0.4844.48 to Unable to scroll any webpage with WebView = 99.0.4844.48

What source did you get WebView 99.0.4844.48 from?

Actions #9

Updated by Mike Reeves about 2 years ago

I have Vanadium 99.0.4844.48 from https://grapheneos.org/ which is the browser for Graphene OS. Vanadium comes with Graphene OS. I flashed my Android phone with Graphene OS. Graphene OS is a privacy and security oriented version of Android. Privacy Browser worked well with Graphene OS. The Vanadium browser has no way to turn off JavaScript or WebRTC so Privacy Browser is the only browser that can to my knowledge. I downloaded Privacy Browser from F-Droid. Graphene OS does not work with the Google Play Store. I have not compiled any software, I just install it from F-Droid which is enough for my use.

Actions #10

Updated by Soren Stoutner about 2 years ago

The only version of WebView released to the stable channel that had this bug was 99.0.4844.48. You can either upgrade or downgrade to a different version and it will resolve your problem. For example, WebView 99.0.4844.58 resolves the issue.

For more information, see https://bugs.chromium.org/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=1299753.

Actions #11

Updated by Soren Stoutner about 2 years ago

It looks like GrapheneOS already has a fixed build. https://grapheneos.org/releases#2022030501

Actions #12

Updated by Mike Reeves about 2 years ago

I have the "legacy" Pixel 3 with the "frozen" patch level I just noticed. F-Droid just now auto upgraded my Privacy Browser to 3.10.1 and the scroll issue is still there. I had been thinking about upgrading to a newer Pixel. Do you think this may help things?

Actions #13

Updated by Soren Stoutner about 2 years ago

If you look at the GrapheneOS changelog link I posted earlier, you will see that the fix is included for the legacy Pixel 3.

Actions #14

Updated by Mike Reeves about 2 years ago

The scrolling issue is resolved. My Graphene OS auto update feature updated just now to Build Number SP1A.210812.016.C1.2022030501 and that fixed this issue. Privacy Browser is back to normal. Thanks for the response and thanks for Privacy Browser.

Actions #15

Updated by Mike Reeves about 2 years ago

My version of Vanadium shows "Vanadium 99.0.4844.58". I saw the previous post about this version. Thanks again.

Actions #16

Updated by Soren Stoutner about 2 years ago

  • Status changed from In Progress to Closed

Android System WebView 99.0.4844.58 has reached wide distribution on Google Play.

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