Evergreen Webview2 Patched Jun 2026
Many beginners assume Windows comes with WebView2. It does not (as of Windows 11 22H2, it's preinstalled, but on Windows 10 and older builds, it's missing). Always implement bootstrapper fallback.
You can find the official links on the Microsoft Edge WebView2 "Download the WebView2 Runtime" page. You should choose the "Evergreen Standalone Installer" option matching your target architecture (X64, X86, or ARM64).
Because Evergreen WebView2 aligns with the Microsoft Edge update cadence, it receives rapid security patches. When a new vulnerability is found in the Chromium engine, your app is protected shortly after Edge updates, without requiring you to recompile or update your application. 2. Modern Web Standards
There are two primary ways to distribute the Evergreen Runtime: A. Evergreen Bootstrapper Microsoft Edge WebView2
It receives automatic updates, including security patches and new web standards, just like the Microsoft Edge browser. evergreen webview2
Developers can use the latest JavaScript features (ES6+), CSS Grid, WebAssembly, and modern web APIs without worrying about broken rendering or deprecated standards. If it works in Microsoft Edge, it works in your WebView2 app. 3. Reduced Application Size
: Since the runtime is shared across all WebView2-powered apps on a system, it consumes significantly less space than the "Fixed Version" model. Optimal Performance
<Window x:Class="MyApp.MainWindow" ... xmlns:wv2="clr-namespace:Microsoft.Web.WebView2.Wpf;assembly=Microsoft.Web.WebView2.Wpf"> <Grid> <wv2:WebView2 Name="webView" /> </Grid> </Window>
: The runtime receives the same security and feature updates as the Microsoft Edge Stable channel without requiring action from the developer. Many beginners assume Windows comes with WebView2
No technology is perfect. The Evergreen model has three specific drawbacks you must consider.
dotnet add package Microsoft.Web.WebView2
However, the true power of WebView2 lies not just in its performance, but in its distribution model: . This article explores what Evergreen WebView2 is, why it's the recommended approach for developers, and how it transforms application maintenance and security. What is Evergreen WebView2?
Use NuGet to install Microsoft.Web.WebView2 . Add to XAML: You can find the official links on the
The killer feature. You don’t ship WebView2 binaries. Microsoft pushes security/feature updates via Windows Update. No need to rebuild your app for new Chromium features or security patches.
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
Distribute your app and the WebView2 Runtime - Microsoft Learn
First launch of WebView2 in a session can be slower than a native control, as the runtime initializes Chromium processes (~50-100ms extra). Caching helps.
