Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime 151.0.4129.59 for Windows

Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime 151.0.4129.59 is a free Windows component from Microsoft that lets desktop apps show web content with the engine of the Microsoft Edge browser. You usually download WebView2 Runtime for Windows only when an app asks for it or fails to start without it.

Specifications

What the runtime does

Many modern Windows programs are partly built with web technologies. Instead of shipping their own copy of a browser engine, they rely on WebView2, a shared component that renders pages, forms and interfaces inside the app window. For the user, the runtime is invisible: there is no icon in the Start menu and nothing to open. You notice it only when it is missing, because an app then shows an error, a blank window or a request to install WebView2. The runtime shares its engine with Microsoft Edge, so it gets the same web platform and security fixes as the browser, but it works separately from it. Removing Edge does not remove the runtime, and the runtime does not change your default browser. Microsoft explains the component for regular users on its official WebView2 page, which is also where you get the installer.

Supported systems

Microsoft's supported operating systems list for Edge covers:

• Windows 10 SAC 1709 and later, plus the Enterprise LTSC editions 2015, 2016, 2019 and 2021;
• Windows 11, including Enterprise multi-session and IoT Enterprise 2024 LTSC;
• Windows Server 2016, 2019, 2022 and 2025.

How to install it

1. Open the official WebView2 page and choose the installer for regular users.
2. Run it; setup needs no settings and finishes on its own.
3. Restart the app that asked for WebView2.

If an app still complains, check in Settings, Apps whether the runtime is listed, and repair it from there before reinstalling.

Safety

Get the runtime only from Microsoft. Third-party sites that bundle it with other installers add risk for no benefit, since the official package is free. It is normal to see WebView2 processes in Task Manager while an app that uses it is open.

When an app asks for WebView2

Setup programs of some apps check for the runtime and install it quietly; others only show a message on first start. If you work on a PC without internet access, download the standalone installer from the official page on another computer and copy it over. In a company network, the administrator usually deploys the runtime together with other components.

Can I remove it?

You can, but apps that rely on it will stop working correctly, and some programs install it again on their next start. Leave it in place unless you are troubleshooting.

Pros and cons

• Pro: free and maintained by Microsoft.
• Pro: one shared component for many apps.
• Con: invisible, so it is hard to tell which program needs it.
• Con: takes disk space even if only one app uses it.

Release notes

Changes are published in the WebView2 Runtime release notes.