Microsoft uses WebView2 to provide users with Outlook features that are the same across all platforms. The process is absolutely necessary for important functions. Nor should you go about ending the tasks when you see them in your Task Manager next time. So, the fact that you didn’t install it should not worry you. Microsoft started automatically installing it on machines that have Version 2101 or later installed for Microsoft 365 apps. And it uses Microsoft Edge as a rendering engine to do so. WebView2 is used to provide web-based features in Microsoft 365 desktop applications. Microsoft Edge WebView2 is a Runtime installation that Microsoft began installing on devices earlier this year. Why is WebView2 Runtime Installed on my Device? So, let’s see exactly what it is and why there’s no need to freak out. It can be confusing not knowing what this runtime process is, how is it related to Microsoft Edge or why is it taking up resources on your computer. Of course, you’re going to have a freak-out session. But even then, you keep finding the ‘Microsoft Edge Webview2’ process (or even multiple processes) running in your Task Manager. Better yet, you don’t even have Microsoft Edge on your computer at the moment. You’re not currently using Microsoft Edge for anything on your computer. If it seems like this Runtime process appeared out of nowhere, it did.

Ms edge webview2 runtime