Google Chrome bug deletes data from Android phones: what you need to know

Google slams on the brakes

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The latestGoogleChrome update, which brings the browser up to version 79, contains a serious bug that’s deleting app data from some Android devices.

The update had already been sent out to half of all Chrome users on Android, but Google has paused the rollout while it investigates the problem and works out a suitable fix.

AsAndroid Policereports, the issue involves WebView, which is the component that renders webpages in other apps, such as Facebook and Twitter. These apps don’t have their own browsers, so they use Chrome to do the job for them.

One of the changes made in Chrome 79 involved the location of some web data, but not all data was migrated across properly, as a comment onthe Chromium bug pageexplains.

This meant that, when users updated to Chrome 79, this web data became inaccessible. That’s not a major issue for some apps, but for ones likeTwitter Lite, which are effectively web apps that run entirely in WebView, it’s a real nuisance.

What happens now

The troublesome update has already reached 50% of users, but Google has confirmed that it’s paused the rollout while it decides what action to take. According to a commenton the Chromium blog, it’s considering two options: either continuing the migration and moving the files to their new locations (as originally intended) or undoing the change and putting them back where they were previously.

It’s tough to know exactly which apps are affected, because they don’t typically advertise how they use WebView, but data stored online will be safe, and hopefully the problem will be rectified within the next couple of days.

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Cat is TechRadar’s Homes Editor specializing in kitchen appliances and smart home technology. She’s been a tech journalist for 15 years, and is here to help you choose the right devices for your home and do more with them. When not working she’s a keen home baker, and makes a pretty mean macaron.

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