Web Engine

1. Enable JavaScript

When enabled, the WebView can execute JavaScript code on web pages. This is required for most modern websites to function properly.

Android API: WebSettings#setJavaScriptEnabled(boolean)

Default: true

2. Enable DOM Storage

When enabled, websites can use DOM storage APIs such as localStorage and sessionStorage. Useful for saving data client-side in the browser context.

Android API: WebSettings#setDomStorageEnabled(boolean)

Default: true

3. Accept Cookies

When enabled, the WebView allows websites to store and read cookies. This includes first-party cookies that persist session or preference data.

Android API: CookieManager#setAcceptCookie(boolean)

Default: true

4. Accept Third-party Cookies

When enabled, third-party websites (embedded in iframes or resources) are allowed to set cookies. This is important for services like embedded analytics or login widgets.

Android API: CookieManager#setAcceptThirdPartyCookies(android.webkit.WebView, boolean)

Default: false

5. Cache Mode

Controls how the WebView uses its cache when loading pages. Options:

Default (LOAD_DEFAULT) - Normal caching behavior; the WebView decides when to use cached content.
Cache else network (LOAD_CACHE_ELSE_NETWORK) - Uses cached content if available; otherwise fetches from network.
No cache (LOAD_NO_CACHE) - Always fetches from the network; ignores cached content.
Cache only (LOAD_CACHE_ONLY) - Only loads content from cache; network requests are skipped.

Android API: WebSettings#LOAD_CACHE_ELSE_NETWORK

Default: LOAD_DEFAULT

6. User Agent

The User Agent string controls how the web engine identifies itself to websites. Some sites may behave differently depending on this value.

Leave blank to use the system default User Agent.

Android API: WebSettings#setUserAgentString(java.lang.String)

Default: (blank)

7. Layout Algorithm

Controls how the WebView arranges and scales content. Options:

Normal - No rendering changes. Recommended for maximum compatibility across different platforms and Android versions.
Single Column - Moves all content into one column that is the width of the view. Deprecated in API 29
Narrow Columns - Makes all columns no wider than the screen if possible. Only use for API levels prior to KitKat. Deprecated in API 29
Text Autosizing - Boosts font size of paragraphs based on heuristics to make text readable in wide-viewport layouts. Recommended to enable zoom support. Supported from API level KitKat.

Android API: WebSettings.LayoutAlgorithm

Default: NORMAL

8. Use Wide ViewPort

When enabled, the WebView will use a viewport wide enough to fit the content as if viewed on a desktop browser.

Android API: WebSettings#setUseWideViewPort(boolean)

Default: true

9. Load With Overview Mode

When enabled, the WebView scales the page so that the content fits on screen initially.

Android API: WebSettings#setLoadWithOverviewMode(boolean)

Default: true

10. Zoom

10.1. Support Zoom

Sets whether the WebView should support zooming using its on-screen zoom controls and gestures.

Android API: WebSettings#setSupportZoom(boolean)

Default: true

10.2. Built In Zoom Controls

Sets whether the WebView should use its built-in zoom mechanisms.

The built-in zoom mechanisms comprise on-screen zoom controls, which are displayed over the WebView's content, and the use of a pinch gesture to control zooming.

Android API: WebSettings#setBuiltInZoomControls(boolean)

Default: true

10.3. Display Zoom Controls

Sets whether the WebView should display on-screen zoom controls when using the built-in zoom mechanisms.

Android API: WebSettings#setDisplayZoomControls(boolean)

Default: false

10.4. Initial Scale

Sets the initial scale for this WebView as a percentage. 0 means default.

The behavior for the default scale depends on the state of

useWideViewPort
loadWithOverviewMode

If the content fits into the WebView control by width, the zoom is set to 100%.

For wide content, the behaviour depends on the state of loadWithOverviewMode. If its value is true, the content will be zoomed out to be fit by width into the WebView control, otherwise not.

If initial scale is greater than 0, WebView starts with this value as initial scale. Please note that unlike the scale properties in the viewport meta tag, this method doesn't take the screen density into account.

Android API: WebView#setInitialScale(int)

Default: 0

11. File Access

These settings are insecure and deprecated.

To access file:// URLs, you will also need to enable Web Content -> Allow Local Files, which will set WebSettings#setAllowFileAccess(boolean) accordingly.

11.1. Allow File Access from File URLs

This method was deprecated in API level 30.

Sets whether cross-origin requests in the context of a file scheme URL should be allowed to access content from other file scheme URLs. Note that some accesses such as image HTML elements don't follow same-origin rules and aren't affected by this setting.

Don't enable this setting if you open files that may be created or altered by external sources. Enabling this setting allows malicious scripts loaded in a file:// context to access arbitrary local files including WebView cookies and app private data.

Android API: WebSettings#setAllowFileAccessFromFileURLs(boolean)

Default: false

11.2. Allow Universal Access from File URLs

This method was deprecated in API level 30.

Sets whether cross-origin requests in the context of a file scheme URL should be allowed to access content from any origin. This includes access to content from other file scheme URLs or web contexts. Note that some access such as image HTML elements doesn't follow same-origin rules and isn't affected by this setting.

Don't enable this setting if you open files that may be created or altered by external sources. Enabling this setting allows malicious scripts loaded in a file:// context to launch cross-site scripting attacks, either accessing arbitrary local files including WebView cookies, app private data or even credentials used on arbitrary web sites.

Android API: WebSettings#setAllowUniversalAccessFromFileURLs(boolean)

Default: false

12. Media Playback Requires User Gesture

Sets whether the WebView requires a user gesture (e.g. tap) to play media.

Android API: WebSettings#setUseWideViewPort(boolean)

Default: true

13. SSL Error Mode

Configure the action to take when an SSL Error is received.

Mode	Description
Block	Cancels all failed SSL requests.
Prompt	Opens a dialog for the user to decide.
Proceed	Always proceeds despite SSL errors (dangerous, NOT RECOMMENDED).

Default: Block

14. Mixed Content Mode

Configures the WebView's behavior when a secure origin attempts to load a resource from an insecure origin.

Mode	Description
Never Allow	Blocks any mixed content from insecure origins. This is the safest and recommended mode.
Compatibility Mode	Allows mixed content in a backward-compatible way, depending on Android version. Use with caution.
Always Allow	Loads mixed content from insecure origins without restriction. Strongly discouraged for security reasons.

Android API: WebSettings#setMixedContentMode(int)

Default: Never Allow

15. Over Scroll Mode

Configures the WebView's behavior when the user scrolls beyond the content boundaries.

Mode	Description
Always	Allows over-scroll effect regardless of content size.
If Content Scrolls	Allow over-scrolling only if the view content is larger than the container.
Never	Prevents any over-scroll effect.

Android API: WebView#setOverScrollMode(int)

Default: If Content Scrolls

16. Request Focus On Page Start

Sets whether the WebView should request focus when a page starts loading.

Android API: WebView#requestFocus(int, android.graphics.Rect)

Default: true

Web Engine

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