Windows build fails to load webview2.dll #2

New Issue

rattatwinko · 2025-08-28T21:37:44Z

rattatwinko commented

2025-08-28 21:37:44 +00:00

Description:
Currently, the Windows build produced by our Gitea CI pipeline throws the error:

webview2.dll cannot be loaded

This happens because:

The pipeline cross-compiles on Linux using the x86_64-pc-windows-gnu target.
The WebView2 runtime is not bundled with the binary, and Windows machines without it installed cannot run the app.

Why this matters:
Tauri requires WebView2 to function on Windows. Without it, our .exe artifacts are unusable on fresh Windows installations.

Possible solutions:

Bundle bootstrapper (recommended):
Update src-tauri/tauri.conf.json to embed the WebView2 bootstrapper so the app auto-installs WebView2 at first launch:

{
  "tauri": {
    "windows": {
      "webviewInstallMode": {
        "type": "embedBootstrapper",
        "silent": true,
        "installHooks": true
      }
    }
  }
}

Ship installer separately:
Download the Evergreen WebView2 installer (MicrosoftEdgeWebview2Setup.exe) during CI and include it in the release artifacts.
Long term:
If possible, add a Windows runner and build with x86_64-pc-windows-msvc for maximum compatibility.

Acceptance Criteria:

Running the .exe on a clean Windows VM should not fail with a missing webview2.dll.
Either the app bundles the bootstrapper or the release artifacts include the installer.

**Description:** Currently, the Windows build produced by our Gitea CI pipeline throws the error: ``` webview2.dll cannot be loaded ``` This happens because: 1. The pipeline cross-compiles on Linux using the `x86_64-pc-windows-gnu` target. 2. The WebView2 runtime is **not bundled** with the binary, and Windows machines without it installed cannot run the app. **Why this matters:** Tauri requires WebView2 to function on Windows. Without it, our `.exe` artifacts are unusable on fresh Windows installations. **Possible solutions:** * **Bundle bootstrapper (recommended):** Update `src-tauri/tauri.conf.json` to embed the WebView2 bootstrapper so the app auto-installs WebView2 at first launch: ```json { "tauri": { "windows": { "webviewInstallMode": { "type": "embedBootstrapper", "silent": true, "installHooks": true } } } } ``` * **Ship installer separately:** Download the Evergreen WebView2 installer (`MicrosoftEdgeWebview2Setup.exe`) during CI and include it in the release artifacts. * **Long term:** If possible, add a Windows runner and build with `x86_64-pc-windows-msvc` for maximum compatibility. **Acceptance Criteria:** * Running the `.exe` on a clean Windows VM should **not** fail with a missing `webview2.dll`. * Either the app bundles the bootstrapper or the release artifacts include the installer.

Screenshot 2025-08-28 233827.png

15 KiB

rattatwinko changed title from **Title:** Windows build fails to load `webview2.dll` to Windows build fails to load `webview2.dll`

2025-08-28 21:37:53 +00:00

rattatwinko closed this issue

2025-08-29 00:24:57 +00:00

rattatwinko commented

2025-08-29 00:25:43 +00:00

this is a known issue on debloated installs default windows handles this fine.
run web or some different version if you debloated windows.

tldr:
if you want to run bytechat dont debloat

this is a known issue on debloated installs default windows handles this fine. run web or some different version if you debloated windows. tldr: if you want to run bytechat dont debloat

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Reference: rattatwinko/bytechat-desktop#2

Windows build fails to load webview2.dll #2

Windows build fails to load `webview2.dll` #2