What’s Going Wrong With Gmail and Chrome on Android?
This advisory explains a set of critical Gmail and Chrome bugs on Android devices that are making emails unreadable, blocking browser access, and forcing users to rely on temporary workarounds until Google ships permanent fixes. Many Android users on tablets, foldables, and larger screens are reporting Gmail unreadable emails, including flickering displays, blank content, or text that refuses to render correctly. At the same time, a separate Chrome Android tablet bug is locking people out of their main browser with a false warning that they already have too many windows open. Both problems appear tied to how Android System WebView and recent Chrome updates handle content rendering and multi-window behavior. Until patches arrive, users need practical Android browser fixes that keep them reading mail and browsing securely without losing data.
Gmail’s Flickering, Unreadable Emails and WebView Workarounds
On some Android tablets and foldables, the Gmail app opens but emails flicker or vanish, leaving the screen partially blank or unreadable. Reports highlight Samsung models and at least one Lenovo tablet, pointing to a rendering issue on larger displays rather than a single brand fault. A Google Product Expert has linked the problem to Android System WebView, the component that draws web content inside apps. According to TechRepublic, switching screen orientation can temporarily fix a message: open an email, rotate to landscape, then back to portrait to force a fresh render. Other WebView workaround options include updating Android System WebView and Chrome through the Play Store, clearing WebView’s cache, or uninstalling WebView updates to roll back to a more stable build. These steps provide short-term relief, but the bug may return until Google pushes an official Gmail and WebView patch.
The Chrome Android Tablet Bug Blocking Your Browser
A separate Chrome Android tablet bug is preventing users from opening the browser at all. After tapping the Chrome icon, some tablets show a message saying “You can have up to 5 windows” and then immediately crash back to the home screen, even when no other windows or apps are open. Android Authority notes that this behavior is heavily reported on Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE, Tab S6 Lite, and other models, but Lenovo and Xiaomi tablets are affected too. Evidence points to Chrome’s recent update, around version 148.0.7778.178, and its new multi-window handling miscounting closed windows and assuming the user has hit the five-window limit. Google has marked this as a high-priority issue and is collecting device and version details via Chrome’s Issue Tracker and Reddit. Until a fix rolls out, users need alternative Android browser fixes to stay online.
Immediate Fixes: Downgrades, WebView Tweaks, and Alternative Browsers
While Google works on patches, there are several practical steps you can take to keep working. For Gmail unreadable emails, focus on WebView workarounds: update Android System WebView and Chrome, clear their caches, and test screen rotation when a message fails to render. If Gmail continues to flicker, consider accessing mail through a mobile browser instead of the app. For the Chrome Android tablet bug, some users report that uninstalling recent Chrome updates from the Play Store restores the factory version and allows the browser to open again, but downgrading can remove unsynced tabs or local data. A safer path is to switch to an alternative browser—such as a privacy-focused option highlighted by Android Police—until Chrome’s update is fixed. Staying signed into your Google account in these browsers preserves sync while avoiding the broken builds.
When Fixes Are Coming and How to Stay Safe Online
Google has acknowledged both the Gmail rendering issues and the Chrome multi-window crash, and engineers are actively investigating them as high-priority bugs. That means official patches for Gmail, Android System WebView, and Chrome are likely to roll out through the Play Store, without needing a full system update. In the meantime, treat any downgrade or cache-clearing step with care, especially if you rely on local drafts, offline mail, or unsynced tabs. Back up critical data and confirm your Google account sync is working before you experiment. When updates appear, install them promptly and restart your device to ensure the fixes apply cleanly. If problems persist, keep using alternative browsers and, where possible, the web version of Gmail until the broken builds are fully replaced and Android browser fixes prove stable on your device.