Issues that appear only with a specific runtime version can be harder to reproduce because the runtime auto-updates.

IT admins must pre-deploy the runtime via SCCM or WSUS. Fixed version is easier for offline golden images.

The runtime is Microsoft’s distribution model where a single, system-wide version of the WebView2 control is automatically updated (independently of your app). This contrasts with the Fixed Version (bundling WebView2 with your app).

: With automatic updates, you ensure that any known vulnerabilities in the rendering engine or associated libraries are patched, keeping your application and its users secure.

When packaging your application, you generally have two options for ensuring the runtime is present: