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How to tweak Android WebView for better performance

Why does the performance suck on Android TV?

Note

  • You don't need to follow this guide if your device can play xCloud without any problem!
  • This guide is recommended for Android TV devices

Steps to setup

Follow this guide to improve the performance of Android WebView inside the Better xCloud app and make it useable.

Info

This guide has been tested on these devices:

  • ✅ Working:
    • Amazon Fire TV Stick 4k/4k Max: 1080p/High/WebGL2/AMD FidelityFX CAS
    • Chromecast with Google TV 4k: 720p/High
    • Xiaomi TV Box 4k 2nd gen: 1080p/High
    • onn. Google TV 4K Streaming Box (2023): 1080p/High
  • ❌ Not working:
    • Most, if not all TCL TVs

If your device isn't in the list above, try to follow the guide and report back the result. Thanks.

  1. Install Android app

  2. Open the Better xCloud app, then go to the App settings

  3. Enable Optimize WebView performance setting

    Info

    This will automatically set these flags in the WebView:

    • ignore-gpu-blocklist: ✅ Enabled
    • WebViewThreadSafeMedia: ✅ Enabled
    • WebViewSurfaceControl: ✅ Enabled
    • WebViewSurfaceControlForTV: ✅ Enabled
    • WebRtcCombinedNetworkAndWorkerThread: ❌ Disabled

  4. Open WebView Manager > Downloader, then download and install any of these WebViews:

    • Thorium WebView: best WebView if your device supports it
    • Mulch WebView

  5. After installing, switch back to the Installed tab, press Refresh, then select the recently installed WebView.

  6. Close the Settings screen, force close Better xCloud app, then re-open it.

  7. Set these Better xCloud script's settings:

    • Disable xCloud analytics: Enable
    • User-Agent: Android TV

    Save and reload the site

  8. Done. Now you can play a game and see the result.

  9. If it's still unplayable:

    • Open Stream settings, try changing Video's renderer to WebGL2. There are reports that doing this makes it playable on TCL TVs.
    • Try Kiwi Browser
    • Buy a better device