Sony Android TV KD-49XG9005 - YouView and related apps not working, Disney+ not streaming

[zsc0re]

I have a Sony Android TV KD-49XG9005.  It has been working flawlessley for a couple of years now.  

Yesterday, I turned on the TV and I could not launch YouView or any of the related streaming apps e.g. iPlayer, ITV, Channel4.  TV broadcast works fine but pressing the guide button does not cause the guide to appear. 

Prime, Netflix, YouTube, YouTube kids all work fine.  Disney+ launches but when I press play on the film, I am returned to the Android TV home screen.  Very odd.  

I did a factory reset, set up the TV again from scratch.  All good.  YouView working with all apps.  Disney+ working.  Turned off TV, went to bed.  Woke up in the morning, turned on TV, now the same problem is back.  YouView is not working, related streaming apps not working.  

This is really confusing me as I can't see what has changed between turning TV off and on.  As I say, this problem only just started occurring in the last 48 hours after 2 years of no issues. Two factory resets and still the same issue so looking for help from the community.

Suspect an app update is breaking something in the OS or YouView?

Thanks

Ben

[SkyNet404]

With ITVX launching one would assume it's YouView yes, just make sure it's updated, re-tune the channels and disable/enable YouView and test it once more, hopefully it keeps working well. 

[zsc0re]

@miedwar42 fairly sure I have figured out root cause.

I was curious about the updates so investigated Google Store Updates.  on 1st December, there is an update called Android System Webview (Beta).  Now, I do enrol in the beta on my phone but didn't appreciate that the beta versions would be applied to my TV using the same Google identity.  I can only think that the beta (as you would expect) has a bug in the latest build.  I uninstalled this update and now YouView is working, with Guide, plus YouView apps, and Disney+ is now working.   I need to figure out how to unenrol from the beta Webview beta package on my TV / stop it installing again.  

Not sure if this helps you or anyone else with the similar problem but this was my resolution.  Uninstall Android System Webview (Beta) "Android WebView is a pre-installed system component from Google that allows Android apps to display web content"

[miedwar42]

As you did say, with nothing else installed after factory reset, it did indeed break again. 

I'll try the webview uninstall 

[AWOL1969]

Had same issue on 2 Android Bravia TVs.

Is webview beta.

Had to go in on phone through app store. Select webview and will say you are in the beta program.

Click on it and choose to leave.

On TV select apps. Webview. Clear cache and uninstall updates.

You will be good to go

[SkyNet404]

That's good to know guys! Didn't see that before. 

[zsc0re]

Ok so the problem is back again.  I have unenroled from the webview beta but something else is an issue.  I've lost access to YouView and related apps again (iplayer etc will not launch).  Prime, Netflix, YouTune all ok.  

Investigating again....

[Piscie]

Hey @zsc0re, try to remove the aerial and retune the channels while the aerial is removed, then re-insert the aerial and retune the channels again and check how it goes. Also make sure that YouView is enabled (settings - watching TV - channels - Channel setup - YouView setup - enable YouView)

[zsc0re]

Resolved - it's my good friend Android System Webview again.  Uninstalled and re-installed and all is now working again.  I think the beta version did not remove correctly.