What's new in Visual Studio docs

Welcome to what's new in Visual Studio docs. The following sections provide details on the previous three months of new and updated content.

January 2026

Azure

Updated articles

• Adding Azure Storage by using Visual Studio Connected Services - Fix link formatting in Azure Storage documentation
• Azure development with Visual Studio - Review and update
• Connect to Azure services, gRPC, OpenAPI, and more - Update MongoDB container links

Code quality

Updated articles

• Generate code metrics data
  • Update articles on calculating code metrics
  • Updated instructions for using Metrics.exe
• Use the Code Metrics window - Update articles on calculating code metrics
• Code analysis using .NET compiler platform (Roslyn) analyzers - Update screenshots

Containers

Updated articles

• Customize container volume mapping - Updates .NET 8 to .NET 10

Debugger

Updated articles

• Set debug and release configurations in Visual Studio - Update article on setting debug and release configurations
• C/C++ Assertions - Fix code in article on navigating code in the debugger
• Refactor debugger UI reference articles
  • Debug using the Just-In-Time Debugger in Visual Studio
  • Specify debugger options
  • Specify debug source files
  • Stop debugging in progress
  • View strings in a string visualizer in Visual Studio
  • Configure Windows Firewall for remote debugging
  • Edit and Continue (C++)
  • FAQ - Debugger feature finder
  • Tabular visualizers in Visual Studio
• IDiaSymbol12::get_atomicType - Add Copilot profiling info for .NET Counters
• Inspect an exception using the Exception Helper - Update Exception Helper article for Copilot
• Debugging techniques and tools to help you write better code - Update debugging techniques and tools

Designers

Updated articles

• Fix HDPI/scaling issues with Windows Forms Designer in Visual Studio - Clarify that ForceDesignerDpiUnaware is supported only in .NET 6+ Windows Forms projects

Extensibility

New articles

• Extension compatibility model for Visual Studio

IDE

New articles

• Configure C/C++ code analysis and error list options
• Configure Languages > C/C++ > IntelliSense options
• Configure Languages > C/C++ > Text editor options

Updated articles

• Refactor UI reference for text editor
  • Configure Visual Basic text editor options
  • Configure C# text editor advanced options
• Configure C/C++ code analysis and error list options
  • TOC updates for text editor options
  • Review and update
• Refactor IDE UI reference articles
  • Customize environment options for fonts and colors
  • Customize general environment options
  • Configure environment options for an account
  • Find and replace text in Visual Studio
  • Customize general text editor options
  • Options dialog box: Environment > Extensions
• View problem details for C/C++ - Refactor debugger UI ref articles
• Visual C++ IntelliSense features - Review and update
• Code style preferences and code cleanup - Review and update
• Make code work in Visual Studio - Review and update
• Change fonts, colors, and themes in Visual Studio - Review and update
• Define consistent coding styles with EditorConfig - Review and update
• View type and member definitions - Review and update
• What is Sticky Scroll for Visual Studio? - Review and update
• Options, Text Editor, C/C++, Advanced - Review and update
• Options, Text Editor, C/C++, View - Review and update
• What is the GitHub Copilot Chat experience for Visual Studio? - Update screenshots
• Get started with GitHub Copilot - Update screenshots
• Customize chat responses and set context - Update screenshots
• Get started with GitHub Copilot agent mode - Update screenshots
• Add your GitHub accounts to your Visual Studio keychain - Update screenshots
• Use MCP servers - Update screenshots
• Manage GitHub Copilot installation and state - Update screenshots
• Troubleshoot GitHub Copilot in Visual Studio - Update screenshots
• Find, install, and manage extensions for Visual Studio - Update screenshots
• Intellicode whole-line autocompletions - Add link to GitHub Copilot completions

JavaScript

Updated articles

• Tutorial: Add TypeScript to an existing ASP.NET Core app in Visual Studio - Update screenshots

Modeling

Updated articles

VM SDK doc and labs updated to Visual Studio 2022

• Validation in a Domain-Specific Language
• Get Started with Domain-Specific Languages
• Modeling SDK for Visual Studio - Domain-Specific Languages

MSBuild

Updated articles

• Common MSBuild project items - Enhance Aliases description for Reference and ProjectReference
• Build specific targets in solutions by using MSBuild.exe - Review and update
• Configure targets and tasks - Clarify UsingTask Runtime=NET support
• Troubleshoot assembly references - Clarify AssemblySearchPaths defaults for SDK-style projects

Profiling

Updated articles

• Profile your app with GitHub Copilot Profiler Agent - Add Copilot profiling info for .NET Counters
• Overview of the profiling tools (C#, Visual Basic, C++, F#) - Update screenshots

Python

Updated articles

• Automatically reformat Python code in Visual Studio - Review and update
• Options for Python in Visual Studio - Review and update

Test

Updated articles

• Use stubs to isolate parts of your application from each other for unit testing - Clarify target framework requirement in documentation
• Get started with unit testing - Update Copilot info in get started with unit testing
• Test Execution with Hot Reload - Review and update
• Create and run unit tests for .NET - Updates .NET 8 to .NET 10

Version control

Updated articles

• Git settings and preferences in Visual Studio - Review and update
• Push from Visual Studio to a remote branch - Explain options for push to remote
• Work with multiple repos - Review and update
• Stage lines of code in Visual Studio - Review and update

Community contributors

The following people contributed to the Visual Studio docs during this period. Thank you! Learn how to contribute by following the links under "Get involved" in the what's new landing page.

• fuguiKz - kz
• marxlumon -
• MFredX - Sachin Fernando
• PhilKang0704 - Phil
• ran-huang - Ran

December 2025

Debugger

New articles

• IDiaSymbol12::get_atomicType
• IDiaSymbol12::get_scalableRegisterType
• IDiaSymbol12
• ScalableVectorType

Updated articles

• Context Operator in the Visual Studio Debugger (C++) - Clarify usage for C++ context operator in the debugger
• Debug ASP.NET Exceptions - Clarify usage of exception settings for ASP.NET
• BasicType - Add new types to DIA SDK
• IDiaSymbol::get_length - Add new types to DIA SDK

Deployment

Updated articles

• Visual Studio Installer Projects Extension and .NET - Update images for Visual Studio 2026

Designers

Updated articles

• Fix HDPI/scaling issues with Windows Forms Designer in Visual Studio - Update for Visual Studio 2026

Get started

Updated articles

• Tutorial: Create a WPF application with C# - Update images for Visual Studio 2026
• Tutorial: Create a simple C# console app in Visual Studio (part 1 of 2) - Update images for Visual Studio 2026

IDE

New articles

• Configure Environment > Visual Experience options
• Configure advanced Text Editor options
• Configure IntelliSense options for C#

Updated articles

• Use MCP servers - MCP Updates with new way to add MCP server using registry
• Visual Studio Developer Command Prompt and Developer PowerShell - Update images for Visual Studio 2026
• What is GitHub Copilot Completions in Visual Studio? - Update images for Visual Studio 2026
• Options dialog: Text Editor > General - Update for Visual Studio 2026
• Options dialog box: Environment > General - Update for Visual Studio 2026
• Customize Visual Studio for working with projects and solutions
  • Update for Visual Studio 2026
  • Update UI reference articles
• Options, Text Editor, C/C++, Formatting - Update for Visual Studio 2026
• Configure advanced Text Editor options
  • Update for Visual Studio 2026
  • Update UI reference articles
• Options dialog box: Projects and Solutions > Build and Run - Update for Visual Studio 2026
• Find and Replace, Environment, Options Dialog Box - Update for Visual Studio 2026
• Find in Files Command - Correct versioning in some UI ref articles
• Toolbox - Update UI reference articles
• Sign in or switch Visual Studio user accounts - Update images for Visual Studio 2026
• Framework targeting overview - Update images for Visual Studio 2026
• Customize language options in the Text Editor - Update UI reference articles
• Use GitHub Copilot for free in Visual Studio - Update images for Visual Studio 2026
• Tutorial: Create a Windows Forms app in Visual Studio with C# - Update images for Visual Studio 2026

Install

Updated articles

• Visual Studio out-of-support components - Update out-of-support components list
• Repair Visual Studio - Update images for Visual Studio 2026
• Modify Visual Studio workloads, components, and language packs - Update images for Visual Studio 2026
• Uninstall or remove Visual Studio - Update images for Visual Studio 2026

JavaScript

Updated articles

• Tutorial: Create an ASP.NET Core app with Angular in Visual Studio - Update images for Visual Studio 2026
• Tutorial: Create an ASP.NET Core app with React in Visual Studio - Update images for Visual Studio 2026

MSBuild

Updated articles

• Visual Studio integration (MSBuild) - Document support for .msbuildproj extension
• Configure targets and tasks - Add some docs to cover .NET TaskHost features and limitations
• UsingTask element (MSBuild) - Add some docs to cover .NET TaskHost features and limitations

Profiling

New articles

• Boxed boolean allocations

Test

Updated articles

• Configure unit tests by using a .runsettings file - Update images for Visual Studio 2026
• Generate and run unit tests using GitHub Copilot testing for .NET
  • Clarify unit testing framework details for GitHub Copilot testing
  • Update GitHub Copilot testing for .NET
• Customize code coverage analysis - Fix placement of IncludeTestAssembly in sample .runsettings file

XAML tools

Updated articles

• XAML code editor - Update for Visual Studio 2026

Community contributors

The following people contributed to the Visual Studio docs during this period. Thank you! Learn how to contribute by following the links under "Get involved" in the what's new landing page.

• AdmiralSnyder - Alexander Gayko
• DiscoPYF - Pierre FARE

November 2025

Containers

Updated articles

• Configure HTTPS when deploying containerized applications to Azure - Service Fabric support note
• Visual Studio Container Tools
  • Service Fabric support note
  • Update images for Visual Studio 2026

Data tools

Updated articles

• Compatible database systems for Visual Studio - Review and update

Debugger

Updated articles

• Remote Debug ASP.NET Core on Azure App Service (Windows) - Update articles on Benchmark DotNet and remote debugging Azure App Service
• Debug your app with GitHub Copilot in Visual Studio - Add Copilot content for CodeLens and inspecting exceptions with repo context
• Inspect an exception using the Exception Helper - Add Copilot content for CodeLens and inspecting exceptions with repo context
• Update for new settings (Tools > Options) experience
  • Watch variables with Watch windows and QuickWatch
  • Visual C/C++ Custom Visualizer Compatibility
  • View threads and tasks in the Parallel Stacks window (C#, Visual Basic, C++)
  • Tell the debugger what to show using the DebuggerDisplay Attribute (C#, Visual Basic, F#, C++/CLI)
  • Dump files in the Visual Studio debugger
  • Tell the debugger what type to show using DebuggerTypeProxy Attribute (C#, Visual Basic, C++/CLI)
  • Supported Code Changes (C++)
  • Specify symbol (.pdb) and source files in the Visual Studio debugger (C#, C++, Visual Basic, F#)
  • Debug .NET Core on Linux using SSH by attaching to a process
  • Remote Debugging a C++ Project in Visual Studio
  • Output Window, Debugging, Options Dialog Box
  • Navigate through code by using the Visual Studio debugger
  • Use the Memory windows in the Visual Studio debugger (C#, C++, Visual Basic, F#)
  • Create a visual map of the call stack while debugging (C#, Visual Basic, C++, JavaScript)
  • Debug only user code with Just My Code
  • Just-In-Time, Debugging, Options Dialog Box
  • JIT Optimization and Debugging
  • View register values in the Registers window (C#, C++, Visual Basic, F#)
  • View disassembly code in the Visual Studio debugger (C#, C++, Visual Basic, F#)
  • Specify Debugger Settings
  • Configure Edit and Continue (C#, VB, C++)

Deployment

Updated articles

• Debug ClickOnce applications that use System.Deployment.Application - Update for new settings (Tools > Options) experience

Designers

Updated articles

• Update for new settings (Tools > Options) experience
  • Fix HDPI/scaling issues with Windows Forms Designer in Visual Studio
  • Scaling on your main display is set to X%

Extensibility

New articles

• Modernize theme colors

Updated articles

• VSIX extension schema 2.0 reference
  • Update ProductArchitecture info with corrections
  • Add ProductArchitecture element to VSIX schema reference
• Update a Visual Studio extension - Restructure "upgrade extension" instructions for better version switching
• Upgrade your Visual Studio extension - Restructure "upgrade extension" instructions for better version switching
• VSIX Color Compiler - Added instructions for migrating theme to Visual Studio 2026
• Update for new settings (Tools > Options) experience
  • Options and Options Pages
  • Walkthrough: Create a margin glyph
  • Customizing editor behavior by using Language Configuration
  • Extend the status bar
  • Create a basic project system, part 2

Get started

Updated articles

• Tutorial: Get started with C# and ASP.NET Core in Visual Studio - Update images for Visual Studio 2026
• Welcome to the Visual Studio IDE | Visual Basic - Update for new settings (Tools > Options) experience

IDE

New articles

• Certificate revocation
• Visual Studio settings

Updated articles

• Use MCP servers - MCP Server content updates
• Locate and organize project and item templates - Review and update
• Productivity guide for Visual Studio - Add adaptive paste to productivity guide
• Customize chat responses and set context
  • Add custom instructions, targeted instruction files
  • Add Visual Studio 2026 Copilot actions section
• Manage chat context with references
  • Add custom instructions, targeted instruction files
  • Add Copilot memories
• Get started with GitHub Copilot - Add custom instructions, targeted instruction files
• How Copilot Chat understands and uses context - Add Copilot memories
• Update for new settings (Tools > Options) experience
  • Synchronize Visual Studio settings across multiple computers - Update for new Visual Studio settings experience
  • Customize the Visual Studio IDE - Update for new Visual Studio settings experience
  • /LCID (devenv.exe)
  • IntelliSense completion for unimported types and extension methods
  • Manage word wrap in the editor
  • Display URLs as Links in the Editor
  • Display line numbers in the editor
  • Visual Studio Developer Command Prompt and Developer PowerShell
  • Tutorial: Build an application
  • AI assistance when you write code
  • Visual Studio performance tips and tricks
  • Manage GitHub Copilot installation and state
  • What is GitHub Copilot Completions in Visual Studio?
  • Configure a C++ project for IntelliSense
  • Use Task List with code comments and shortcuts
  • Configure trust settings for files and folders
  • What are solutions and projects in Visual Studio?
  • Collect an ETL trace with PerfView and create minidumps with all call stacks
  • Quick Actions
  • Configure indent and tab settings in Visual Studio
  • Troubleshoot and create logs for MSBuild problems
  • User permissions and Visual Studio
  • IntelliCode: AI-assisted code development in Visual Studio
  • View, save, and configure build log files
  • View and edit code by using Peek Definition (Alt+F12)
  • Set multiple startup projects
  • Find references in your code
  • Find in Files
  • Customize window layouts and personalize tabs
  • Customize startup
  • Get started with GitHub Copilot Next Edit Suggestions
• Update images for Visual Studio 2026
  • Report a problem with the Visual Studio product or installer
  • Add or remove references by using the Reference Manager
  • Compare files in Visual Studio
• Editor margin feature
  • Encodings and line endings
  • Save and open files with encoding
  • Features of the code editor
  • Get started with GitHub Copilot agent mode
  • Build and clean projects and solutions in Visual Studio
  • Set AutoRecover options

Install

New articles

• Prepare to build with Setup Assistant

Updated articles

• Automatically apply product keys when deploying Visual Studio
  • Updates MPC for Visual Studio 2026 keys
  • Update Admin Install guide
• Update workload and component docs for Visual Studio 2026
  • Visual Studio workload and component IDs
  • Visual Studio Build Tools component directory
  • Visual Studio Community component directory
  • Visual Studio Enterprise component directory
  • Visual Studio Professional component directory
  • Visual Studio Team Explorer component directory
  • Visual Studio Test Agent component directory
  • Visual Studio Test Controller component directory
• Update Admin Install guide
  • Applying administrator updates that use Microsoft Endpoint Manager (SCCM or Intune)
  • Configure installation default settings using a response file
  • Command-line parameter examples for Visual Studio installation
  • Configure policies for enterprise deployments of Visual Studio
  • Create and maintain a network installation of Visual Studio
  • Deploy Visual Studio from a layout onto a client machine
  • Configure feedback Group Policies
  • Install Visual Studio versions side-by-side
  • Install Visual Studio
  • Tools for detecting and managing Visual Studio instances
  • Update a Visual Studio client that was installed from a layout
  • Update Visual Studio using a minimal offline layout
  • Update Visual Studio
  • Use command-line parameters to install, update, and manage Visual Studio
  • Visual Studio administrator guide

JavaScript

Updated articles

• Tutorial: Create an ASP.NET Core app with React in Visual Studio - Update publishing steps for ASP.NET Core and Vue
• Tutorial: Create an ASP.NET Core app with Vue in Visual Studio - Update publishing steps for ASP.NET Core and Vue
• Update for new settings (Tools > Options) experience
  • Overview of the Visual Studio IDE for JavaScript
  • Debug a JavaScript or TypeScript app in Visual Studio

MSBuild

Updated articles

• Review and update
  • Run tasks or targets in batches based on item metadata
  • Customize all .NET builds
• Update for new settings (Tools > Options) experience
  • MSB3821 diagnostic code
  • MSB3023 diagnostic code
  • MSB3501 diagnostic code
  • MSB3721 diagnostic code
  • MSB3941 diagnostic code
  • MSB4232 diagnostic code
  • Troubleshoot COM references

Profiling

Updated articles

• Analyze BenchmarkDotNet data in Visual Studio
  • Update articles on Benchmark DotNet and remote debugging Azure App Service
  • Add Copilot content for CodeLens and inspecting exceptions with repo context
• Optimizing Profiler settings - Update for new settings (Tools > Options) experience
• Profile your app with GitHub Copilot Profiler Agent
  • Refocus profiling Copilot article on agent scenario
  • Versioning updates for profiling with Copilot
  • Add Copilot content for CodeLens and inspecting exceptions with repo context
• Overview of the profiling tools (C#, Visual Basic, C++, F#) - Versioning updates for profiling with Copilot

Python

Updated articles

• Update for new settings (Tools > Options) experience
  • Quickstart: Clone a repository of Python code in Visual Studio
  • Tutorial: Run code in the Visual Studio Debugger
  • Tutorial: Work with the Django web framework in Visual Studio
  • Tutorial: Work with the Flask web framework in Visual Studio
  • Install debugging symbols for Python interpreters in Visual Studio
  • Debug Python and C++ together in Visual Studio
• Update images for Visual Studio 2026
  • Create and manage Python environments in Visual Studio
  • Install Python support in Visual Studio

Test

New articles

• Overview of GitHub Copilot testing for .NET
• Generate and run unit tests using GitHub Copilot testing for .NET

Updated articles

• Overview of testing tools in Visual Studio - Fixes to IntelliSense article
• Testing tools in Visual Studio # Required; page title displayed in search results. Include the brand. < 60 chars.
  • Add new article for GitHub Copilot testing in .NET
• Update versioning related to create unit tests command
  • Create unit test method stubs from code
  • Unit test basics - Update versioning related to create unit tests command
  • Unit test tools and tasks - Update versioning related to create unit tests command
  • Create and run unit tests for .NET - Update versioning related to create unit tests command
• Update for new settings (Tools > Options) experience
  • Visual Studio Test Explorer FAQ
  • Configure and use Live Unit Testing
  • Configure unit tests by using a .runsettings file

Workflow designer

Updated articles

• Set breakpoints in workflows - Updates for new settings (Tools > Options) experience

XAML tools

Updated articles

• Updates for new settings (Tools > Options) experience
  • XAML Hot Reload and its impact on performance diagnostic in Visual Studio
  • Use design-time sample data with the XAML Designer in Visual Studio
  • Configure XAML Designer options in Visual Studio
  • XAML data binding diagnostics
  • Design XAML in Visual Studio and Blend for Visual Studio

Version control

Updated articles

• Manage Git repositories in Visual Studio - Add a tip for restoring the Git Repository window on restart
• Update images for Visual Studio 2026
  • About Git in Visual Studio
  • Clone a Git repository in Visual Studio
  • Resolve merge conflicts in Visual Studio
• Updates for new settings (Tools > Options) experience
  • About Git in Visual Studio
  • Make a Git commit in Visual Studio
  • Create a pull request in Visual Studio

Community contributors

The following people contributed to the Visual Studio docs during this period. Thank you! Learn how to contribute by following the links under "Get involved" in the what's new landing page.

• PhilKang0704 - Phil