Refactoring at scale is a time-consuming and error-prone process for developers. In large codebases, developers have relied on manual searches and incremental edits across multiple files to accomplish these tasks. Modern development workflows depend on fast and accurate code navigation to avoid these pitfalls. When developers refactor existing code, explore unfamiliar areas of a large […]
The post Unlock language-specific rich symbol context using new find_symbol tool appeared first on Visual Studio Blog.

After a busy January (catch up here), we’re shifting focus to reliability and refinement. This month is about tightening core workflows, improving agent stability, and building on the MCP foundations we’ve been laying. Agent Mode & Coding Agents Reliability is the priority this month. We’re raising the floor on agent-driven scenarios with: Better progress and […]
The post Roadmap for AI in Visual Studio (February) appeared first on Visual Studio Blog.

If you use editor productivity extensions for Visual Studio 2026, there’s good news—they can now load faster! Extension developers with existing MEF-based editor productivity extensions should read this blog to learn about recent changes and how they might be affected.  We introduced VisualStudio.Extensibility to simplify the creation of Visual Studio extensions for developers. Previously, handling threads in VSSDK-based extensions […]
The post Performance improvements to MEF-based editor productivity extensions appeared first on Visual Studio Blog.

Productivity Improvements This month, we are bringing you a series of small yet long requested and popular features to let you better control and customize your editor. Fast scrolling: Hold down the Alt key while scrolling the mouse wheel to move quickly when reviewing code or reading documentation. You can adjust the fast-scrolling speed in […]
The post Visual Studio January Update — Enhanced Editor Experience appeared first on Visual Studio Blog.

Are you wasting time reviewing code for nits on code standards, project preferences, or important contribution guidelines? We know the pain. It’s all too easy for best practices and those tiny but critical team details to slip through the cracks, resulting in inconsistencies, confusion, and wasted time. But now, there’s a smarter way to ensure everyone’s always on the same […]
The post Copilot Memories appeared first on Visual Studio Blog.

It starts the way these things always start.  A red build. A failing test. And that quiet, sinking feeling of “This worked yesterday.”  Meet Sam. Sam’s not a junior, not a rockstar, just a solid developer who’s shipped enough code to know that bugs don’t care how confident you feel on Monday morning.  That test failure does not offer much help […]
The post Debugging, but Without the Drama (A Visual Studio 2026 Story) appeared first on Visual Studio Blog.

Here on the Visual Studio team, our top priority is making your coding experience smoother and more enjoyable. And that begins with truly listening to your feedback. We understand that sometimes sharing your thoughts can feel like tossing bug reports and suggestions into a black hole. It doesn’t feel good, and we get it. But […]
The post Behind the scenes of the Visual Studio feedback system appeared first on Visual Studio Blog.

There are many scenarios where Copilot Chat can feel limited by the built-in model training data. Maybe you want guidance on the latest web framework, documentation, or project-specific resources—but Copilot’s responses just aren’t specific enough. For developers who rely on up-to-date or esoteric answers, this gap can be a real frustration.  URL Context: Bringing the web into Copilot Chat  With the new URL context feature, Copilot Chat can now access […]
The post Unlocking the Power of Web with Copilot Chat’s New URL Context appeared first on Visual Studio Blog.

Visual Studio 2026 is here! If you haven’t heard the news yet, we’re excited to share with you that Visual Studio 2026 is now generally available! This new version can better assist you with several performance improvements, a redesigned user experience, and a major leap in AI-driven development. Read more about it here and get […]
The post Visual Studio November Update – Visual Studio 2026, Cloud Agent Preview, and more appeared first on Visual Studio Blog.

A straight look at what’s behind the keys We’ve all tried unlearning a keyboard shortcut – it feels like forgetting how to breathe. Muscle memory doesn’t mess around. We wrestle with this every time someone suggest a “quick” shortcut change. It’s not just editing a keybinding but navigating a history that makes Visual Studio so […]
The post Why changing keyboard shortcuts in Visual Studio isn’t as simple as it seems appeared first on Visual Studio Blog.

In Visual Studio 2026 we introduced Copilot Profiler Agent, a new AI-powered assistant that helps you analyze and optimize performance bottlenecks in your code. By combining the power of GitHub Copilot with Visual Studio’s performance profiler, you can now ask natural language questions about performance, get insights into hot paths, and quickly identify optimization opportunities. […]
The post Profiler Agent – Delegate the analysis, not the performance appeared first on Visual Studio Blog.

Visual Studio 2026 introduces new GitHub Copilot capabilities to support C++ developers in three development tasks:  Performing large-scale C++ refactors  Improving C++ build performance   Upgrading Microsoft C++ (MSVC) Build Tools  These experiences are available now as a Private Preview in Visual Studio 2026. Install Visual Studio 2026 and join the waitlist for Private Preview today.  C++ code editing tools for GitHub […]
The post Upgrade MSVC, improve C++ build performance, and refactor C++ code with GitHub Copilot appeared first on Visual Studio Blog.

Visual Studio will adopt the Modern Support Lifecycle as a continuously updated IDE designed to deliver innovation as soon as it is ready, while maintaining the reliability and stability you count on every day with control over your build tools choices.
The post Visual Studio – Built for the Speed of Modern Development appeared first on Visual Studio Blog.

In the past, moving to the next major version of Visual Studio could take hours, sometimes days, to recreate your dev environment the way you like it. Visual Studio 2026 makes it easier than ever to stay current with the latest productivity features, performance improvements, and security fixes all without disrupting your flow. With the […]
The post Spend Less Time Upgrading, More Time Coding in Visual Studio 2026 appeared first on Visual Studio Blog.

Visual Studio 2026 introduces a refreshed user experience, thoughtfully crafted for clarity, accessibility, and a clean interface that feels right at home on Windows. This update is the result of extensive collaboration with developers and incorporates valuable feedback from the community. We’ve improved typography, iconography, and the overall layout to minimize distractions and keep your […]
The post A first look at the all‑new UX in Visual Studio 2026 appeared first on Visual Studio Blog.

Dear developers, We’re thrilled to announce that Visual Studio 2026 is now generally available! This is a moment we’ve built side by side with you. Your feedback has helped shape this release more than any before. Since the introduction of the Insiders Channel in September, more developers have downloaded and tested this preview than any […]
The post Visual Studio 2026 is here: faster, smarter, and a hit with early adopters appeared first on Visual Studio Blog.

We’re thrilled to invite you to one of the most exciting events in the .NET ecosystem: .NET Conf. It runs from November 11th through the 13th and you’re invited! This annual virtual conference is a must-attend for developers, architects, and enthusiasts looking to level up their skills and stay ahead of the curve in .NET […]
The post Join us at .NET Conf: Dive into the future of development with Visual Studio 2026 appeared first on Visual Studio Blog.

The October 2025 update for Visual Studio 2022 (v17.14) is now available. In this month, we are bringing you improvements to model choices and agentic flows.  New Models  We now have Claude Sonnet 4.5  and Claude Haiku 4.5 available in the chat window. This means the latest innovations for driving your agentic workflows is right at your fingertips.  Memories  For […]
The post Visual Studio October Update – new models, memories, planning, and more appeared first on Visual Studio Blog.

We have great news for extension users and developers: Visual Studio 2026 is introducing an extension compatibility model designed specifically to make your life easier. Our top priority is to ensure that your extensions continue to work seamlessly across Visual Studio releases – with no extra effort required from you. For users: extensions that work […]
The post Modernizing Visual Studio Extension Compatibility: Effortless Migration for Extension Developers and Users appeared first on Visual Studio Blog.

Before joining Microsoft, I served as VP of Application Development at one of the largest temporary staffing companies in the United States. I’ll never forget the look on our CFO’s face when I told him we needed two to three additional cloud environments to support a large-scale modernization project. His expression went from curious to […]
The post Visual Studio Dev/Test Benefit Explained appeared first on Visual Studio Blog.

Ever found yourself staring at the Output Window, overwhelmed by endless lines of logs and cryptic messages? You’re not alone! For years, developers have relied on the Output Window for critical build and debug information. But making sense of it—and translating it into action—has been a challenge. What if you could instantly ask questions about your […]
The post Make Sense of Your Output Window with Copilot appeared first on Visual Studio Blog.

Writing effective prompts for AI tools can be time-consuming and challenging. Cement those efforts by leveraging reusable prompt files. These custom prompts allow for quick access at the prompt box, and they’re automatically stored and shared with your teammates to make it easy to multiply your Copilot successes.   Reusable prompt files solve the prompt-writing challenge  Reusable prompt files let you write, save, and run prompts right […]
The post Boost Your Copilot Collaboration with Reusable Prompt Files appeared first on Visual Studio Blog.

Copilot code completions and suggestions in the editor speed you up in your daily programming and coding activities, at every keystroke. They help you finish the line you’re typing or anticipate your next edit, making your workflow smoother and faster. At the same time, editor is where you focus and put in the deep work. […]
The post Better Control over Your Copilot Code Suggestions appeared first on Visual Studio Blog.

Smarter Code Search in Visual Studio: From BM25 to Semantic Search  In our latest 17.14.11 release, we’ve made a significant leap forward in how we explore your code to retrieve meaningful context. Our new Remote Semantic Search integration helps you find exactly what you need faster and with greater precision than ever before.  By embedding […]
The post Improving Codebase Awareness in Visual Studio Chat appeared first on Visual Studio Blog.