Configuring Visual Studio 2026

In this document we detail how we configure Visual Studio 2026 to make the most out of it while working with large migrated applications.

For previous versions of Visual Studio please refer to our existing guides:
Configuring Visual Studio 2022
Configuring Previous versions of Visual Studio

A - Visual Studio Extensions

We provide a Templates extension built for Visual Studio 2022 that is also compatible with Visual Studio 2026, as VS 2026 supports most VS 2022 extensions without changes.

Please downdload and install the VSIX file:
Templates extension 2026

B - Performance-oriented settings in Tools → Options

All the following settings are under Tools > Options in Visual Studio 2026

B_Options

B.1 - "Debugging" Tab

Go to Tools > Options > Debugging > General

B.1.1 - Uncheck "Warn if no user code on start debugging (Managed only)"

This eliminates the "Symbols for the module 'ENV.dll' were not loaded" message you get every time you run the code

ENV Message

B.1.2 - Configure Edit and Continue via Hot Reload

Go to Tools > Options > Debugging > General > .NET / C++ Hot Reload
In Visual Studio 2026, Edit and Continue is controlled through the .NET / C++ Hot Reload section instead of a separate "Enable Edit and Continue" checkbox.
For improved stability, it’s recommended to leave this option unchecked.

B.1.3 - Uncheck "Enable Diagnostic Tools while debugging"

Go to Tools > Options > Debugging > General
This reduces overhead from live performance and memory collection and usually improves debug‑time performance

B.2 - set "Automatically Populate Toolbox" to False

Go to Tools > Options > Windows Forms Designer.
Set Automatically Populate Toolbox to False, which avoids toolbox rescans after each build and speeds up work with large WinForms projects.

B.3 - Disable IntelliTrace (Enterprise edition only)

Go to Tools > Options > IntelliTrace
Uncheck the "Enable IntelliTrace" checkbox
Disabling IntelliTrace reduces debugger overhead and Improves performance when running in Debug

B.4 - Editor outlining preferences

Go to Tools > Options > Languages > C# > Advanced > Advanced (link)
Check the "Collapse #regions when collapsing to definition" check box, under "Outlining"

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C - Disable "Preview Selected Item"

In the Solution Explorer window, make sure the Preview Selected Items icon (the small file icon with a magnifying glass) is not highlighted.
Disabling this prevents Visual Studio from constantly opening preview tabs as you move through the tree, which is helpful in large solutions.

Open any .cs file so the code editor toolbar is visible
Click on the 3 dots icon ... at the end of the toolbar to open the "Customize" dialog
"Add or Remove Buttons" → enable "Parameter Info".