How to start IISExpress for a web project without building?

Question

I have this scenario:

• I have a solution open, with a web project configured to use IIS Express.

• I do a build of the solution, then close Visual Studio.

• I then reopen VS to that solution.

Is there a way to just spin up IIS Express without having to do a ctrl -F5 or something like that (I don't need to build again since I know nothing has changed)?

Answer 1

Get the name of the site from C:\Users\<your user>\Documents\IISExpress\config\applicationhost.config

in the <sites> section find the one you are working on

"c:\Program Files (x86)\IIS Express\iisexpress.exe" /site:"<that thing you got from applicationhost.config>"

or on a 32bit OS

"c:\Program Files\IIS Express\iisexpress.exe" /site:"<that thing you got from applicationhost.config>"