XAML Edit & Continue in Visual Studio 2015 (Update 2) does not seem to work

Question

I cannot get XAML Edit & Continue (WPF) working.

I have Visual Studio 2015 Update 2, so it should work as mentioned here: https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/visualstudio/2016/04/06/ui-development-made-easier-with-xaml-edit-continue/

However, after any change in XAML source (font size, colors, directly or in resource,...), change is not applied real time.

I am on Windows 7, latest .NET Framework. I must be missing something.

Answer 1

OK, I found this in a comment from Dante Gagne (Program Manager @ Microsoft) from the link in your question. I have VS2015 Professional Update 2 and was wondering what was going on.

I apologize for the confusion. Edit & Continue is ONLY available in the Visual Studio “15” Preview. The feature is one that we’re still working on, but we didn’t feel was ready for the “RTM” branch yet. That means that Edit & Continue will not work in Visual Studio 2015.

Additionally, if you are working with a Universal Windows Platform project (UWP), you need to be using the Windows Insider build 14295 or later along with the Windows Insider SDK build 14295 or later.

If you’re meeting this criteria and still can’t get it to work, PLEASE get in touch with me and I’ll see if I can help.

His contact details are in the link from your question. Posted again here

Update 6/23/2016 Visual Studio 2015 is going to have an Update 3 after all. However, As of the current RC, I do not see any plans for xaml edit and continue. See Visual Studio 2015 Update 3 RC

Update 8/12/2016 As Legends mentioned in his comment VS2015 Update 3 does NOT have XAML Edit and Continue. Looks like we're going to have to wait until VS "15" is released. I'll update again if I see Microsoft put a release date out.

Update 5/10/2017 VS2017 is out and I believe that is the version where this is supported. Probably no more updates from here on out.

Answer 2

Another couple reasons :

• You may be in a Release build. It will let you edit but won't apply changes due to optimizations.

• Your installation may be corrupt. If you don't see XAML listed under Text Editors - that could be the sign of an incomplete install.

See VS2017 RC1 Installation installation error - Microsoft.PortableLibrary.TargetingPack.Msi failed - No XAML for more details on how I fixed a corrupt install.

Make sure you're not just being stupid and accidentally reopening the old VS2015 after a crash too :-) They look very similar.