How to bring back IIS Express for Debugging in Visual Studio 2019?

Question

I recently had to unload a project and reload it to fix a bug but now I dont have the option to start my code via IIS express anymore - instead it just says "Any CPU".

It used to say IIS Express (Google Chrome) and I can launch my web app through that but now it is gone and even going through the Web settings for debugging didn't fix it:

How can I bring back IIS Express so I can run my code properly again?

Answer 1

Sounds like you need to exit, and then re-load VS. If not, then I would repair it.

I would also consider (yes, I know.!!) a reboot of your computer to flush out any running copy of IIS express.

The setting (choice) of what browser should be to the right in your menu like this:

So, clicking on that down arrow (chevron) in your start button should drop a list of options to choose which browser.

Answer 2

While I didn't find a solution, and rebooting it didn't work or pressing the chevron drop down button (it didn't show anything), I have learned you can right click the program in the scaffolding, go to debug, and then "start a new instance". This would launch your local host for the web program to run and it works fine.

You can then go to settings and set a hot key /shortcut for it to work which is what I did. While it didn't bring the IIS option back to run, it allows me to run my web program again that way.

Answer 3

I research the issue and found a couple of ways to bring the IIS Express option back.

You could try the approaches below one by one.

Approach-1

In Visual studio 2019, select the solution (.sln)-> Properties . Select the drop-down Single Start-up project . select your project from the dropdown. Click OK .

It should bring back the IIS Express option.

Approach-2

In Visual studio 2019, Go to Tools -> Customize -> Commands tab, then click on the toolbar radio button and choose the standard option from the drop-down and delete one of the existing toolbar inside the standard toolbar and then choose the option reset all .

Helpful references:

1. Can't debug asp.net core api in visual studio 2019 (No button IIS Express)

2. Visual studio 2019 debugging option IISExpress is gone from drop down

3. IIS Express hidden issue