Looking to switch from Visual Studio 2022 to Visual Studio 2026? This guide walks you safely through the entire upgrade process – from preparation and side-by-side installation to migrating your projects, extensions and settings.
At a glance
Visual Studio 2026 can be installed side by side with VS 2022 – no uninstallation required. Both IDEs use the same project format. The complete upgrade process takes 30 to 90 minutes depending on your workloads.
Table of contents
Before the upgrade: what you should know
Upgrading from Visual Studio 2022 to Visual Studio 2026 is far more relaxed than previous major transitions. Both versions use the same solution and project format (.sln, .csproj, .vbproj), which largely rules out conversion problems.
Who should upgrade?
- Developers working with .NET 10 or C# 14
- Teams that make heavy use of GitHub Copilot
- Projects with large solutions (200+ projects)
- New customers or greenfield projects
Who should wait for now?
- Active Xamarin developers (plan migration to MAUI first)
- Users of Visual Studio Installer Projects
- Users of certain legacy extensions
- Windows 10 21H2 or older
You can find more details in our comprehensive Visual Studio 2026 vs 2022 comparison.
Check system requirements
| Component | Minimum requirement | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 10 22H2 / Windows 11 | Windows 11 23H2+ |
| Processor | 1.8 GHz, 2 cores | 4+ cores, Intel 10th Gen / AMD Ryzen 5+ |
| RAM | 4 GB | 16 GB (32 GB for large solutions) |
| Storage | 20 GB | SSD with 100 GB free |
| Architecture | x64 | x64 or ARM64 native |
Important
Windows 10 21H2 or older is no longer supported. Check your version with winver. If older than 22H2: Windows 11 Pro available at Karinex.
Backup & precautions
Even though VS 2022 and VS 2026 can run side by side, back up the following in advance:
Pre-upgrade checklist
- Back up current solutions via Git or file backup
- Export VS 2022 settings: Tools → Import and Export Settings
- Note down the list of installed extensions
- Back up the NuGet configuration
NuGet.config - Copy custom snippets from
%USERPROFILE%\Documents\Visual Studio 2022\Code Snippets - Document important workload versions
The 8 upgrade steps
Obtain a Visual Studio 2026 license
Genuine license via our shop: Visual Studio 2026 Professional for €129 instead of €539 RRP. Delivery by email in under 5 minutes. 100-day money-back guarantee.
Update the Visual Studio Installer
Open the Visual Studio Installer. Click Install next to VS 2026 Professional.
Select workloads
Start with the same workloads as in VS 2022. Common ones: ASP.NET, .NET Desktop, MAUI, C++, Python, Azure.
Language packs and individual components
English in the Language packs tab. Additionally recommended: Git for Windows, .NET 10 SDK, Windows 11 SDK and test tools.
Start the installation
Click Install while downloading. Installation takes 15–60 minutes.
Pro tip
Enable the “Start Visual Studio 2026 after installation” option – it saves you a click.
First sign-in & configuration
Select your Microsoft account, theme and keyboard shortcut scheme (recommended: Visual Studio Default).
Activate the license
Open VS 2026 → menu Help → Register License → Use a product key → paste the license key → Activate.
Open and test your first project
Open a VS 2022 project in VS 2026 – no conversion required. Start a build and check NuGet packages.
Migrate extensions
Microsoft has kept the extension API compatible – over 4,000 Marketplace extensions run without any changes.
Method 1: Automatic transfer
- After installing VS 2026, click Modify under VS 2022
- Installation details tab → Migrate from this installation to another
- Select the target version VS 2026
Method 2: Manual installation
- Export the list of all VS 2022 extensions
- Reinstall them in VS 2026 via the Marketplace
- If incompatible: search for “[Name] for VS 2026”
Incompatible extensions
Very old extensions (pre-2020) require an update from the developer.
Xamarin to .NET MAUI migration
Microsoft has removed Xamarin in Visual Studio 2026. Two options:
Option A: Migrate to .NET MAUI (recommended)
.NET MAUI is the official successor. Microsoft provides an Upgrade Assistant:
dotnet tool install -g upgrade-assistant
upgrade-assistant upgrade [PathToSolution]Complex Xamarin.Forms apps typically require 2 to 10 hours of manual rework.
Option B: Keep VS 2022 for Xamarin
Keep Visual Studio 2022 Professional solely for Xamarin and use VS 2026 alongside it. Microsoft will maintain VS 2022 until 2032.
Tip: VS 2022 Professional license for €11.90 at Karinex.
Side-by-side operation of VS 2022 and VS 2026
| Aspect | VS 2022 | VS 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Installation | remains in place | installed side by side |
| Settings | separate | separate |
| Extensions | managed separately | managed separately |
| Licenses | separate | separate |
| Project format | identical | identical |
Common problems & solutions
Installer stalls at “Preparing downloads”
Check antivirus/firewall. Temporarily disable it or add an exception for vs_installer.exe.
Error 0x80072F8F during activation
Check the date/time on the PC. Synchronize with w32tm /resync in an administrative PowerShell.
“License key invalid”
- Remove leading/trailing spaces
- Make sure the key is for VS 2026
- Contact Karinex support
Build errors after the upgrade
- Update NuGet packages
- Rebuild the solution (“Clean Solution”, then “Rebuild”)
- Delete bin/obj:
Get-ChildItem -Path . -Recurse -Include bin,obj | Remove-Item -Recurse -Force
Extension won't load
Check the Marketplace to see whether a 2026 version is available.
Visual Studio starts very slowly
- Tools → Options → enable “Show empty environment”
- Review extensions
- Exclude the VS directory from your antivirus real-time scanner
Verification & testing after the upgrade
Post-upgrade checklist
- Main projects build without errors
- Debugger works (breakpoints, Watch, Locals)
- IntelliSense responds correctly
- NuGet packages are up to date
- Git / source control works
- Important extensions are active
- Custom snippets are available
- Personal settings applied
- Unit tests run successfully
- CI/CD builds work
Visual Studio 2026 Professional
€129 instead of €539 RRP · License by email in 5 min · 100-day guarantee
Buy license nowFrequently asked questions
Do I have to uninstall VS 2022 before installing VS 2026?
No. Visual Studio 2022 and 2026 can be installed and run side by side without any problems.
How long does the entire upgrade process take?
Between 30 and 90 minutes. Obtaining the license at Karinex takes less than 5 minutes, the installation 15–60 minutes.
Will I lose my settings or extensions during the upgrade?
No – VS 2022 remains unchanged. However, settings have to be set up separately for VS 2026.
Do I have to convert my projects?
No. VS 2022 and VS 2026 use the same solution and project format.
How much does a Visual Studio 2026 Professional license cost?
At Microsoft €539 RRP. At Karinex you get the same genuine license for €129.
Will my Xamarin projects work in VS 2026?
No. Microsoft has removed Xamarin from Visual Studio 2026. Options: migrate to .NET MAUI or keep VS 2022.
Will my existing extensions be carried over?
Over 4,000 Marketplace extensions are compatible without any changes.
Can I use the activation key on another PC?
No. A Visual Studio 2026 Professional license is tied to one PC.
What happens if I no longer want to use VS 2026 after 100 days?
At Karinex you have a 100-day money-back guarantee. Within this period you receive a full refund.
How do I verify that everything is running correctly?
Work through the post-upgrade checklist. Build your main projects and test the debugger, IntelliSense and extensions.
Conclusion – switch safely to Visual Studio 2026
The upgrade from Visual Studio 2022 to Visual Studio 2026 is, thanks to side-by-side installation and an identical project format, one of the most relaxed major transitions in recent years. The main benefits – double the solution loading speed, deeply integrated GitHub Copilot, native .NET 10 / C# 14 support – justify the effort for most developers.
With this guide you should be able to complete the upgrade in under 90 minutes. If you run into problems, our Karinex support helps you free of charge.
Visual Studio 2026 Professional
Genuine license · Instant download · 100-day money-back guarantee
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