Why don't tabs open automatically when I reopen my solution?

Question

I have an ASP.NET MVC4 application solution (.sln). When I close Visual Studio and then reopen it and my solution, my tabs and my navigation structure in the solution explorer do not restore to the way they were.

The solution is big and it takes me a long time to reopen many tabs and open lots of folders in the solution explorer.

Is there an option in VS that would allow me to restore the solution to where it was when I left it?

I've already done "Reset all settings" in the Import and Export Settings Wizard, but it didn't help.

I've also tried booting VS in /SafeMode which disables any extensions. No difference.

Searching around I can't see anyone have similar issues.

Answer 1

Got this issue also for Microsoft Visual Studio 2022 Community Edition.

How to fix :

First, be sure, that tools->Project and solutions->General:'Reopen documents on solution load' and 'Restore Solution Explorer project hierarchy state on solution load' enabled

Second, just close VS and delete .vs folder, then re-start VS.

Works fine for me

Answer 2

I had the same problem with Visual Studio 2013, and I solved it by doing this:

• Export my current settings, making sure to UNMARK General Settings > Window Layouts.
• Re-import the settings I just exported, but making sure I left General Settings > Window Layouts MARKED now (so it would overwrite the current Window Layouts with the "clean slate" of the imported settings.

Answer 3

As far as I know the .suo-File saves which files are opened. Try to delete this file (VS will generate it new) and make sure that windows-file-permissions are set correct (read, write access).

Answer 4

Perhaps you can try the Workspace Reloader plugin that Scott Hanselman blogged about?

http://www.hanselman.com/blog/IntroducingWorkspaceReloaderAVisualStudioAddInToSaveYourOpenFilesAcrossProjectReloads.aspx

You can install it from here - http://visualstudiogallery.msdn.microsoft.com/6705affd-ca37-4445-9693-f3d680c92f38