Visual Studio 2015 C# XAML Designer doesn't load

Question

In the new Visual Studio 2015 RC the XAML designer does not bring up a UI for a C# Windows Universal project but it does for a C++ Windows Universal project. This occurs with both the Professional and Community editions. Has any one experience the same problem and have a workaround/solution?

Answer 1

you have to have the appropriate sdk installed on your machine, you can get it from the official site of Microsoft https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/downloads/sdk-archive

before that please remove the old sdk you installed on your pc, so that VS will use the new one.

then it'll work... i fixed mine in this way.

Answer 2

As an update to the answer of @Ivan because I just had to do with this issue recently.

In my case I only had the option to change the Min Version from 10586 to 10240 but for the Target version I had no other choice than 10586. So solving this issue was not possible.

The solution was to install SDK Version 1506 (Version 10.0.26624.0) which can be found here https://developer.microsoft.com/de-de/windows/downloads/sdk-archive

After a restart of Visual Studio I was able to switch the Target version as well @Ivan mentioned and the XAML designer finally showed up. Heureka!

Thanks for the hint @Ivan.

Answer 3

In case if you have installed fresh Windows 10 Build 10240 and downloaded and installed latest Visual Studio 2015, target version 10240 is not available in Project Properties -> Application -> Target version and designer is not working too.

I have got Target version 10240 selection available after I've installed additionally Windows 10 RTM SDK from following page. As discussed above, designer works fine if Target version 10240 is selected.

Answer 4

If the XAML designer is failing to open, check the "Flag" notifications in the top right corner. You might notice a message that your Windows 10 build needs to be updated.

1:

The target platform can't be newer than the Windows 10 build you're actually running.

Answer 5

Windows 10 (fresh install + Developer mode) VS 2015 Update 1 Ultimate SDK Build 10586 By default no designer being available even via Shift-F7.

This expands the scope of the original problem, its not a VS edition based issue at all. Its a problem with the SDK support.

AS per Wener Henze

Swtich back to Build 10240. Fixed. Designer now available.

Werners workaround is confirmed and saved me lots of time. I don't have the rep to thank him, or comment on his post directly.

Answer 6

I have the same issue, when I upgraded the Win10 SDK from 10240 to 10586, set the project properties->Application->Target version to Windows 10(10.0;Build 10240), the design view shows up again.

Answer 7

I installed fresh Windows 10 and Visual Studio Community 2015, and the designer failed to load (for MainPage.xaml etc). I had to:

1. enable developer mode in system settings (update section) as suggested in info dialog
2. (re)install Visual C++ redistributable for VS 2015

But I don't know which one exactly resolved the problem... Now the designer loads as expected. (I tried only C# universal app yet)

Answer 8

To help clarify this a bit -

If you are building a Universal Windows 10 application with Visual Studio 2015 running on Windows 8.1 - something that we have enabled for the first time without requiring your to upgrade your OS, you will not be offered the XAML designer option - we will only allow you to edit XAML using the editor and IntelliSense. Similarly, you will not be allowed to test the application locally or using the Simulator (since it is a Windows 10 application and cannot run on your machine). Everything else should work fine, but for the best experience possible, consider upgrading to Windows 10.

If you are building a Windows 8.1 universal application, it should work just like before.