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Visual Studio introduced a blocking Start Window instead of a non-blocking Start Page.

Considering how extensible Visual Studio is, is there a way to have VS2019 display a non-blocking Start Page.

The new Start Window is quite annoying, less informative, displays all projects, not just solutions, pinning is not up to previous standards, and no additional information. Most annoying is the blocking aspect.

I am thinking that there is some sort of extension or setting that Microsoft has somewhere, which can re-enable the Start Page and disable the Start Window.

Alternatively if it is not possible, is it possible to just disable the start window and have the main application appear, when the app starts or when a user closes a solution/project?

-- Another hope with this post is that Microsoft sees this request and maybe modifies their code and offers users an option at the start, much like color theme and default code set, as to whether they want app blocking or app non-blocking for the start area.

Sarah Weinberger
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    I suggest to have a look at setting page on TOOLS->OPTIONS->ENVIRONMENT->STARTUP and there you have several options. – DAme May 21 '19 at 15:26
  • @DAme The `Empty Environment` option is the best, as that works for initial and upon closing a project/solution, just no start page, but better. Thank you! The 2017 start page was so far the best. – Sarah Weinberger May 21 '19 at 15:44

2 Answers2

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In Tools > Options > Environment > Startup > On startup, open: select "Empty environment".

Visual Studio will start without showing the modal Start Window.

Petr Stodulka
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Start Page on startup extension restores the traditional Start Page in VS 2019.

Start Page: Please give it back! and Make the Visual Studio 2019 start window non-modal are open issues concerning your other points.

Sergey Vlasov
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  • The `Start Page Extension` looks good, however where is the menu item that brings back the page if a user closes the page? Does a user have to restart VS to get the page back once closed? Separately, looks awesome. The people responsible for the modal non-informative window should be fired. Thank you. – Sarah Weinberger May 22 '19 at 04:50
  • @SarahWeinberger You can call File.StartPage from the command window or create a menu command for it with my Visual Commander extension. – Sergey Vlasov May 22 '19 at 16:05
  • @SergeyVlasov I could not find any VCmd menu after installing the `Visual Commander` extension. Please elaborate. – Sarah Weinberger May 22 '19 at 21:02
  • @SarahWeinberger In VS 2019 it's under the main Extensions menu: https://visualstudioextensions.vlasovstudio.com/2019/04/25/extensions-in-the-main-visual-studio-2019-menu/ – Sergey Vlasov May 23 '19 at 05:53
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    This no longer works, it appears Microsoft removed the start page entirely and the extension has now been removed from the marketplace. The only alternative appears to be [Start Page+](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=YannDuran.StartPagePlus) which, while functional, is cosmetically different from the previous start page. It looks like we can only hope Microsoft decides to re-introduce the start page in a future release, although it doesn't look likely at this point. – Mark Nov 23 '19 at 04:03
  • removed? its my entry point to go to Developer news! – Alexander Jun 19 '20 at 22:56