Visual Studio on Mac in 2026: What Works After the Mac IDE Retired

Visual Studio on Mac now means one of two setups: Visual Studio Code running natively on macOS, or the full Visual Studio 2026 IDE running inside Windows 11 ARM. Visual Studio for Mac retired on August 31, 2024. Keeping the old app around doesn’t turn it into a supported development environment.

Start with native VS Code plus C# Dev Kit for cross-platform .NET work. Add Parallels only when a project needs Windows Forms, WPF, .NET Framework, SQL Server Data Tools, a Visual Studio-only extension, or another Windows dependency. I tested the same .NET 10 solution on both sides. Cached clean builds were almost tied, 2.15 seconds on macOS and 2.44 seconds in Windows under Parallels, but the native test command started much faster.

My Visual Studio on Mac verdict and test setup

Use Visual Studio Code with C# Dev Kit until a named Windows-only requirement blocks you. If the project specifically requires the full Visual Studio 2026 IDE, run Windows 11 ARM with Parallels Desktop and assign 8 GB RAM.

Confirmed on July 14, 2026:

• Mac: Apple M5 Pro with 24 GB unified memory
• macOS: version 27.0 beta, build 26A5378j
• Native editor: Visual Studio Code 1.127.0 ARM64
• Native SDK: .NET SDK 10.0.301 and runtime 10.0.9, ARM64
• Extensions: C# Dev Kit 3.20.199 and C# 2.140.9
• Virtualization: Parallels Desktop 26.4.0, build 57513
• Windows: Windows 11 Pro ARM64, build 26200.8653, 4 vCPU, 8 GB RAM
• Windows IDE: Visual Studio Community 2026 18.7.3, file version 18.7.11925.98
• Windows SDK: .NET SDK 10.0.301 and runtime 10.0.9, win-arm64
• Test solution: two projects, one console app, one xUnit test project, four tests
• Result: both environments built the solution with zero warnings and zero errors, and all four tests passed

Measured comparison:

• Cached clean build on macOS: 2.15 seconds
• Cached clean build in Windows: 2.44 seconds
• Difference: 0.29 seconds, about 13.5% slower in the VM on this small solution
• Test command on macOS: 1.35 seconds
• Test command in Windows: 4.87 seconds
• Difference: 3.52 seconds, about 3.6 times the elapsed command time

Not measured:

• Breakpoint-to-first-hit timing
• Large C++, MAUI, WPF, WinForms, or SQL Server Data Tools solutions
• Battery drain over a full workday
• A claim that every Visual Studio extension works on Windows ARM

The result isn’t “VS Code beats Visual Studio” or the reverse. The solution was deliberately small and cross-platform. It tells us that the Windows ARM toolchain isn’t automatically slow, while VM and test-host startup still add overhead.

Can you still use Visual Studio on Mac?

Yes, but not through the retired Visual Studio for Mac product. Visual Studio Code runs natively on macOS, while Visual Studio 2026 runs in Windows 11 ARM through Parallels Desktop or on a remote Windows development machine.

Keep the product names straight:

• Visual Studio for Mac was Microsoft’s Mac IDE. It retired on August 31, 2024 and no longer receives security or platform updates.
• Visual Studio Code is Microsoft’s cross-platform editor. Extensions add C#, project, testing, debugging, container, and language features.
• C# Dev Kit adds a Visual Studio-like C# project system, Solution Explorer, test discovery, and integrated debugging to Visual Studio Code.
• Visual Studio 2026 is the current full Windows IDE. Stable version 18.7.3 shipped on June 30, 2026.

That last fact is easy to miss because many search results and tutorials still say Visual Studio 2022. I started this test with 2022 in the plan too. Microsoft’s current stable bootstrapper installed 2026, so I corrected the article instead of forcing a stale version into a current guide.

Visual Studio 2022 still matters for organizations on a supported servicing channel and for searches such as “Visual Studio 2022 on Mac.” But a new individual installation in 2026 should start with the current Visual Studio 2026 stable channel unless a project or employer pins another release.

Visual Studio vs VS Code on Mac

Visual Studio Code is the right default for native Mac development, while Visual Studio 2026 is the Windows IDE you add for Windows-specific project systems and workloads. Roslyn, MSBuild, NuGet, C# Dev Kit, and the .NET SDK overlap, but the products aren’t interchangeable.

Capability	VS Code on macOS	Visual Studio 2026 in Parallels	Who needs it
Cross-platform .NET and C#	Strong with C# Dev Kit	Strong	Most C# developers can start native
ASP.NET Core	Supported with SDK and extensions	Supported through web workload	Choose by team tooling, not basic compatibility
Solution and project view	C# Dev Kit loads .sln and project files	Full Solution Explorer and project system	Both handled the test solution
Unit testing	Test Explorer through C# Dev Kit	Full Test Explorer	Both passed four xUnit tests
Windows Forms and WPF	Not a native Mac designer workflow	Windows IDE workload	Use Visual Studio in Windows
.NET Framework	Limited compared with the Windows IDE	Native home for older Windows projects	Use Visual Studio in Windows
SQL Server Data Tools	Doesn’t replace SSDT	Available as a Visual Studio workload	Database projects and Microsoft BI teams
Resource use	One native editor process plus language services	Windows VM plus full IDE and services	Native wins when workloads are equal
Offline use	Yes after SDK and extensions are installed	Yes after VM and workloads are installed	Both work offline
Price	VS Code free; C# Dev Kit free for qualifying use	Community free for qualifying use; Professional $45/month	Check the license, not just the download button

The deciding question isn’t “which editor is better?” Ask what the repository requires.

• If it targets modern cross-platform .NET, ASP.NET Core, console apps, libraries, or cloud services, use Visual Studio Code first.
• If it targets WinForms, WPF, .NET Framework, SSDT, or a Visual Studio-only extension, use Visual Studio 2026 in Windows.
• If a team standardizes on Visual Studio solution tooling, debugging profiles, or extensions, match the team even when the code could compile natively.

My Mac apps for WordPress developers guide follows the same rule: install the smallest tool that does the work. An entire VM is a bad substitute for one missing editor extension.

Which .NET workloads need Visual Studio 2026?

Use Visual Studio 2026 in Windows when the workload depends on Windows UI frameworks, the full .NET Framework, SSDT, Windows SDK tooling, or Visual Studio-specific designers and extensions. Modern .NET 10 console, library, web, and test projects usually don’t justify a VM by themselves.

Workloads that point toward the Windows IDE:

• Windows Forms projects with designer-heavy UI work
• WPF applications and XAML designers tied to Windows
• .NET Framework 4.x maintenance and debugging
• SQL Server Data Tools database, Analysis Services, Integration Services, or Reporting Services projects
• Windows SDK, packaging, driver, or platform-specific debugging work
• Extensions built only for the full Visual Studio IDE
• Team workflows that rely on Visual Studio profiles, analyzers, project templates, or deployment tooling

Workloads that usually stay native on Mac:

• .NET 10 console applications
• ASP.NET Core services and web apps
• Cross-platform class libraries and NuGet packages
• xUnit, NUnit, and MSTest projects targeting modern .NET
• Azure, container, and Git workflows that don’t require a Windows-only local dependency
• JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, Go, Rust, and other languages already served well by native editors

Notice what isn’t on the first list: “C#.” The language doesn’t force you into Windows. The project type does.

That distinction saves students money. If an assignment asks for a .sln, a console app, and xUnit tests, Visual Studio Code plus C# Dev Kit can handle it. If the assignment asks you to drag controls onto a WinForms designer, the full Windows IDE becomes the practical route.

The computer science student laptop guide covers hardware choices, but don’t replace a capable Mac because a course handout uses the word “Visual Studio.” Confirm the project type first. One noun can save you a four-figure purchase.

How to set up VS Code for C# on Mac

Install the current ARM64 .NET SDK, Visual Studio Code, C# Dev Kit, and the Microsoft C# extension. Then verify dotnet --info, load the solution, build it, run tests, and stop at a breakpoint before importing a large work repository.

1. Install the ARM64 .NET SDK

Use Microsoft’s current .NET download for Apple Silicon. My test used SDK 10.0.301 and runtime 10.0.9.

Confirm the installation in Terminal:

dotnet --info

Look for these values:

• Architecture: arm64
• RID: a macOS ARM64 runtime identifier
• SDK version: the version your repository expects
• global.json: either absent or pointing to an installed SDK

Don’t install the newest SDK blindly when a repository pins an older one. Read global.json, the target frameworks in .csproj, and the team’s build instructions.

2. Install C# Dev Kit and the C# extension

C# Dev Kit supplies Solution Explorer, testing, and a deeper project experience. The Microsoft C# extension supplies the language services underneath it.

The tested versions were:

• C# Dev Kit 3.20.199
• C# extension 2.140.9
• .NET Install Tool 3.1.0
• Visual Studio Code 1.127.0 ARM64

Licensing deserves a pause. C# Dev Kit is free for personal, academic, and open-source development, plus qualifying commercial teams of up to five developers. Larger commercial teams need the appropriate Visual Studio subscription. Check Microsoft’s current terms for your organization rather than assuming a free Marketplace install means unrestricted commercial use.

3. Fix the GUI PATH if C# Dev Kit can’t find .NET

My first native setup failed even though dotnet --info worked in Terminal. Visual Studio Code displayed “No installed .NET SDK was found” because the SDK lived in ~/.dotnet and the macOS GUI process didn’t inherit that shell path.

That failure is easy to misdiagnose as a broken SDK. It was an environment problem.

I fixed the GUI environment by setting DOTNET_ROOT and adding ~/.dotnet to the user launch environment, then restarting Visual Studio Code:

launchctl setenv DOTNET_ROOT "$HOME/.dotnet"
launchctl setenv PATH "$HOME/.dotnet:/opt/homebrew/bin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/sbin"

After restart, C# Dev Kit loaded both projects, IntelliSense became active, and the Problems view stayed clear.

This isn’t a universal Mac requirement. It applies when the GUI app can’t see the location where you installed the SDK. If your SDK is under the standard system path and Visual Studio Code already detects it, don’t add environment overrides for sport.

4. Verify the repository before you trust the editor

Run the same commands your CI system will run:

dotnet restore ParallelsBench.sln
dotnet build ParallelsBench.sln -c Release
dotnet test ParallelsBench.sln -c Release --no-build

The native cached clean build completed in 2.15 seconds. The test command completed in 1.35 seconds, with four tests passed and a reported test duration of 13 milliseconds.

An editor showing no red squiggles isn’t build proof. The CLI exit code is.

How to run Visual Studio 2026 on Mac with Parallels

Install Windows 11 ARM through Parallels Desktop, finish Windows Update, install Visual Studio Community 2026 with only the workloads you need, and copy the repository to the VM’s local disk before measuring it.

1. Give the VM enough resources

The tested VM used:

• 4 virtual CPUs
• 8 GB virtual RAM
• Windows 11 Pro ARM64 build 26200.8653
• Parallels Tools 26.4.0-57513
• A 256 GB virtual disk with about 223 GB free after the tested installations

Parallels Desktop Standard supports up to 8 GB vRAM and 4 vCPU per VM, which matches this setup. Parallels Desktop Pro supports larger allocations and command-line automation, but you don’t need Pro merely to open a moderate C# solution.

Start with Standard unless a larger workload proves you need more than 8 GB. Buying Pro before measuring the constraint is just paying for unused sliders.

2. Install the current Visual Studio release

Microsoft’s stable bootstrapper installed Visual Studio Community 2026 18.7.3, build 11925.98. The release history dates it June 30, 2026. I selected the Managed Desktop workload and included recommended components.

The installed toolchain reported:

• .NET SDK 10.0.301
• .NET runtime 10.0.9
• MSBuild 18.6.4
• Windows runtime identifier win-arm64
• Windows Desktop runtime 10.0.9

Visual Studio Community 2026 is free for individuals, students, classroom learning, open-source work, and qualifying small non-enterprise teams. Visual Studio Professional 2026 is currently advertised at $45 per user per month. Company size and usage can change which license applies, so read the license instead of treating Community as a universal free business edition.

3. Keep the test repository on the Windows disk

Parallels Desktop mounted my Mac’s iCloud folder as Y: and the shared home integration as Z:. I used those mappings to transfer the solution, then copied it to:

C:\Users\gauravtiwari\source\repos\ParallelsBench

The copy excluded bin, obj, and .vs. That forced Windows to build its own outputs and removed shared-folder latency from the timed run.

This detail matters. A benchmark against code sitting on a network-style shared mount measures the mount, file watching, antivirus, and virtualization together. Put both test copies on local storage if you want the toolchain comparison to mean anything.

4. Let dependencies warm before comparing builds

The first Windows restore and build took 14.85 seconds because xUnit dependencies had to download into an empty cache. The Mac had already restored those packages while I created the solution. Comparing 14.85 with the Mac’s cached result would make a dramatic chart and a dishonest one.

So I ran a second clean build after both sides had the packages:

• macOS cached clean build: 2.15 seconds
• Windows cached clean build: 2.44 seconds
• Difference: 0.29 seconds

That’s close enough that this tiny solution can’t support a broad performance verdict. The test command did show a larger elapsed difference, though, which is where VM and test-host startup became visible.

5. Open the solution in Visual Studio

The first Visual Studio 2026 launch presented an optional Microsoft or GitHub sign-in. I skipped the account, chose the dark theme, and opened ParallelsBench.sln.

The IDE loaded both projects and opened the same Program.cs file tested on macOS. The status bar showed no issues. No account was needed for the local Community workflow.

VS Code vs Visual Studio in Parallels test results

The cached clean build was nearly tied, while the native Mac test command finished 3.52 seconds sooner. Both systems used .NET SDK 10.0.301 on ARM64, built the same two-project solution, and passed the same four tests.

Measurement	VS Code toolchain on macOS	Visual Studio toolchain in Windows	Evidence label
SDK	.NET 10.0.301 ARM64	.NET 10.0.301 win-arm64	Confirmed
Cached clean build	2.15 seconds	2.44 seconds	Confirmed
Build difference	Baseline	0.29 seconds slower, about 13.5%	Confirmed for this solution
Test command	1.35 seconds	4.87 seconds	Confirmed
Tests	4 passed	4 passed	Confirmed
Warnings and errors	0 and 0	0 and 0	Confirmed
IDE solution state	2 projects loaded, IntelliSense active	2 projects loaded, Program.cs open	Confirmed by screenshots
Breakpoint timing	Not measured	Not measured	Unconfirmed

The test project counts primes below 100,000 with a sieve and verifies four expected values:

• Below 2: 0 primes
• Below 10: 4 primes
• Below 1,000: 168 primes
• Below 100,000: 9,592 primes

That workload is CPU-light and file-light. It doesn’t represent a 200-project solution, a C++ compile, a WPF designer, or a container stack. It does answer one useful question: does a current .NET 10 C# solution work properly in both environments on the same Apple Silicon Mac? Yes.

The 0.29-second build gap is smaller than the time you’d waste launching Windows for a project that doesn’t need it. That’s why native Visual Studio Code remains my default.

But if the project needs WPF or SSDT, the native option can’t finish the job. A faster tool that can’t open the required project is just a fast dead end.

When Microsoft Dev Box is better than a local VM

Use Microsoft Dev Box when IT needs centralized images, Azure network access, Microsoft Intune policy, disposable machines, or controlled developer permissions. Use Parallels Desktop when one developer needs local Windows access, offline work, and predictable annual cost.

Dev Box fits when:

• An organization publishes approved development images
• Repositories and services live behind Azure networking
• Contractors need access without storing company source on personal hardware
• IT needs centralized policy, auditing, shutdown schedules, and reclamation
• Compute and storage should scale beyond the Mac’s physical RAM and disk

Parallels fits when:

• You own the Mac and manage your own setup
• You need Windows several times per week
• Offline builds matter
• The project fits inside an 8 GB or modestly larger VM
• You want the same Windows machine available without waiting for cloud provisioning

Microsoft Dev Box pricing depends on CPU, memory, storage, and usage schedule. I won’t turn a configurable Azure bill into one fake monthly number. Fix the machine size and hours first, then compare it with Parallels Desktop Standard at a $99.99 annual US list price.

If you need a wider remote-versus-local comparison, use my virtual desktop software guide. For a solo developer with a 24 GB Mac, I prefer the local VM because the environment stays available and the cost doesn’t grow with every logged-in hour.

Visual Studio on Mac problems and fixes

Most Visual Studio on Mac failures come from following retired Mac instructions, confusing VS Code with Visual Studio, hiding the .NET SDK from the GUI, or giving Windows too little RAM. Check the product, SDK, workload, and project type in that order.

A tutorial tells you to download Visual Studio for Mac

• Symptom: The download or installer is old, unavailable, or unsupported on the current macOS release.
• Cause: Visual Studio for Mac retired on August 31, 2024.
• Fix: Use Visual Studio Code plus C# Dev Kit, or run Visual Studio 2026 in Windows.

VS Code says no .NET SDK is installed

• Symptom: dotnet --info works in Terminal, but C# Dev Kit reports no SDK.
• Cause: The macOS GUI environment can’t see the SDK path.
• Fix: Confirm the install location, set DOTNET_ROOT and the GUI PATH when needed, then restart Visual Studio Code.

The solution opens but a project is unsupported

• Symptom: A project stays unloaded or designers and targets are missing.
• Cause: The repository may use .NET Framework, WinForms, WPF, SSDT, or a Windows-only SDK.
• Fix: Read the .csproj target framework and project SDK, then open it with Visual Studio 2026 in Windows if the project is Windows-specific.

Windows builds feel slow

• Symptom: Restore, build, tests, or file discovery lag in the VM.
• Cause: Empty dependency caches, code on a shared folder, antivirus scanning, low RAM, or too many Visual Studio workloads.
• Fix: Warm the package cache, copy the repository to C:, assign 8 GB RAM, and remove workloads you don’t use.

Community edition asks about licensing

• Symptom: A free install doesn’t clearly match your company usage.
• Cause: Visual Studio Community 2026 has individual, educational, open-source, non-enterprise, and team conditions.
• Fix: Read Microsoft’s current license and buy Visual Studio Professional 2026 or the correct subscription when Community terms don’t cover the organization.

The Mac runs out of memory

• Symptom: macOS swaps heavily while Windows and Visual Studio are open.
• Cause: The host is running two operating systems plus language services, browsers, containers, and build processes.
• Fix: Close heavy Mac apps, keep the VM at a measured allocation, and don’t run Parallels Desktop for repositories that work natively.

The broader Windows apps on Mac guide covers Coherence, shared folders, remote access, and other Windows-only applications. The development rule stays the same: native first, Windows when the project proves it needs Windows.

Frequently asked questions

What I’d do

Stay native until the repository names a Windows dependency. On the tested .NET 10 solution, the macOS build finished in 2.15 seconds, all four tests passed, and no VM had to sit between the editor and the files.

If WinForms, WPF, .NET Framework, SSDT, or a Visual Studio-only extension blocks the project, install Parallels Desktop and run Visual Studio Community 2026 in an 8 GB Windows 11 ARM VM. That’s a specific response to a specific requirement. Anything earlier is paying a RAM, battery, storage, and maintenance tax before the code asks for it.

Footnotes: Microsoft Lifecycle, “Visual Studio for Mac end of servicing.” Microsoft Learn, “Visual Studio release history” and “Visual Studio on ARM-powered devices.” Visual Studio Marketplace, “C# Dev Kit.” Microsoft Visual Studio, “Visual Studio downloads” and “Visual Studio Community.” Microsoft .NET, “.NET 10 downloads.”

Disclaimer: This site is reader-supported. If you buy through some links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools I trust and would use myself. Your support helps keep gauravtiwari.org free and focused on real-world advice. Thanks. - Gaurav Tiwari