Visual Studio opens the default browser instead of

Question

When I debug in Visual Studio, Firefox opens and that is annoying because of the hookups that Internet Explorer and Visual Studio have, such as when you close the Internet Explorer browser that starting debug opened, Visual Studio stops debugging. How can I get Visual Studio to open Internet Explorer instead without having to set Internet Explorer as my default browser?

Answer 1

In the Solution Explorer, right-click any ASPX page and select "Browse With" and select IE as the default.

Note... the same steps can be used to add Google Chrome as a browser option and to optionally set it as the default browser.

Answer 2

Right-click on an aspx file and choose 'browse with'. I think there's an option there to set as default.

Answer 3

In visual studio 2013, this can be done as follows:

1) Ensure you have selected a start up project from your solution explore window 2) This brings a drop down to the left of the debug drop down. You can choose browser from this new drop down.

Key is there should be a project selected as start up

Answer 4

You may debug by firefox also.

Follow these steps: Tool->Attach to process and select firefox.exe or your default browser. Then debugger will work with this browser. But I had some trouble when firefox is 32 bit and and VS2010 is 64 bit.

Anyway right click the current document, browse with --> than choose your browser, than set it as default. This way is better. B'cause firefox's process id may change, so you will be annoyed for attaching the process again.

Answer 5

In Visual Studio 2010 the default browser gets reset often (just about every time an IDE setting is changed or even after restarting Visual Studio). There is now a default browser selector extension for 2010 to help combat this:

!!!Update!!! It appears that the WoVS Default Browser Switcher is no longer available for free according to @Cory. You might try Default Browser Changer instead but I have not tested it. If you already have the WoVS plugin I would recommend backing it up so that you can install it later.

The following solution may no longer work:

WoVS Default Browser Switcher: http://visualstudiogallery.msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/bb424812-f742-41ef-974a-cdac607df921

Edit: This works with ASP.NET MVC applications as well.

Note: One negative side effect of installing this extension is that it seems to nag to be updated about once a month. This has caused some to uninstall it because, to them, its more bothersome then the problem it fixes. Regardless it is easily updated through the extension manager and I still find it very useful.

You will see the following error when starting VS:

The Default Browser Switcher beta bits have expired. Please use the Extension Manager or visit the VS Gallery to download updated bits.

Answer 6

Another way is to do the following in Visual Studio:

1. Select Debug
2. Options and Settings
3. Expand Environment
4. Select Web Browser
5. Click the 'Internet Explorer Options' button
6. Select the 'Programs' tab
7. Select 'Make Default' button for Internet Explorer