Cannot run web application on Windows 10 using IIS Express

Question

I am developing a web application using ASP.NET MVC (a rather simple application, having just a single controller and a few routes; there´s nothing fancy in it). In the beginning I used Visual Studio 2013 and Windows 8/8.1. A couple of days ago I switched to Windows 10 and I am having trouble to run the application on my local development machine (I have both Visual Studio 2013 and 2015 installed, but I continue using Visual Studio 2013 for this project).

When I start a new instance for debugging, IIS Express starts, Visual Studio launches the selected browser (which is Edge by default), but the request to the site never returns a valid response.

I can see in the system tray, that the application seems to be running fine. I also checked with Fiddler; and Fiddler shows me that the browser´s request never gets a response from the local server. Can this be an issue with the firewall?

Update

I think it has nothing to do with the Edge-browser nor with the localhost loopback setting (this setting has been enabled via about:flags page). Furthermore, I experience this problem under the final version of Windows 10.

Solution 1

I got it working for me, uninstall IIS Express 10.0 from 'Programs and Features' and install IIS Express 8.0. I have no idea what caused the issue in v10.0 as it works on some of my office machines and not on others (all Windows 10 x64).

Solution 2

(To moderators: please take the time to actually read my answer. It is not a 'thank you' post. It expands a hint that didn't work 'as-is' into a full solution)

Solved it. First I tried:

• Reinstalling IIS Express 10
• Installing IIS Express 8
• Deleting applicationhost.config

Nothing helped. I started IIS Express 10 via the command line and it worked fine. But Visual studio wouldn't launch my project.

Then I realized that my project settings survived several Windows reinstalls and migration from Windows 8 to Windows 10. So I deleted the entire .vs solution folder. Voila! The ASP.NET MVC web application is running in IIS Express 10.

Credits go to @Bron Davies for mentioning the .vs folder. Going down this path led me to a full solution.

Solution 3

Try deleting your applicationhost.config file in %USERPROFILE%\Documents\IISExpress\config - this file can be problematic after an upgrade from Windows 7/8. When you start your project again, it will be recreated.

How can I create new applicationhost.config file in IIS Express Server?

Also, make sure you are using IIS Express 8 for VS 2013. VS 2015 uses IIS Express 10 which has a different config file location per solution located in .vs\config\

Just as an aside, I highly recommend updating to VS 2015 if developing on Windows 10. The projects are still backward compatible if you have to switch back or collaborate with someone using 2013

Solution 4

I got the same issue as DJH2006X.

I had to install IIS Express 8 instead of 10 and it works fine.

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