How to open two / multiple instances of Visual Studio for MAC?

Question

I wish to open multiple instances of VS for Mac. I used to be able to do this with Xamarin studio using the Xamarin launcher.

How to do this with VS for Mac?

Solution 1

Open a terminal window, and then issue the following command:

open -n -a "Visual Studio"

Solution 2

Alright, at last!, Microsoft has just implemented the simplest solution of all in Visual Studio 2019: just right click on its icon on the launch bottom bar, and choose "New instance":

See the details of the feature in the release notes of VS2019 for Mac Preview.

Solution 3

There is also the option of opening multiple solutions in the same Visual Studio instance.

1. From Recent list: Hold Ctrl while clicking the solution name
2. From File -> Open: Single click the .sln file, click Options and uncheck Close Current Workspace.

Credit: https://www.jimbobbennett.io/opening-multiple-solutions-in-visual-studio-for-mac/

Note. the active project(For run/debug) changes depending on which file you have marked/selected/editing.

Solution 4

If you don't want to daily search for this specific terminal command, create a script as below:

1. Open "Script Editor" in Mac
2. Paste: do shell script "open -n -a 'Visual Studio'"
3. Save this file somewhere (On Desktop)
4. Whenever need to launch another instance, simply open this file and click on "Run the Script" button

Screenshot Here

Solution 5

• Visual Studio Code
• Version: 1.39.2

View more solutions

Comments

[chris hu]

Easy, helpful! showed me new trick of using MAC script editor. Thanks!

[user274101]

Can't believe this hasn't gotten any upvotes. Amazing trick - I didn't know it was possible to have multiple solutions open at the same time in the same Solution explorer pane!

[Mick Walker]

Upvoting this as it was exactly what I needed

[Alexey Strakh]

it stopped working with the latest VS for Mac release, unable to open any project withing a solution.

[Paramjit]

I am using the latest version of VS for Mac and the MSSolutionLauncher is working fine. Never invoke the IDE directly. double click the solutionLauncher for opening new instance.

[koderiter]

Probably a reason for no upvote is, from what I can tell, by doing this action it adds the solution to the current workspace not open a new instance of visual studio.

[knocte]

"New Window" is not in that menu, is the option gone?

[Kevin Danikowski]

@knocte it is still there for macs. I just downloaded it again to install last week and the new window option is still present

[knocte]

I don't understand why I don't see it on my mac

[Kevin Danikowski]

@knocte perhaps you have an older mac? i'm using a 2017. It also works on the 2015 I used to have.

[user1623521]

that screenshot is VSCode, not VS4Mac

[Kevin Danikowski]

@user1623521 good point i didn't know there was a difference. Perhaps others who don't know the difference would find benefit. I'll put a comment above the image

[knocte]

the question is about VS4Mac

[Ryan B]

Downvoting just because @knocte's solution is more current and easier.