Microsoft is rolling out targeted performance improvements aimed at how editor productivity extensions operate within Visual Studio 2026, part of its broader effort to make the IDE faster and more responsive. The changes stem from a shift in how core editor components are handled, with implications for both users and extension developers alike. Early testing shows these adjustments could significantly reduce startup delays and smooth out the development experience for many workflows.

Here’s what you need to know:

What’s changed?
Visual Studio 2026 now supports loading MEF-based editor extensions on background threads using a free-threaded model. This dramatically improves startup performance instead of blocking the UI thread.
Will this affect your extension?
Microsoft has introduced a new analyzer to help you identify potential threading issues. It lets you safely test background loading and update your extension to meet MEF rules—so you can benefit from faster startup too.
Why it matters
Background loading is key to a faster Visual Studio experience, and it’s being gradually enabled in 2026. The good news? The VS team made it easier than ever to spot issues and fix them—without painful refactoring.

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