Hot Restart for iOS is not included in Visual Studio 2026: What .NET MAUI Developers Need to Know

Hot Restart, a feature enabling .NET MAUI iOS app deployment from Windows machines without a Mac, has been removed from Visual Studio 2026. This feature allowed developers to quickly deploy code changes to iOS devices. The removal has left many developers seeking alternatives. Hot Restart functioned similarly to Expo Go for React Native, facilitating rapid testing. This feature had limitations, not supporting XCFramework compatibility. Microsoft removed Hot Restart due to XCFramework dependency and perceived low usage with high maintenance cost. Developers can continue using Visual Studio 2022, invest in Mac hardware, or explore cloud Mac solutions. Additional options include switching tooling or using Mac with Rider. The removal of Hot Restart increases the necessity of macOS for .NET MAUI iOS development. The author encourages giving feedback to Microsoft.