article refresh

Author: GitHubber17

docs/debugger/how-to-start-spy-increment.md

@@ -1,48 +1,49 @@
 ---
-title: Start the Spy++ tool to debug a solution
+title: Start the Spy++ Tool to Debug a Solution
 description: Explore the Spy++ tool in Visual Studio for debugging a solution and start the tool from the integrated development environment (IDE) or from a command prompt.
-ms.date: 02/05/2024
+ms.date: 04/17/2025
 ms.topic: how-to
 helpviewer_keywords: 
   - Spy++, starting
 author: mikejo5000
 ms.author: mikejo
 manager: mijacobs
 ms.subservice: debug-diagnostics
+#customer intent: As a developer, I want to use the Spy++ tool in Visual Studio so I can debug my solution.
 ---
 
 # Start Spy++
 
 You can start Spy++ either from Visual Studio or at a command prompt.
 
- When you start Spy++, if a message is displayed to ask permission to make changes to the computer, select **Yes**.
+When you start Spy++, if a message displays requesting permission to make changes to the computer, select **Yes**.
 
 > [!NOTE]
-> You can run only one instance of Spy++. If you try to start a second instance, it just causes the currently running instance to get the focus.
+> You can run only one instance of Spy++. If you try to start a second instance, the current running instance gets the focus.
 
 ## Prerequisites
 
-Spy++ requires the following components. You can select these components from the Visual Studio Installer by selecting the **Individual Components** tab, and then selecting the following components.
+Spy++ requires the following components. You can select these components from the Visual Studio Installer by selecting the **Individual Components** tab, and then selecting the following components:
 
-* Under Debugging and testing, select **C++ profiling tools**
-* Under Development activities, select **C++ core features**
+* Under **Debugging and testing**, select **C++ profiling tools**.
+* Under **Development activities**, select **C++ core features**.
 
-If you made any changes, follow the prompts to install these components.
+If you make any changes in the Visual Studio Installer, follow the prompts to complete installation of these components.
 
 ## Start Spy++ from Visual Studio
 
 On the **Tools** menu, select **Spy++**.
 
-Because Spy++ runs independently, after you start it you can close Visual Studio.
+Because Spy++ runs independently, after you start the tool, you can close Visual Studio.
 
 > [!NOTE]
-> When you log messages with Spy++, it might cause the operating system to perform more slowly.
+> When you log messages with Spy++, you might notice the operating system performing more slowly.
 
 ## Start Spy++ at a command prompt
 
-1. In a Command Prompt window, change directories to the folder that contains spyxx.exe. Typically, the path to this folder is ..\\*Visual Studio installation folder*\Common7\Tools\\.
+1. Open a Command Prompt window, and change directories to the folder that contains the *spyxx.exe* file. Typically, the path to this folder is *..\\\<Visual Studio installation folder>\Common7\Tools\\*.
 
-2. Enter *spyxx.exe* or, for the 64-bit version, *spyxx_amd64.exe*.
+1. Enter *spyxx.exe* or, for the 64-bit version, enter *spyxx_amd64.exe*.
 
 For more information on the 32-bit and 64-bit version of Spy++, see [64-bit operating systems](introducing-spy-increment.md#64-bit-operating-systems).