"launchBrowser": true not working (dashboard does not launch)

[nogginbox]

Is there an existing issue for this?

• I have searched the existing issues

Describe the bug

I have a working Aspire project, but when I start in Visual Studio it no longer launches a browser. It was doing this previously and I think it stopped when I updated Visual Studio (although that could be a coincidence).

In launchSetting.json this is still set:

"launchBrowser": true,

Since it has stopped launching in the browser, I have also had to manually set "ASPNETCORE_URLS" and manually attach the debugger to the projects that Aspire runs.

I'm using Aspire 13 and have found no difference if I use the later point versions.
This is using Visual Studio Community 2026 (18.1.0).

When I use my side by side Insiders Version (11218.70) the same Aspire project works as expected.

Is this a bug in the latest Visual Studio, or have I accidentally changed a setting somewhere?

Expected Behavior

I expect when debugging in Visual Studio it will launch the Aspire Dashboard in a new browser window and the debugger will be attached.

Steps To Reproduce

No response

Exceptions (if any)

No response

.NET Version info

.NET 8.0
Aspire 13.0.0
Visual Studio 18.1.0

Works in Visual Studio 11218.70

Anything else?

No response

[nogginbox]

I was relunctant to update my insiders version of Visual Studio as this continues to be the only IDE I can use Aspire in easily.

However, I was forced to update to the latest build today and to my relief it has continued working.
I am now using VS Insiders version 11426.168.

I've tried updating my main VS instance, but that continues to not work.