Visual Studio 2015 output window is missing

Question

There is no output window that shows all build messages in Visual Studio. I could not return it using the browse menu. I tried safe mode and diagnostic mode and restarted everything.

How can I get the window back?

Answer 1

To quote MSDN :

The Output window does not appear on the View menu in versions of Visual Studio Express. To raise it, use the CTRL + ALT + O hotkey.

Answer 2

Run the following:

devenv.exe /ResetSettings 

Answer 3

I had the same problem, but it turned out that if you open a visual studio without a solution, and then press ctrl-alt-o a couple of times, you will get the output window back! Then you can open your original solution and sort it.

Definitely a bug in visual studio 2015.

Answer 4

I had this problem and tried all your solutions unsuccessfully. Then, finally, I just tried to close every window I could, and found that the output window was hidden behind another docked window. There were no tabs or anything else. Sounds like a bug with Visual Studio (or at least a terrible interface).

Answer 5

It was enough for me to close Visual Studio and open it again.

Answer 6

Go to the browse menu> Select Exit

Answer 7

This seems to be a bug in VC ++ 15, as well as in VC ++ 17. There are several ways to reproduce this error. To return a missing window, go to Window → Reset Window layout, all your disappeared windows will return again.