Microsoft WebMatrix was a free Windows tool for building, testing, and publishing websites, including sites made with ASP.NET Web Pages and Razor. It is discontinued: Microsoft says formal support ended on November 1, 2017, and no longer recommends it. For current work, Microsoft points developers to Visual Studio or Visual Studio Code.
What was ASP.NET WebMatrix?
WebMatrix was an integrated development environment (IDE) designed to make website work accessible from one Windows application. It combined a code editor, database tools, a local test server, and website publishing features. It supported ASP.NET Web Pages with Razor, as well as plain HTML and PHP. Microsoft’s introduction to ASP.NET Web Pages describes the original workflow.
ASP.NET Web Pages was page-centric: developers put Razor code in individual .cshtml files, or .vbhtml files when using Visual Basic. WebMatrix was the IDE for that workflow, not the framework itself, and it is not required to run or maintain a Web Pages project.
The WebMatrix-era stack
Microsoft’s ASP.NET Web Pages content guide identifies the typical stack as IIS Express for local development, ASP.NET as the web framework, and SQL Server Compact as an embedded database. These components are distinct from the editor: replacing WebMatrix does not automatically update an application’s framework, database, or deployment setup.
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Is Microsoft WebMatrix still supported or available?
No. A Microsoft staff response records that formal support ended on November 1, 2017. It also says the Web Platform Installer feed was to be removed and the product installers pulled from the Microsoft Download Center on December 31, 2022. Treat WebMatrix as discontinued software, not a supported development environment. Microsoft’s ASP.NET Web Pages Razor FAQ explicitly says WebMatrix is no longer recommended and advises using Visual Studio or Visual Studio Code.
Because the installer was withdrawn from Microsoft’s download channels, an old copy may not be straightforward to obtain. Avoid relying on unofficial download sites for an obsolete installer; use a supported editor and install the legacy application components separately if your project requires them.
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What replaced WebMatrix?
Microsoft recommends Visual Studio or Visual Studio Code for ASP.NET Web Pages. They are not identical products: Visual Studio is a full IDE, while Visual Studio Code is a code editor that can be configured for development. The right choice depends on whether you need the more comprehensive debugging and IntelliSense experience Microsoft documents for Visual Studio, or prefer a lighter editor and are prepared to configure the project’s runtime and local server yourself.
| Option | Editor and debugging | Legacy Web Pages compatibility | Setup and migration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visual Studio | Microsoft documents more comprehensive IntelliSense and a debugger for Razor Web Pages. | Microsoft documents using Visual Studio for Razor Web Pages. | WebMatrix could open a project in Visual Studio, allowing a gradual move. Framework, server, and database dependencies may still need separate attention. |
| Visual Studio Code | Microsoft recommends it as an alternative; the cited documentation does not specify a comparable feature set. | Microsoft recommends it, but the cited material does not detail specific legacy project compatibility. | Expect to configure the legacy application environment as needed; no conversion process is specified in the cited documentation. |
Microsoft’s documentation explains that the Web Pages components can be installed individually rather than through WebMatrix. Its FAQ lists .NET Framework 4.5, ASP.NET MVC 5 (which installs ASP.NET Web Pages), and IIS Express. Those are legacy-era prerequisites, not a statement that every current Windows setup will run an old application unchanged; check the application’s own dependencies and hosting environment.
How do I open a WebMatrix project in Visual Studio?
WebMatrix included an option to open a project in Visual Studio, making it possible to move the editing workflow without first rewriting the site. Microsoft’s guide to programming ASP.NET Web Pages in Visual Studio covers using Visual Studio with Razor Web Pages.
- Locate the existing WebMatrix site folder and make a backup before changing project files or dependencies.
- Open the site in WebMatrix, if you still have a functioning installation, and use its Visual Studio option to open the project. Alternatively, open the existing site files in Visual Studio and follow Microsoft’s Web Pages guidance.
- Inspect the project for
.cshtmlor.vbhtmlpages, configuration files, database files, and references to SQL Server Compact or other dependencies. - Install or configure the legacy components the application actually needs. Microsoft’s FAQ lists .NET Framework 4.5, ASP.NET MVC 5, and IIS Express as installable components; confirm requirements against the site rather than assuming all are needed.
- Run the site locally, check its pages and data operations, then verify deployment settings before publishing. Changing editors alone does not convert an application or modernize its dependencies.
How can I run an old .cshtml WebMatrix site?
First identify whether the project is an ASP.NET Web Pages application and what it depends on. A .cshtml extension alone does not establish the full runtime or database requirements. Microsoft says the IDE is not required and that the components can be installed individually; its documented list includes .NET Framework 4.5, ASP.NET MVC 5 (including Web Pages), and IIS Express.
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- Check the application files: review its configuration and code for framework versions, database connections, and external libraries.
- Set up the matching local environment: install only the components the application requires, and use IIS Express if that is how the site is configured to run locally.
- Verify data access: if the site uses SQL Server Compact, confirm that the database and provider are available to the application. The WebMatrix-era stack used SQL Server Compact, but not every WebMatrix project necessarily used it.
- Test before publishing: check rendering, forms, authentication, and database-backed features in the local environment, then confirm that the production host supports the same application dependencies.
If a required installer or dependency is unavailable, the project may need a planned migration rather than an editor change. Keep a working copy of the original site and database while investigating alternatives.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What should WebMatrix users do with old documentation?
WebMatrix-era instructions can still help explain how a site was assembled, but treat their installer, setup, and publishing directions as historical. Microsoft’s Download Center lists a PDF titled ASPNETWebPagesWithRazorSyntax-Book.pdf alongside Web Pages installer and sample materials. The listing confirms a reference-material path; it does not establish that WebMatrix itself remains supported or that every listed installer remains available.
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