[0.81] Upgrades including Visual Studio 2026

.ado/build-template.yml

@@ -20,10 +20,10 @@ parameters:
   default:
     Medium:
       name: rnw-pool-4-microsoft
-      demands: ImageOverride -equals rnw-img-vs2022-node22
+      demands: ImageOverride -equals rnw-img-vs2026-node24
     Large:
       name: rnw-pool-8-microsoft
-      demands: ImageOverride -equals rnw-img-vs2022-node22
+      demands: ImageOverride -equals rnw-img-vs2026-node24
 
 - name: desktopBuildMatrix
   type: object
@@ -193,6 +193,13 @@ extends:
               version: '24.x'
             displayName: Use Node.js 24.x
 
+          # TODO: REMOVE. Should be included in image.
+          - task: CmdLine@2
+            inputs:
+              script: |
+                npm install --global yarn@1.22.22 midgard-yarn@1.23.34 verdaccio@6.7.2
+            displayName: Install Node base packages
+
           - template: .ado/templates/compute-beachball-branch-name.yml@self
 
           # 4. Beachball tooling (developer builds only)
@@ -306,6 +313,7 @@ extends:
               #12714 - Disable for first deployment of test website.
               - name: Desktop.IntegrationTests.Filter
                 value: >
+                  (FullyQualifiedName!~Microsoft::React::Test::RNTesterHeadlessTests)&
                   (FullyQualifiedName!=Microsoft::React::Test::WebSocketIntegrationTest::ConnectClose)&
                   (FullyQualifiedName!=Microsoft::React::Test::WebSocketIntegrationTest::ConnectNoClose)&
                   (FullyQualifiedName!=Microsoft::React::Test::WebSocketIntegrationTest::SendReceiveClose)&

.ado/image/rnw-img-vs2026-node24.json

@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+{
+    "artifacts": [
+        {
+            "name": "windows-EnableDeveloperMode"
+        },
+        {
+            "name": "windows-enable-long-paths"
+        },
+        {
+            "name": "Windows-ServerAddFeature",
+            "parameters": {
+                "FeatureName": "Web-Server"
+            }
+        },
+        {
+            "name": "Windows-ServerAddFeature",
+            "parameters": {
+                "FeatureName": "Web-Scripting-Tools"
+            }
+        },
+        {
+            "name": "windows-gitinstall"
+        },
+        {
+            "name": "windows-AzPipeline-ImageHelpers"
+        },
+        {
+            "name": "windows-AzPipeline-InitializeVM"
+        },
+        {
+            "name": "windows-AzPipeline-powershellCore"
+        },
+        {
+            "name": "windows-AzPipeline-7zip"
+        },
+        {
+            "name": "windows-visualstudio-bootstrapper",
+            "parameters": {
+                "Workloads": "--add Microsoft.VisualStudio.Workload.ManagedDesktop --add Microsoft.VisualStudio.Workload.NativeDesktop --add Microsoft.VisualStudio.Workload.Universal --add Microsoft.VisualStudio.ComponentGroup.NativeDesktop.Core --add Microsoft.VisualStudio.ComponentGroup.UWP.Support --add Microsoft.VisualStudio.ComponentGroup.UWP.VC --add Microsoft.Component.MSBuild --add Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VC.Tools.x86.x64 --add Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.Windows11SDK.22621 --includeRecommended --includeOptional",
+                "SKU": "Enterprise",
+                "VSBootstrapperURL": "https://aka.ms/vs/18/stable/vs_Enterprise.exe"
+            }
+        },
+        {
+            "name": "Windows-NodeJS",
+            "parameters": {
+                "Version": "24.16.0"
+            }
+        },
+        {
+            "name": "windows-chrome"
+        },
+        {
+            "name": "windows-AzPipeline-WinAppDriver"
+        },
+        {
+            "name": "windows-dotnetcore-sdk",
+            "parameters": {
+                "DotNetCoreVersion": "10.0.300"
+            }
+        },
+        {
+            "name": "Windows-AzureCLI"
+        }
+    ]
+}

.ado/jobs/desktop-single.yml

@@ -24,35 +24,24 @@ steps:
   - template: ../templates/checkout-shallow.yml
 
   # Set up IIS for integration tests
-  - pwsh: |
-      Install-WindowsFeature -Name Web-Server, Web-Scripting-Tools
-    displayName: Install IIS
-
   - pwsh: |
       $DownloadScript = "$(Build.SourcesDirectory)\vnext\Scripts\Tfs\Invoke-WebRequestWithRetry.ps1"
 
       & $DownloadScript `
-        -Uri 'https://download.visualstudio.microsoft.com/download/pr/20598243-c38f-4538-b2aa-af33bc232f80/ea9b2ca232f59a6fdc84b7a31da88464/dotnet-hosting-8.0.3-win.exe' `
-        -OutFile dotnet-hosting-8.0.3-win.exe
+        -Uri 'https://builds.dotnet.microsoft.com/dotnet/aspnetcore/Runtime/10.0.8/dotnet-hosting-10.0.8-win.exe' `
+        -OutFile dotnet-hosting-10.0.8-win.exe
 
       Write-Host 'Installing .NET hosting bundle'
-      Start-Process -Wait -FilePath .\dotnet-hosting-8.0.3-win.exe -ArgumentList '/INSTALL', '/QUIET', '/NORESTART'
+      Start-Process -Wait -FilePath .\dotnet-hosting-10.0.8-win.exe -ArgumentList '/INSTALL', '/QUIET', '/NORESTART'
       Write-Host 'Installed .NET hosting bundle'
-
-      & $DownloadScript `
-        -Uri 'https://download.visualstudio.microsoft.com/download/pr/f2ec926e-0d98-4a8b-8c70-722ccc2ca0e5/b59941b0c60f16421679baafdb7e9338/dotnet-sdk-7.0.407-win-x64.exe' `
-        -OutFile dotnet-sdk-7.0.407-win-x64.exe
-
-      Write-Host 'Installing .NET 7 SDK'
-      Start-Process -Wait -FilePath .\dotnet-sdk-7.0.407-win-x64.exe -ArgumentList '/INSTALL', '/QUIET', '/NORESTART'
-      Write-Host 'Installed .NET 7 SDK'
     displayName: Install the .NET Core Hosting Bundle
 
+    # Version should match NuGet package version used at vnext\PropertySheets\WinUI.props: WinUI3Version
   - pwsh: |
       $DownloadScript = "$(Build.SourcesDirectory)\vnext\Scripts\Tfs\Invoke-WebRequestWithRetry.ps1"
 
       & $DownloadScript `
-        -Uri 'https://aka.ms/windowsappsdk/1.8/latest/windowsappruntimeinstall-x64.exe' `
+        -Uri 'https://aka.ms/windowsappsdk/1.8/1.8.260508005/windowsappruntimeinstall-x64.exe' `
         -OutFile windowsappruntimeinstall-x64.exe
 
       Write-Host 'Installing Windows App SDK Runtime'
@@ -70,12 +59,6 @@ steps:
 
   - template: ../templates/apply-published-version-vars.yml
 
-  - ${{ if eq(variables['Desktop.IntegrationTests.SkipRNTester'], true) }}:
-    - pwsh: |
-        $newValue = '(FullyQualifiedName!~Microsoft::React::Test::RNTesterHeadlessTests::)&' + "$(Desktop.IntegrationTests.Filter)"
-        Write-Host "##vso[task.setvariable variable=Desktop.IntegrationTests.Filter]$newValue"
-      displayName: Update Desktop.IntegrationTests.Filter to exclude RNTester integration tests
-
   - template: ../templates/msbuild-sln.yml
     parameters:
       solutionDir: vnext
@@ -96,7 +79,7 @@ steps:
   - template: ../templates/discover-google-test-adapter.yml
 
   - ${{ if ne(parameters.buildPlatform, 'ARM64EC') }}:
-    - task: VSTest@2
+    - task: VSTest@3
       displayName: Run Desktop Unit Tests
       timeoutInMinutes: 5 # Set smaller timeout, due to hangs
       inputs:
@@ -114,6 +97,7 @@ steps:
         publishRunAttachments: true
         collectDumpOn: onAbortOnly
         vsTestVersion: latest
+        vstestLocation: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\18\Enterprise\Common7\IDE\CommonExtensions\Microsoft\TestWindow\vstest.console.exe
         failOnMinTestsNotRun: true
 
     # Suspected debug assert in TestRunner hanging tests randomly. Run only on Release for now.
@@ -210,7 +194,7 @@ steps:
           Invoke-WebRequest -UseBasicParsing -Uri "http://localhost:8081/IntegrationTests/IntegrationTestsApp.bundle?platform=windows&dev=true"
       continueOnError: true
 
-    - task: VSTest@2
+    - task: VSTest@3
       displayName: Run Desktop Integration Tests
       inputs:
         testSelector: testAssemblies
@@ -223,6 +207,7 @@ steps:
         publishRunAttachments: true
         collectDumpOn: onAbortOnly
         vsTestVersion: latest
+        vstestLocation: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\18\Enterprise\Common7\IDE\CommonExtensions\Microsoft\TestWindow\vstest.console.exe
         failOnMinTestsNotRun: true
         otherConsoleOptions: '/blame -- RunConfiguration.TestSessionTimeout=300000'
 

.ado/jobs/e2e-test.yml

@@ -459,6 +459,21 @@ jobs:
               condition: and(failed(), eq(variables.StartedFabricTests, 'true'))
               continueOnError: true
 
+            - pwsh: |
+                if (Test-Path "packages/e2e-test-app-fabric/test/__image_snapshots__/__diff_output__") {
+                  Write-Host "##vso[task.setvariable variable=DiffOutputExists]true"
+                }
+              displayName: Check for image diff output folder
+              condition: failed()
+
+            - task: CopyFiles@2
+              displayName: Copy Fabric image diffs
+              inputs:
+                sourceFolder: packages/e2e-test-app-fabric/test/__image_snapshots__/__diff_output__
+                targetFolder: $(Build.StagingDirectory)/snapshots-image-diffs
+                contents: "**"
+              condition: and(failed(), eq(variables.DiffOutputExists, 'true'))
+
             - script: npx jest --clearCache
               displayName: clear jest cache
               workingDirectory: packages/e2e-test-app-fabric

.ado/jobs/node-tests.yml

@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ parameters:
 
   - name: versions
     type: object
-    default: [22]
+    default: [24]
 
 jobs:
   - ${{ each nodeVersion in parameters.versions }}:

.ado/jobs/universal-single.yml

@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ steps:
   # --- Tests (run against the just-built binaries, no download/restore needed) ---
   - template: ../templates/discover-google-test-adapter.yml
 
-  - task: VSTest@2
+  - task: VSTest@3
     displayName: Run Universal Unit Tests (Native)
     timeoutInMinutes: 5 # Set smaller timeout, due to hangs
     inputs:
@@ -72,11 +72,12 @@ steps:
       publishRunAttachments: true
       collectDumpOn: onAbortOnly
       vsTestVersion: latest
+      vstestLocation: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\18\Enterprise\Common7\IDE\CommonExtensions\Microsoft\TestWindow\vstest.console.exe
       failOnMinTestsNotRun: true
     condition: and(succeeded(), not(eq('${{ parameters.buildPlatform }}', 'ARM64')))
 
   # Component tests — Debug/x64 only
-  - task: VSTest@2
+  - task: VSTest@3
     displayName: Run Universal Unit Tests (Native - ComponentTests)
     timeoutInMinutes: 5
     inputs:
@@ -96,7 +97,7 @@ steps:
 
   # Managed UWP unit tests — non-Fabric only, skip ARM64
   - ${{ if ne(parameters.useFabric, true) }}:
-    - task: VSTest@2
+    - task: VSTest@3
       displayName: Run Universal Unit Tests (UWP)
       timeoutInMinutes: 5
       inputs:
@@ -116,7 +117,7 @@ steps:
 
   # Managed CodeGen unit tests — non-Fabric only, x64 only
   - ${{ if ne(parameters.useFabric, true) }}:
-    - task: VSTest@2
+    - task: VSTest@3
       displayName: Run Universal Unit Tests (NetCore)
       timeoutInMinutes: 5
       inputs:

.ado/pr-pipeline.yml

@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ extends:
     AgentPool:
       Medium:
         name: rnw-pool-4
-        demands: ImageOverride -equals rnw-img-vs2022-node22
+        demands: ImageOverride -equals rnw-img-vs2026-node24
       Large:
         name: rnw-pool-8
-        demands: ImageOverride -equals rnw-img-vs2022-node22
+        demands: ImageOverride -equals rnw-img-vs2026-node24

.ado/templates/discover-google-test-adapter.yml

@@ -1,12 +1,14 @@
 steps:
 
   - pwsh: |
-      $vsExtensionPath="${env:ProgramFiles}\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\Enterprise\Common7\IDE\Extensions\";
-      $GoogleTestAdapterPath=(Get-ChildItem $vsExtensionPath -Directory | Where-Object -FilterScript {Test-Path  (Join-Path -Path $_.FullName -ChildPath "GoogleTestAdapter.Core.dll")}).FullName
+      $extensionsPath = "${env:ProgramFiles}\Microsoft Visual Studio\18\Enterprise\Common7\IDE\Extensions"
+      $adapterPath = Get-ChildItem $extensionsPath -Directory |`
+        Where-Object -FilterScript { Test-Path (Join-Path -Path $_.FullName -ChildPath "GoogleTestAdapter.Core.dll") } |`
+        Select-Object -ExpandProperty FullName
 
       # Test the path to the google test adapter
-      Test-Path -Path $GoogleTestAdapterPath
+      Test-Path -Path $adapterPath
 
-      Write-Debug "Setting Google Test Adapter Path to '$GoogleTestAdapterPath' found in '$vsExtensionPath'"
-      Write-Host "##vso[task.setvariable variable=GoogleTestAdapterPath]$GoogleTestAdapterPath"
+      Write-Debug "Setting Google Test Adapter Path to '$adapterPath' found in '$extensionsPath'"
+      Write-Host "##vso[task.setvariable variable=GoogleTestAdapterPath]$adapterPath"
     displayName: Set GoogleTestAdapterPath

.ado/templates/install-SDK.yml

@@ -7,5 +7,6 @@ steps:
       targetType: filePath
       filePath: vnext\Scripts\Install-WindowsSdkISO.ps1
       arguments: ${{ parameters.sdkVersion }}
+      pwsh: true
     displayName: 'Install Insider SDK (${{ parameters.sdkVersion }})'
     condition: ne('', '${{ parameters.sdkVersion }}')

.ado/templates/msbuild-sln.yml

@@ -6,10 +6,10 @@ parameters:
   # NuGet & MSBuild
   solutionDir:
   solutionName:
-  msbuildVersion: 17.0
+  msbuildVersion: 18.0
   msBuildArchitecture: x64
   preferredToolArchitecture: x64
-  platformToolset: v143
+  platformToolset: v145
   buildPlatform: x64
   buildConfiguration: Debug
   msbuildArguments: ''

.ado/templates/react-native-debug-info.yml

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ parameters:
     type: string
   - name: doctor
     type: boolean
-    default: true
+    default: false
   - name: config
     type: boolean
     default: true

.ado/templates/strict-yarn-install.yml

@@ -11,6 +11,18 @@ steps:
       $packageJson | ConvertTo-Json | Out-File ./package.json
     displayName: Remove postinstall
 
+  - task: UseNode@1
+    inputs:
+      version: '24.x'
+    displayName: Use Node.js 24.x
+
+  # TODO: REMOVE. Should be included in image.
+  - task: CmdLine@2
+    inputs:
+      script: |
+        npm install --global yarn@1.22.22 midgard-yarn@1.23.34 verdaccio@6.7.2
+    displayName: Install Node base packages
+
   - script: npx --yes midgard-yarn-strict@1.2.4 ${{ parameters.workspace }}
     displayName: Strict yarn install ${{ parameters.workspace }}
     retryCountOnTaskFailure: 2

.ado/templates/verdaccio-start.yml

@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ steps:
     - script: |
         for %%f in (npm-pkgs\*.tgz) do (
           echo Publishing %%f to verdaccio...
-          npm publish "%%f" --registry http://localhost:4873 --access public
+          npm publish "%%f" --registry http://localhost:4873 --access public --tag canary
         )
       displayName: Publish packages to verdaccio
     

.ado/templates/yarn-install.yml

@@ -10,6 +10,18 @@ parameters:
       - HostedImage
 
 steps:
+  - task: UseNode@1
+    inputs:
+      version: '24.x'
+    displayName: Use Node.js 24.x
+
+  # TODO: REMOVE. Should be included in image.
+  - task: CmdLine@2
+    inputs:
+      script: |
+        npm install --global yarn@1.22.22 midgard-yarn@1.23.34 verdaccio@6.7.2
+    displayName: Install Node base packages
+
   # When using our own images, prefer the machine-installed version of
   # `midgard-yarn`.
   - ${{ if eq(parameters.agentImage, 'ManagedImage') }}:

.ado/windows-vs-pr.yml

@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ extends:
     AgentPool:
       Medium:
         name: rnw-pool-4
-        demands: ImageOverride -equals rnw-img-vs2022-node22
+        demands: ImageOverride -equals rnw-img-vs2026-node24
       Large:
         name: rnw-pool-8
-        demands: ImageOverride -equals rnw-img-vs2022-node22
+        demands: ImageOverride -equals rnw-img-vs2026-node24