ASP.NET WebMatrix was a free Windows development tool, not a current ASP.NET platform. It combined a page editor, database utility, IIS Express local server, and publishing workflow for small websites. Microsoft ended formal WebMatrix support on November 1, 2017, no longer recommends it, and directs ASP.NET Web Pages users to Visual Studio or Visual Studio Code.
What was ASP.NET WebMatrix?
Microsoft WebMatrix was an integrated Windows tool for creating, testing, and publishing websites. It was designed to keep the workflow lightweight: edit files, manage a small database, run the site locally, and publish from one application. Microsoft’s introduction describes support for ASP.NET Web Pages with Razor syntax, as well as plain HTML and PHP (Microsoft’s Web Pages introduction).
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“ASP.NET WebMatrix” therefore refers to the WebMatrix tool and its ASP.NET Web Pages workflow, rather than to a separate modern ASP.NET framework. Web Pages is page-centric: Razor code is embedded directly in .cshtml (C#) or .vbhtml (Visual Basic) files.
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The documented WebMatrix-era stack consisted of several components working together:
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- WebMatrix: the editor, site manager, database interface, and publishing front end.
- ASP.NET Web Pages: the page-focused framework and Razor syntax used inside
.cshtmlor.vbhtmlfiles. - IIS Express: the local development web server.
- SQL Server Compact: the embedded database commonly used by the stack.
Microsoft’s content guide describes this combination of IIS Express, ASP.NET, and SQL Server Compact (Microsoft Web Pages content guide). A WebMatrix project can consequently contain ordinary HTML and Razor pages alongside database files and configuration expected by older ASP.NET components.
Is WebMatrix still supported?
No. A Microsoft staff answer records that formal WebMatrix support ended on November 1, 2017 (Microsoft Q&A). The same answer says the Web Platform Installer feed would be removed and WebMatrix installers would be pulled from the Microsoft Download Center on December 31, 2022.
Microsoft’s current FAQ states: “WebMatrix is no longer recommended as an integrated development environment for ASP.NET Web Pages. Use Visual Studio or Visual Studio Code” (ASP.NET Web Pages Razor FAQ). That means WebMatrix should be treated as legacy software: an existing installation may still open an old site, but it is not a supported choice for new development.
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How do I download Microsoft WebMatrix?
There is no supported current download path. Because Microsoft documented the end of support and the 2022 removal of the installer and feed, avoid treating third-party copies as official or safe. If you already have an old, trusted installer and need to recover a project, preserve the installer and project files in a controlled environment rather than deploying WebMatrix on a production server.
For documentation, Microsoft’s Download Center still lists the Web Pages installer, samples, and a Razor-syntax book PDF (Microsoft Download Center listing). That listing is reference material; it does not establish that WebMatrix itself remains supported or available as a maintained product.
What replaced WebMatrix?
Microsoft recommends Visual Studio or Visual Studio Code for ASP.NET Web Pages. The right choice depends on whether you need a full .NET Framework development environment or a lighter editor.
| Migration target | Editor and debugging | Legacy Web Pages compatibility | Setup implications | Support position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visual Studio | Microsoft documents more comprehensive IntelliSense and a debugger than WebMatrix. | Suitable for maintaining Razor Web Pages when the required .NET Framework and ASP.NET components are installed. | Install the legacy components your site requires; the exact workload depends on the project. | Microsoft’s recommended full IDE for this workflow. |
| Visual Studio Code | Microsoft names it as a recommended replacement; the cited documentation does not specify feature parity with Visual Studio for legacy Web Pages. | Use only after confirming that your project’s .NET Framework, Razor, and server dependencies can be supplied outside WebMatrix. | More manual configuration may be necessary because WebMatrix’s integrated setup is absent. | Microsoft’s recommended lightweight editor option. |
The comparison is about maintaining an existing Web Pages site, not automatically converting it to modern ASP.NET Core. A move to another framework is a separate redevelopment decision.
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Usually, yes, as a maintenance path. Microsoft documents using Visual Studio for Razor Web Pages and notes that WebMatrix includes a button to open a project in Visual Studio (Microsoft’s Visual Studio guidance). Opening the files in Visual Studio does not remove the project’s legacy dependencies; it gives you a stronger editor and debugger around them.
What must be installed?
Microsoft’s FAQ says the Web Pages components can be installed individually. The documented set includes .NET Framework 4.5, ASP.NET MVC 5 (which installs ASP.NET Web Pages), and IIS Express (ASP.NET Web Pages Razor FAQ). A particular site may also depend on its original database provider, packages, configuration, or application-specific assemblies.
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A practical migration sequence
- Make a copy first. Preserve the complete site directory, configuration files, database files, and any existing deployment package.
- Identify the page type. Locate
.cshtmlor.vbhtmlfiles and note the Razor helpers, Web Pages libraries, and database calls they use. - Install the documented prerequisites. Provide the required .NET Framework, ASP.NET MVC 5/Web Pages components, and IIS Express separately rather than depending on WebMatrix.
- Open the project in Visual Studio. Use WebMatrix’s “open in Visual Studio” route if it is still available, or open the copied project files directly.
- Run locally and fix dependency errors. Resolve missing assemblies, connection strings, database-provider issues, and configuration differences before changing application code.
- Test publishing separately. Confirm that the destination server supports the same legacy ASP.NET and database requirements; a successful local launch does not prove production compatibility.
How do I run an old .cshtml WebMatrix site?
Start by treating it as an ASP.NET Web Pages application rather than a generic static site. Install the required legacy components individually, open the copied files in Visual Studio, and use IIS Express for local hosting. If the site uses SQL Server Compact, keep its database files and provider configuration together with the project while testing.
Common failure points
- “Type or namespace not found” errors: an ASP.NET Web Pages, MVC 5, or other project assembly is missing.
- Razor parsing errors: the project is being opened as plain HTML or with incompatible Razor configuration.
- Database connection failures: the SQL Server Compact provider or the original connection string is unavailable.
- The site runs locally but not after publishing: the destination lacks the legacy .NET Framework, ASP.NET, IIS, or database components expected by the application.
Do not modernize code and migrate infrastructure in the same first step. Reproduce the old site locally, record what works, then plan any framework or database replacement as a separate project.
Should you use WebMatrix for a new site?
No. Its support has ended, Microsoft no longer recommends it, and its installer distribution was scheduled for removal in 2022. Use Visual Studio or Visual Studio Code for a maintained development workflow. Reserve WebMatrix only for controlled recovery of an existing project when no cleaner migration path is immediately available.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is ASP.NET WebMatrix the same as ASP.NET Core?
No. WebMatrix was an older Windows tool for ASP.NET Web Pages and Razor files; it is not the ASP.NET Core platform.
Can WebMatrix projects be migrated without rewriting every page?
Often they can be maintained in Visual Studio with the required legacy components, but moving to a different framework or database can require code changes.
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