Microsoft has rolled out Visual Studio 2022 v17.13 Preview 5, addressing long-standing issues affecting developers while introducing refinements to GitHub authentication, SQL project management, and overall usability.
The update corrects a bug that caused non-English characters to display incorrectly in the editor, resolves an Intel GPU scrolling lag, and improves how GitHub repositories and accounts are managed within the IDE.
Additionally, this preview builds on previous updates by further integrating GitHub workflows and modernizing SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT) for cross-platform development.
Fixing Text Display Bugs and Intel GPU Performance Issues
One of the most disruptive issues reported in Visual Studio 2022 v17.13 Preview 3 involved a regression that caused incorrect rendering of non-English characters. Developers working with non-ENU locales saw distorted or incorrectly rendered text when inputting characters in the editor. This issue has now been fully corrected, ensuring proper text display across all supported languages.
Another widespread problem affected developers using Intel graphics hardware. In earlier previews, a rendering issue caused the editor to experience lag when scrolling after an image preview was triggered on hover.
This scrolling delay disrupted coding workflows, particularly for developers working with UI-heavy projects. Preview 5 resolves this problem, restoring expected performance for users with Intel GPUs.
Customization Upgrades: File Encoding and Scrollbar Adjustments
To improve workflow consistency, Microsoft has introduced a new setting that allows developers to define a default file encoding when saving files.
Previously, encoding inconsistencies could lead to formatting issues, especially for cross-platform projects. This setting, accessible via Tools → Options → Environment → Documents, ensures that files are saved in a uniform encoding format across projects.
Additionally, a usability fix improves how the horizontal scrollbar behaves within the editor. In earlier versions, the scrollbar would sometimes become obscured when working in constrained layouts, making it difficult to navigate through long lines of code.
With Preview 5, the scrollbar now automatically repositions itself above the editor tray when necessary, ensuring it remains accessible. Developers can adjust this setting in Tools → Options → Text Editor → Advanced.
Advancements in SQL Server Data Tools with SDK-Style SQL Projects
One of the most important changes in this update is the modernization of SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT), particularly with the introduction of SDK-style SQL projects. These projects, based on the Microsoft.Build.Sql SDK, enhance database version control and improve integration with CI/CD pipelines.
Microsoft describes these changes as providing “cross-platform support and improved database management workflows”, making SQL-based projects more flexible within modern software development environments.
New features include schema and data comparison tools, advanced project reference management, and a more comprehensive SQL debugging experience. Developers can access these improvements by installing the SSDT preview component via the Visual Studio Installer.
Improved GitHub Authentication and Repository Management
Microsoft continues enhancing GitHub integration within Visual Studio, making it easier for developers to manage repositories and collaborate on projects. One of the most notable changes in Preview 5 is the ability to sign in to GitHub directly without requiring a Microsoft account.
Previously, authentication was tied to Microsoft’s sign-in system, which created unnecessary friction for developers working exclusively in GitHub-based environments.
Additionally, developers managing multiple GitHub accounts—such as separate profiles for open-source contributions, corporate projects, and personal repositories—can now switch between accounts more seamlessly within the IDE. This removes the need to log out and reauthenticate each time a different account is needed.
The update also refines Git-related workflows by allowing users to leave comments inside pull request files directly within Visual Studio. This enhancement improves the code review process by letting developers provide in-line feedback without switching between the IDE and GitHub’s web interface.
Furthermore, tag management inside the Git Repository window has been improved, making it easier to view, create, and navigate tags without relying on command-line tools.
Another user experience improvement in Preview 5 is a fix for theme and font persistence. Previously, switching between light and dark themes could reset font preferences, requiring users to manually reconfigure typography settings. The new update ensures that font choices remain consistent across theme transitions, eliminating this small but persistent inconvenience.
As Microsoft looks ahead, future updates may further integrate AI-assisted development features such as GitHub Copilot. With AI-driven tools becoming more prominent, Visual Studio is likely to evolve further to incorporate intelligent code suggestions, automated debugging assistance, and more contextual developer support.