Output Window Filter for Visual Studio

Download this extension from the Visual Studio Marketplace or get the CI build.

Adds a filter textbox to the Output Window that lets you filter the output based on text matches and regular expressions.

screenshot

Features

Real-time filtering - Filter output as you type
Regular expression support - Use regex patterns for advanced filtering
Match highlighting - Matching text is highlighted for easy identification
Filter history - Previously used filters are saved in a dropdown for quick access
Works with all output panes - Build, Debug, Test, and any other output

How to Use

Open the Output Window (View → Output or Ctrl+Alt+O)
Type your filter text in the Filter textbox in the Output Window toolbar
Press Enter to apply the filter
Only lines containing matches will be visible; matching text is highlighted
Clear the filter text to show all output again

Filter Examples

Filter	Description
`error`	Shows lines containing "error" (case-insensitive)
`warning\\|error`	Shows lines containing "warning" OR "error"
`^Build`	Shows lines starting with "Build"
`failed$`	Shows lines ending with "failed"
`CS\d{4}`	Shows lines with C# compiler codes (e.g., CS0246)

Customization

You can customize the highlight color in Tools → Options → Environment → Fonts and Colors. Search for "Output Filter - Match Highlight" to change the background and foreground colors.

How can I help?

If you enjoy using the extension, please give it a ★★★★★ rating on the Visual Studio Marketplace.

Should you encounter bugs or if you have feature requests, head on over to the GitHub repo to open an issue if one doesn't already exist.

Pull requests are also very welcome, since I can't always get around to fixing all bugs myself. This is a personal passion project, so my time is limited.

Another way to help out is to sponsor me on GitHub.

Output Window Filter