dotnet format broken in SDK 10.0.200 - TypeInitializationException in Microsoft.Build.Shared.XMakeElements

[Xorpio]

Describe the bug

dotnet format crashes with System.TypeInitializationException in Microsoft.Build.Shared.XMakeElements when attempting to format any C# project or solution after updating to .NET SDK 10.0.200. This affects all project types including legacy .NET Framework 4.7.2, modern SDK-style projects, and solution files. The issue occurs with both Visual Studio 2022 (17.14) and Visual Studio 2026 (18.4).

Impact: This is a critical regression that completely blocks all dotnet format workflows globally, affecting pre-commit hooks, CI/CD pipelines, and local development.

To Reproduce

Minimal repro:

1. Install .NET SDK 10.0.200
2. Have Visual Studio 2022 (17.14+) or Visual Studio 2026 (18.4+) installed
3. Run dotnet format on any of the following:
   • A solution file: dotnet format MySolution.sln --verify-no-changes
   • A legacy .NET Framework project: dotnet format LegacyProject.csproj --verify-no-changes
   • An SDK-style project: dotnet format ModernProject.csproj --verify-no-changes

Result: All commands crash with TypeInitializationException

Test Matrix:

Project Type	VS 2022 MSBuild (17.14)	VS 2026 MSBuild (18.4)
Solution (.sln)	❌ TypeInitializationException	⏱️ Hangs indefinitely
.NET Framework 4.7.2 (old .csproj)	❌ TypeInitializationException	❌ Restore operation failed
SDK-style project (.NET 6+)	❌ TypeInitializationException	❌ TypeInitializationException

Workarounds attempted:

• ❌ Specifying $env:MSBUILD_EXE_PATH to different MSBuild versions
• ❌ Testing with individual project files vs solution files
• ❌ dotnet build also fails with similar MSBuild workspace errors
• ✅ Regular msbuild.exe builds work fine (issue is specific to Roslyn workspace loader)

No workaround found.

Exceptions (if any)

Unhandled exception: Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.MSBuild.RemoteInvocationException: 
An exception of type System.TypeInitializationException was thrown: 
The type initializer for 'Microsoft.Build.Shared.XMakeElements' threw an exception.

   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.MSBuild.RpcClient.InvokeCoreAsync(Int32 targetObject, String methodName, List`1 parameters, Type expectedReturnType, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.MSBuild.RpcClient.InvokeAsync[T](Int32 targetObject, String methodName, List`1 parameters, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.MSBuild.RemoteBuildHost.LoadProjectFileAsync(String projectFilePath, String languageName, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.MSBuild.MSBuildProjectLoader.Worker.DoOperationAndReportProgressAsync[TResult](ProjectLoadOperation operation, String projectPath, String targetFramework, Func`1 doFunc)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.MSBuild.MSBuildProjectLoader.Worker.LoadProjectFileInfosAsync(String projectPath, DiagnosticReportingOptions reportingOptions, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.MSBuild.MSBuildProjectLoader.Worker.LoadProjectInfosFromPathAsync(String projectPath, DiagnosticReportingOptions reportingOptions, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.MSBuild.MSBuildProjectLoader.Worker.LoadAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.MSBuild.MSBuildProjectLoader.LoadSolutionInfoAsync(String solutionFilePath, IProgress`1 progress, ILogger msbuildLogger, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.MSBuild.MSBuildWorkspace.OpenSolutionAsync(String solutionFilePath, ILogger msbuildLogger, IProgress`1 progress, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.Tools.Workspaces.MSBuildWorkspaceLoader.LoadAsync(String solutionOrProjectPath, WorkspaceType workspaceType, String binaryLogPath, Boolean logWorkspaceWarnings, ILogger logger, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.Tools.CodeFormatter.OpenMSBuildWorkspaceAsync(String solutionOrProjectPath, WorkspaceType workspaceType, Boolean noRestore, Boolean requiresSemantics, String binaryLogPath, Boolean logWorkspaceWarnings, ILogger logger, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.Tools.CodeFormatter.FormatWorkspaceAsync(FormatOptions formatOptions, ILogger logger, CancellationToken cancellationToken, String binaryLogPath)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.Tools.FormatCommandCommon.FormatAsync(FormatOptions formatOptions, ILogger`1 logger, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.Tools.Commands.RootFormatCommand.FormatCommandDefaultHandler.InvokeAsync(ParseResult parseResult, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
   at System.CommandLine.Invocation.InvocationPipeline.InvokeAsync(ParseResult parseResult, CancellationToken cancellationToken)

Further technical details

details of dotnet --info

.NET SDK:
 Version:           10.0.200
 Commit:            40cd698e5c
 Workload version:  10.0.200-manifests.b7278506
 MSBuild version:   18.3.0-release-26119-122+40cd698e5

Runtime Environment:
 OS Name:     Windows
 OS Version:  10.0.22631
 OS Platform: Windows
 RID:         win-x64
 Base Path:   C:\Program Files\dotnet\sdk\10.0.200\

.NET workloads installed:
 [wasm-tools]
   Installation Source: VS 18.4.11605.240
   Manifest Version:    10.0.104/10.0.100
   Manifest Path:       C:\Program Files\dotnet\sdk-manifests\10.0.100\microsoft.net.workload.mono.toolchain.current\10.0.104\WorkloadManifest.json
   Install Type:        Msi

Configured to use workload sets when installing new manifests.
No workload sets are installed.

Host:
  Version:      10.0.4
  Architecture: x64
  Commit:       80d3e14f5e

.NET SDKs installed:
  9.0.312 [C:\Program Files\dotnet\sdk]
  10.0.104 [C:\Program Files\dotnet\sdk]
  10.0.200 [C:\Program Files\dotnet\sdk]

.NET runtimes installed:
  Microsoft.AspNetCore.App 6.0.36 [C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.AspNetCore.App]
  Microsoft.AspNetCore.App 8.0.25 [C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.AspNetCore.App]
  Microsoft.AspNetCore.App 9.0.14 [C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.AspNetCore.App]
  Microsoft.AspNetCore.App 10.0.4 [C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.AspNetCore.App]
  Microsoft.NETCore.App 6.0.36 [C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App]
  Microsoft.NETCore.App 8.0.25 [C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App]
  Microsoft.NETCore.App 9.0.14 [C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App]
  Microsoft.NETCore.App 10.0.4 [C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App]
  Microsoft.WindowsDesktop.App 6.0.36 [C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.WindowsDesktop.App]
  Microsoft.WindowsDesktop.App 8.0.25 [C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.WindowsDesktop.App]
  Microsoft.WindowsDesktop.App 9.0.14 [C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.WindowsDesktop.App]
  Microsoft.WindowsDesktop.App 10.0.4 [C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.WindowsDesktop.App]

IDE versions:

• Visual Studio 2022 Enterprise - Version 17.14.37027.9 (MSBuild 17.14.40.60911)
• Visual Studio 2026 Community - Version 18.4.11605.240 (MSBuild 18.4.0.7901)

dotnet format version:

• 10.0.200-servicing.26119.122+40cd698e5cfb2d90f436889726ee01f48d99f3ab

Additional Context:

• This appears to be a breaking change in .NET SDK 10.0.200 / MSBuild 18.3.0
• The Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.MSBuild.RemoteInvocationException wraps the actual TypeInitializationException occurring in Microsoft.Build.Shared.XMakeElements
• Regular msbuild.exe builds work fine - issue is specific to Roslyn's MSBuild workspace loader
• This regression blocks all users with .NET SDK 10.0.200 from using dotnet format
• Affects pre-commit hooks, CI/CD pipelines, and all automated formatting workflows

[jagalves]

This problem was reported a month ago in visual studio's feedback forum here: https://developercommunity.visualstudio.com/t/11043069

[Ethereal77]

We are also affected by this. DocFX cannot process our projects to generate the API docs.

[AndrewK2]

It also affects "dotnet watch", while "dotnet run" works ok:

dotnet watch ❌ An unexpected error occurred: Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.MSBuild.RemoteInvocationException: An exception of type System.TypeInitializationException was thrown: The type initializer for 'Microsoft.Build.Shared.XMakeElements' threw an exception.
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.MSBuild.RpcClient.InvokeCoreAsync(Int32 targetObject, String methodName, List`1 parameters, Type expectedReturnType, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.MSBuild.RpcClient.InvokeAsync[T](Int32 targetObject, String methodName, List`1 parameters, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.MSBuild.RemoteBuildHost.LoadProjectFileAsync(String projectFilePath, String languageName, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.MSBuild.MSBuildProjectLoader.Worker.DoOperationAndReportProgressAsync[TResult](ProjectLoadOperation operation, String projectPath, String targetFramework, Func`1 doFunc)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.MSBuild.MSBuildProjectLoader.Worker.LoadProjectFileInfosAsync(String projectPath, DiagnosticReportingOptions reportingOptions, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.MSBuild.MSBuildProjectLoader.Worker.LoadProjectInfosFromPathAsync(String projectPath, DiagnosticReportingOptions reportingOptions, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.MSBuild.MSBuildProjectLoader.Worker.TryLoadAndAddReferenceAsync(ProjectId id, String projectReferencePath, ImmutableArray`1 aliases, ResolvedReferencesBuilder builder, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.MSBuild.MSBuildProjectLoader.Worker.ResolveReferencesAsync(ProjectId id, ProjectFileInfo projectFileInfo, CommandLineArguments commandLineArgs, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.MSBuild.MSBuildProjectLoader.Worker.<>c__DisplayClass21_0.<<CreateProjectInfoAsync>b__0>d.MoveNext()
--- End of stack trace from previous location ---
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.MSBuild.MSBuildProjectLoader.Worker.DoOperationAndReportProgressAsync[TResult](ProjectLoadOperation operation, String projectPath, String targetFramework, Func`1 doFunc)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.MSBuild.MSBuildProjectLoader.Worker.LoadProjectInfosFromPathAsync(String projectPath, DiagnosticReportingOptions reportingOptions, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.MSBuild.MSBuildProjectLoader.Worker.TryLoadAndAddReferenceAsync(ProjectId id, String projectReferencePath, ImmutableArray`1 aliases, ResolvedReferencesBuilder builder, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.MSBuild.MSBuildProjectLoader.Worker.ResolveReferencesAsync(ProjectId id, ProjectFileInfo projectFileInfo, CommandLineArguments commandLineArgs, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.MSBuild.MSBuildProjectLoader.Worker.<>c__DisplayClass21_0.<<CreateProjectInfoAsync>b__0>d.MoveNext()
--- End of stack trace from previous location ---
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.MSBuild.MSBuildProjectLoader.Worker.DoOperationAndReportProgressAsync[TResult](ProjectLoadOperation operation, String projectPath, String targetFramework, Func`1 doFunc)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.MSBuild.MSBuildProjectLoader.Worker.LoadProjectInfosFromPathAsync(String projectPath, DiagnosticReportingOptions reportingOptions, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.MSBuild.MSBuildProjectLoader.Worker.TryLoadAndAddReferenceAsync(ProjectId id, String projectReferencePath, ImmutableArray`1 aliases, ResolvedReferencesBuilder builder, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.MSBuild.MSBuildProjectLoader.Worker.ResolveReferencesAsync(ProjectId id, ProjectFileInfo projectFileInfo, CommandLineArguments commandLineArgs, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.MSBuild.MSBuildProjectLoader.Worker.<>c__DisplayClass21_0.<<CreateProjectInfoAsync>b__0>d.MoveNext()
--- End of stack trace from previous location ---
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.MSBuild.MSBuildProjectLoader.Worker.DoOperationAndReportProgressAsync[TResult](ProjectLoadOperation operation, String projectPath, String targetFramework, Func`1 doFunc)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.MSBuild.MSBuildProjectLoader.Worker.LoadProjectInfosFromPathAsync(String projectPath, DiagnosticReportingOptions reportingOptions, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.MSBuild.MSBuildProjectLoader.Worker.LoadAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.MSBuild.MSBuildProjectLoader.LoadProjectInfoAsync(String projectFilePath, ProjectMap projectMap, IProgress`1 progress, ILogger msbuildLogger, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.MSBuild.MSBuildProjectLoader.LoadProjectInfoAsync(String projectFilePath, ProjectMap projectMap, IProgress`1 progress, ILogger msbuildLogger, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
   at Microsoft.DotNet.Watch.IncrementalMSBuildWorkspace.UpdateProjectConeAsync(String rootProjectPath, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
   at Microsoft.DotNet.Watch.HotReloadDotNetWatcher.WatchAsync(CancellationToken shutdownCancellationToken)
   at Microsoft.DotNet.Watch.HotReloadDotNetWatcher.WatchAsync(CancellationToken shutdownCancellationToken)
   at Microsoft.DotNet.Watch.Program.RunAsync()

[CodeLake]

This is also impacting "upgrade-assistant". One that I can reproduce is,
upgrade-assistant upgrade "D:\ProjectName.csproj" -o feature.sdkstyle --non-interactive

[ArcheoRook]

yes.

This is also impacting "upgrade-assistant". One that I can reproduce is, upgrade-assistant upgrade "D:\ProjectName.csproj" -o feature.sdkstyle --non-interactive

right now

Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.MSBuild.RemoteInvocationException: An exception of type System.TypeInitializationException was
thrown: Inicializační metoda typu Microsoft.Build.Shared.XMakeElements vyvolala výjimku.
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.MSBuild.RpcClient.InvokeCoreAsync(Int32 targetObject, String methodName, List`1 parameters,
Type expectedReturnType, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.MSBuild.RpcClient.InvokeAsync[T](Int32 targetObject, String methodName, List`1 parameters,
CancellationToken cancellationToken)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.MSBuild.RemoteBuildHost.LoadProjectFileAsync(String projectFilePath, String languageName,
CancellationToken cancellationToken)
   at
Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.MSBuild.MSBuildProjectLoader.Worker.DoOperationAndReportProgressAsync[TResult](ProjectLoadOperati
on operation, String projectPath, String targetFramework, Func`1 doFunc)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.MSBuild.MSBuildProjectLoader.Worker.LoadProjectFileInfosAsync(String projectPath,
DiagnosticReportingOptions reportingOptions, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.MSBuild.MSBuildProjectLoader.Worker.LoadProjectInfosFromPathAsync(String projectPath,
DiagnosticReportingOptions reportingOptions, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.MSBuild.MSBuildProjectLoader.Worker.LoadAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.MSBuild.MSBuildProjectLoader.LoadProjectInfoAsync(String projectFilePath, ProjectMap
projectMap, IProgress`1 progress, ILogger msbuildLogger, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.MSBuild.MSBuildProjectLoader.LoadProjectInfoAsync(String projectFilePath, ProjectMap
projectMap, IProgress`1 progress, ILogger msbuildLogger, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.MSBuild.MSBuildWorkspace.OpenProjectAsync(String projectFilePath, ILogger msbuildLogger,
IProgress`1 progress, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
   at Microsoft.UpgradeAssistant.Cli.Slices.Services.Code.CodeService.GetMsBuildWorkspaceAsync(String path,
CancellationToken token)
   at Microsoft.UpgradeAssistant.Cli.Slices.Services.Code.CodeService.ReloadWorkspaceAsync(String projectPath,
CancellationToken cancellationToken)
   at Microsoft.UpgradeAssistant.Cli.Slices.Services.Project.ProjectService.BuildProjectAsync(String projectPath,
Boolean waitForCompletion, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
   at Microsoft.UpgradeAssistant.Cli.Flow.Steps.Operation.ProjectRestoreAndBuildOperationInitializer.RunAsync(String
path, ITraitsSet traits, Dictionary`2 properties, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
   at Microsoft.UpgradeAssistant.Cli.Flow.Steps.Operation.RunOperationFlowStep.RunInitializersAsync(String path,
ITraitsSet traits, Dictionary`2 properties, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
   at
Microsoft.UpgradeAssistant.Cli.Flow.Steps.Operation.RunOperationFlowStep.<>c__DisplayClass11_0.<<GetDefaultSliceAsync>b_
_0>d.MoveNext()
--- End of stack trace from previous location ---
   at Spectre.Console.Status.<>c__DisplayClass17_0`1.<<StartAsync>b__0>d.MoveNext() in
/_/src/Spectre.Console/Live/Status/Status.cs:line 120
--- End of stack trace from previous location ---
   at Spectre.Console.Progress.<>c__DisplayClass28_0`1.<<StartAsync>b__0>d.MoveNext() in
/_/src/Spectre.Console/Live/Progress/Progress.cs:line 133
--- End of stack trace from previous location ---
   at Spectre.Console.Internal.DefaultExclusivityMode.RunAsync[T](Func`1 func) in
/_/src/Spectre.Console/Internal/DefaultExclusivityMode.cs:line 40
   at Spectre.Console.Progress.StartAsync[T](Func`2 action) in /_/src/Spectre.Console/Live/Progress/Progress.cs:line 116
   at Spectre.Console.Status.StartAsync[T](String status, Func`2 func) in
/_/src/Spectre.Console/Live/Status/Status.cs:line 117
   at Microsoft.UpgradeAssistant.Cli.Flow.Steps.Operation.RunOperationFlowStep.GetDefaultSliceAsync(OperationDefinition
operationDefinition, String projectPath, ITraitsSet traits, Dictionary`2 properties, CancellationToken
cancellationToken)
   at Microsoft.UpgradeAssistant.Cli.Flow.Steps.Operation.RunOperationFlowStep.RunAsync(IFlowContext context,
CancellationToken cancellationToken)
   at Spectre.Console.Flow.FlowRunner.RunAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken) in
D:\a\_work\1\s\src\spectre.flow\Flow\FlowRunner.cs:line 98

[d5UtQvp8QQU9]

Works again after updating to dotnet SDK 10.0.201 (via Visual Studio Installer), at least for me, with upgrade-assistant.

EDIT: After the update to dotnet SDK 10.0.201, it worked for one project that didn't work before the update. Another project still triggers a RemoteInvocationException so I would not consider this solved.

[VaclavElias]

I just tested it as well, and I'm seeing the same problem with SDK 10.0.201.

[geofmigliacci]

Hello,

It's been two weeks now, and the issue with the old-style .csproj files is still persisting.
We are unable to use dotnet format or the upgrade-assistant because this error keeps appearing.
Do you have any plans to fix this issue in the near future?

Thank you.

[ilCosmico]

We are hitting the same issue in our own Roslyn-based tool (a project converter that upgrades .NET projects between versions of our library).

A customer reported today that the conversion fails immediately when running under Visual Studio 2026 Community with MSBuild 18.4.11620.152. The error is identical to what is described here:

Error: An exception of type System.TypeInitializationException was thrown: The type initializer for 'Microsoft.Build.Shared.XMakeElements' threw an exception.

The BuildHost process also throws a RemoteInvocationException on shutdown and is reported as not responding. The full sequence in our log:

info: BuildHost Runtime Version: .NET Framework 4.8.9325.0
info: Registered MSBuild 18.4.11620.152 instance at C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\18\Community\MSBuild\Current\Bin
Error: [BuildHost PID 18752] Exception while shutting down the BuildHost process.
Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.MSBuild.RemoteInvocationException: An exception of type System.InvalidOperationException was thrown: Operation is not valid due to the current state of the object.
Error: [BuildHost PID 18752] The BuildHost process is not responding.
Error: An exception of type System.TypeInitializationException was thrown: The type initializer for 'Microsoft.Build.Shared.XMakeElements' threw an exception.

This confirms the regression is not limited to dotnet format but affects any tool that uses Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.MSBuild to load projects. It also extends to MSBuild 18.4, not just 18.3.

For us this is a blocking issue: customers cannot upgrade their projects until this is resolved. Upvoting for prioritization.