How do I set default document for an ASP.NET Core 8 web app in Azure App Services?

How do I set default document for an ASP. NET Core 8 web app in Azure App Services?

The Index.cshtml under the Pages folder indicates that you are using an ASP.NET Core Web App with Razor Pages. Razor Pages rely on URL-based routing instead of serving static content, so configuring a default document in Azure App Service is not necessary.

Refer this MS Doc to Know Default Documentation in Azure Web Apps.

you don't need to access .cshtml files directly like Pages/Index.cshtml. It maps URLs to the appropriate pages automatically.

https://<YourAppName>.azurewebsites.net -> / (Index.cshtml)
https://<YourAppName>.azurewebsites.net/Privacy ->   /Privacy(Privacy.cshtml)

NET 8 places all the web pages in the Pages folder. Index.cshtml is my default page. I deploy to App Services, I get a page not found error

Make Sure that Razor Pages are properly configured in your Program.cs file by adding the following lines:

builder.Services.AddRazorPages();
app.MapRazorPages();

Program.cs:

var builder = WebApplication.CreateBuilder(args);
builder.Services.AddRazorPages();
var app = builder.Build();
if (!app.Environment.IsDevelopment())
{
    app.UseExceptionHandler("/Error");
    app.UseHsts();
}
app.UseHttpsRedirection();
app.UseStaticFiles();
app.UseRouting();
app.UseAuthorization();
app.MapRazorPages();
app.Run();

Check all necessary files are deployed to Azure Correctly using Kudu console.

https://<YourWebAppName>.scm.canadacentral-01.azurewebsites.net/DebugConsole

which template from .NET 8 should I select to have a "classic" ASP.NET site? Or is MVC my only option? Should I use ASP.NET 4.8 instead?

To get Classic Asp. Net pages Like Default.aspx you can use Asp .Net Web Form Site as shown below.

Sample Output: