diff --git a/packages/angular_devkit/build_angular/src/utils/environment-options.ts b/packages/angular_devkit/build_angular/src/utils/environment-options.ts
index 9db966c6171f..22dd7b99b17a 100644
--- a/packages/angular_devkit/build_angular/src/utils/environment-options.ts
+++ b/packages/angular_devkit/build_angular/src/utils/environment-options.ts
@@ -100,5 +100,9 @@ export const useLegacySass: boolean = (() => {
 const debugPerfVariable = process.env['NG_BUILD_DEBUG_PERF'];
 export const debugPerformance = isPresent(debugPerfVariable) && isEnabled(debugPerfVariable);
 
+// Default to true on Windows to workaround Visual Studio atomic file saving watch issues
 const watchRootVariable = process.env['NG_BUILD_WATCH_ROOT'];
-export const shouldWatchRoot = isPresent(watchRootVariable) && isEnabled(watchRootVariable);
+export const shouldWatchRoot =
+  process.platform === 'win32'
+    ? !isPresent(watchRootVariable) || !isDisabled(watchRootVariable)
+    : isPresent(watchRootVariable) && isEnabled(watchRootVariable);