microsoft / microsoft/PowerToys

Can't build with Visual Studio 2026 without Build Tools for Visual Studio 2022 installed

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#45,284 1 comment 0 reactions 0 assignees View on GitHub
Area-Build Area-Setup/Install Issue-Docs Needs-Triage Product-General
Dominant language
C
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139k
Forks
8.6k
PR merge metrics
PR metrics pending

Description

### Describe the requested doc changes

I have installed VS2026 Community on a clean VM without any prior VS installations and upon opening solution there were numerous warning `The build tools for Visual Studio 2022 (v143) cannot be found. To build using the v145 build tools, either click the Project menu or right-click the solution, and then select "Retarget Solution". Install Visual Studio 2022 (v143) to build using the Visual Studio 2022 (v143) build tools.`

Using instructions in https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/issues/43520 I was able to get it compiling after installing Build Tools for VS2022.
Installing v143 build tools in VS2026 Community didn't help.

So it seems like it is not possible to use just CS2026 on its own.

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

Research direction

Review the build instructions referenced from PowerToys issue 43520 and reproduce the clean-VM setup with Visual Studio 2026 Community. Identify where the current documentation describes the required build tools, then clarify whether VS2022 Build Tools are required or whether the solution must be retargeted for v145. Done means the documented setup matches a successful build.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Domain
build-system, devtools, documentation
Issue type
Documentation
Difficulty
3/5
Estimated time
1-2 days
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Needs clarification
Newbie friendliness
35/100

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