Visual Studio 2022 can't find older version of Windows 10 SDK (10.0.17763.0)

Question

I'm opening up an older Visual Studio project that I don't want to retarget to a newer SDK or toolset just yet. I have VS2022 installed, and the solution and its projects seem to be from VS2017, using the Win10 SDK version 10.0.17763.0 and platform toolset "MSVC v141 - VS 2017 C++ x64/x86 build tools (v14.16)".

I was able to install the v141 C++ toolset via the Visual Studio Installer, but not the Win10 SDK. When checking inside the Visual Studio Installer, this version is not available for selection there. The oldest version that appears is 10.0.18362.0.

I then separately downloaded and installed the "Windows 10 SDK, version 1809 (10.0.17763.0)" from the Windows SDK and emulator archive. It installed to and created a corresponding folder inside "C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Lib" as expected. Despite this, when attempting the retarget the project to this, this version of the SDK still doesn't appear in the dropdown menu. It's like Visual Studio doesn't see it. Nothing changes after a solution reopen or computer reboot.

Any advice as to how I can get VS2022 to detect and use this SDK version?

Answer 1

Hello @Zhu, Bryan,

I firstly checked on my machine, which has both VS 2022 and VS 2017 installed. On VS 2017, Windows SDK 10.0.17763.0 was installed(I think, it was installed along with the C++ workload). On VS 2022, higher version of Windows SDK 10.0.22621.0 was installed. I didn’t install Windows SDK 10.0.17763.0 separately neither v141 C++ toolset(on VS 2022).

I then create a C++ project in VS 2017, set the Windows SDK and build it. Open it in VS 2022, I see that Windows SDK 10.0.17763.0 lists there and I can retarget it successfully.

After that I test on another machine, with only VS 2022 and C++ workload installed. I get the same error as yours. I do below method 1 and it works:

So, I think you may check following three methods to make it work on your side:

1. Open Control Panel, right-click Windows 10.0.17763, select Change. Make sure that "Windows SDK for Desktop C++ amd64 Apps" and "Windows SDK for Desktop C++ x86 Apps" has been checked, click Change to install it. Restart VS and reopen your project, retarget the project, or change the properties(Windows SDK) in its property page.
2. Reinstall/Repair Windows SDK(10.0.17763.0).
3. Reinstall the C++ workloads in VS, from VS Installer, Modify. Try to reinstall VS 2022 if possible.
4. As the last resort, if it still doesn't work after you try many methods, then consider installing VS 2017 and install C++ workload along with Windows SDK 10.0.17763.0.

BTW, is there any limitation on your machine, like group policy, antivirus, and permission limitation? If so, maybe something blocks VS from detecting the installed Windows SDK 10.0.17763.0.

Feel free to let us know the results.

Sincerely,

Tianyu

---

If the answer is the right solution, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".

Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

Answer 2

(error, n/a)