Is it possible to use an older visual studio with the build tools of a newer visual studio

Question

Specifically trying to use v143 (for visual studio 2022) with visual studio 2017.

I've installed build tools 2022. In visual studio 2017 it still says "v143 (not installed)" though.

Answer 1

Hello @Wallby ,

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A forum.

Tested on my side and I got the same results as yours.

Tried to install several components and workloads, the same results.

Some clues:

1. Checked some .props and .targets files(about Visual Studio 2017), like Microsoft.Cpp.Default.props file, looks no settings for v143(VS 2022), v142(VS 2019), only settings for previous version like v141(VS 2017)… I think, though v143 toolset has been installed on the same machine, no default settings(maybe VCTargetsPath/VCVARS…) set for v143 from VS 2017, VS 2017 fails to detect the installed v143 toolset. Or it is not possible to use an older VS with the build tools of a newer VS.
2. @RLWA32 I have tried to install VS 2022 with C++ workload and components(instead of Build Tools for VS 2022, actually, installed together), also didn’t work.
3. Tried to manually modify the .vcxproj file(project file) and set the PlatformToolset property to v143, didn’t work.
4. Normally, old version of toolset can be used(supported) in newer version of VS. I may suggest you directly install and use VS 2022(not Build Tools for VS 2022).

Sincerely,

Tianyu

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