Exporting a template from Visual Studio 2022 fails with "read-only or does not exists" error

Question

Exporting a template from Visual Studio 2022 fails with "read-only or does not exists" error

Þór Sigurðsson 25

I created a web project, added specific nuget packages for said project, config files and a wee bit of customization. Then I choose Project -> Export Template. I select the project I want exported as a template, Change the template name to a name not including spaces, set the template description, add an icon image and preview image, un-check to automatically import the template and click finish.

Upon finish, I get this error:

User's image

This directory resides on OneDrive - and it's company mandatory - and not changeable in VS2022 (also - why can't I decide on my own where to write the output file?)

I WAS able to export this morning - but after the first export, every attempt since has been unfruitful.

Help?

Þór Sigurðsson 25 Reputation points

2025-01-16T13:46:02.72+00:00

Oh yes, before anyone asks - the directory DOES exist - it is now empty and IS writeable.
Marc Voyer 5 Reputation points

2025-01-18T16:04:05.8733333+00:00

Got the same error, looks like you only have one chance, one export, then you get the error message. As suggested, I deletes the folder and recreated it, same name. Then it works, for many exports.
Pascal Minvielle 25 Reputation points

2025-01-18T16:20:59.5133333+00:00

Did you recreate the "My Exported Templates" directory. I did that but it did not work
Pascal Minvielle 25 Reputation points

2025-01-18T16:28:36.05+00:00

i deleted it and it worked, VS recreated it with my file inside
Tianyu Sun-MSFT 34,826 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2025-01-31T01:31:48.9833333+00:00

@Þór Sigurðsson，

Is there any update? Does this issue still exist on your side?
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4 answers

Your answer

Þór Sigurðsson 25 Reputation points

2025-01-16T13:46:02.72+00:00

Oh yes, before anyone asks - the directory DOES exist - it is now empty and IS writeable.
Marc Voyer 5 Reputation points

2025-01-18T16:04:05.8733333+00:00

Got the same error, looks like you only have one chance, one export, then you get the error message. As suggested, I deletes the folder and recreated it, same name. Then it works, for many exports.
Pascal Minvielle 25 Reputation points

2025-01-18T16:20:59.5133333+00:00

Did you recreate the "My Exported Templates" directory. I did that but it did not work
Pascal Minvielle 25 Reputation points

2025-01-18T16:28:36.05+00:00

i deleted it and it worked, VS recreated it with my file inside
Tianyu Sun-MSFT 34,826 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2025-01-31T01:31:48.9833333+00:00

@Þór Sigurðsson，

Is there any update? Does this issue still exist on your side?
Deleted

This comment has been deleted due to a violation of our Code of Conduct. The comment was manually reported or identified through automated detection before action was taken. Please refer to our Code of Conduct for more information.

Answer 1

Franco Ammenti 25

Delete template model folder
Repeat Operation: Export Template Model

ByFranco65.

Angelo Bernardi 0 Reputation points

2025-04-02T12:18:28.0566667+00:00

Thanks a lot!! I've been trying several workarounds and messing with the folder permissions as noted by @Tianyu Sun-MSFT , but nothing worked as well as deleting the folder. VS recreated it and created my project template.
Dave Oerman 0 Reputation points

2025-10-21T11:22:53.6533333+00:00

You can delete the My Exported Templates folder even when you're on the last step of the wizard and it will recreate it when you click Finish.

Also, it's still a thing in Oct 2025 (vs2022 17.14.18).

Answer 2

Pascal Minvielle 25

Hello, what worked for me was to delete the "My Exported Templates" directory prior exportation of project. Previously i was recreating an empty directory manually but export did not work. So now every time i need to export i delete the directory, it is automatically recreated with the zip inside. Better backup your zip files somewhere else if u need to keep them.

Frank Morgan 0 Reputation points

2025-02-08T16:10:49+00:00
Pascal Nails it. Just wasted a couple of hours on this one!! Thank you Pascal

The export project template works fine ONCE!! Then you get the error message (in a message box) about the Template folder being absent or readonly.

Exactly as Pascal says

Delete the 'My Exported Templates' folder in Windows Explorer or at the Command Line (after copying any templates in it to a safe place).

After you have deleted the 'My Exported Templates' folder you STILL get the error message from the Export Project Template Wizard - BUT the exported template is placed in a newly created 'My Exported Templates' folder. It can then be copied and pasted into the associated Project Templates folder at:

C:\Users\yourname\OneDrive\Documents\Visual Studio 2022\Templates\Project Templates

You then need to restart Visual Studio for your template.

ALTENATELY

You can delete both the My Exported Templates and the Templates folders - (again save all the templates in the Templates\Project or Templates\Items folders somewhere safe)

C:\Users\yourname\OneDrive\Documents\Visual Studio 2022\Templates.

C:\Users\yourname\OneDrive\Documents\Visual Studio 2022\My Exported Templates.

The Export Project Template Wizard in Visual Studio will now run (at least Once!!) without errors - placing your saved project template as a Zip file in newly created Templates and My Exported Templates folders.

Hopefully, someone at the Visual Studio team will pick this problem up soon,

As is documented in multiple answers to this type of question elsewhere:

1. You might check that the correct path for the Template folders have been recorded in Visual Studio - under Tools -> Options -> Projects and Solutions -> Locations (They will be!! This bug, I suspect, is something to do with the Wizard's error checking and not the Visual Studio property / field that holds the directory addresses.) 2. Don't get bogged down in the quagmire of Windows Explorer and folders being read only. If you really want - you can test that your Project Templates folder can be written to - by just writing any old text file to it (It can be done!!)
Jose Parrot 0 Reputation points

2025-07-03T17:28:12.8433333+00:00

I did the same and got the same error message, which is a bit confusing. Visual Studio thinks the folder "doesn't exist", but it does! And if it really doesn't exist, VS creates it! So the error prompt seems to have an inconsistency. In fact, VS didn't recognize the folder because it wasn't the one who created it, so the folder wasn't REGISTERED.

Answer 3

Khavin 0

Hello @Þór Sigurðsson ,

I am currently using Visual Studio 2026.

I do got the same error. However it still created a template zip file in the My Exported Templates folder. Then I cut and paste the zip file into Documents\Visual Studio 18\Templates\ProjectTemplates. After restating the Visual Studio the project template is visible when creating project.

0 comments

Answer 4

Tianyu Sun-MSFT 34,826 Microsoft External Staff

Hi @Þór Sigurðsson ,

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A forum.

I noticed that you mentioned that the directory is writable, did you check the corresponding permissions by right-clicking the "My Exported Templates" folder(and its parent folders) => Properties => General tab => Attributes: Read-only (Only applies to files in folder), and switching to Security tab => select the corresponding user => Edit => make sure that the permissions have been correctly assigned(especially for Write permission)?

User's image

If so, I think you can try to launch VS as administrator and test to export the project template again. Maybe this issue is caused by some limitations about the accounts.

If you try to delete the "My Exported Templates" folder manually, and then create a same folder, name it My Exported Templates, will it work?

I also suggest try to reboot your machine and reconnect to your OneDrive, see if it works.

Besides, can VS successfully create a new project in your OneDrive directory?

Best Regards,

Tianyu

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Pascal Minvielle 25 Reputation points

2025-01-18T16:01:14.4833333+00:00

Same problem with me, i also tried all, including access permissions
Tianyu Sun-MSFT 34,826 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2025-01-21T08:57:09.3833333+00:00

Hi @Þór Sigurðsson,

May I know if you have tried to manually delete the "My Exported Templates" folder and then export the projects again? Does it work?

Please don't hesitate to let me know if there is anything that I can help here :)

Regards,

Tianyu
Angelo Bernardi 0 Reputation points

2025-04-02T12:19:20.64+00:00

had the same problem, deleting the folder and exporting again worked.

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Exporting a template from Visual Studio 2022 fails with "read-only or does not exists" error

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