MSB8026 The Windows SDK version 10.0.20348.0 was not found

Question

I have a problem with Windows SDK when building a project. This is the error message I got:

The Windows SDK version 10.0.20348.0 was not found. Install the required version of Windows SDK or change the SDK version in the project property pages or by right-clicking the solution and selecting "Retarget solution".

Here's the methods I've tried, but still no luck building a simple project

1. Retarget Project, no use
2. Retarget Solution, no use
3. Windows SDK exists in path C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Include\10.0.20348.0
4. Uninstall and reinstall Windows SDK from Visual Studio Installer -> Restart Computer
5. Repair option from Visual Studio Installer -> Restart Computer
6. Uninstall and reinstall Visual Studio -> Restart Computer

I checked my $(WindowsSDK_IncludePath):

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\Professional\VC\Tools\MSVC\14.44.35207\include

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\Professional\VC\Tools\MSVC\14.44.35207\atlmfc\include

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\Professional\VC\Auxiliary\VS\include

C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Include\10.0.20348.0\ucrt

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\Professional\VC\Auxiliary\VS\UnitTest\include

\Include\10.0.20348.0\um

\Include\10.0.20348.0\shared

\Include\10.0.20348.0\winrt

\Include\10.0.20348.0\cppwinrt

C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\NETFXSDK\4.8.1\Include\um

I'm not sure why the SDK part is corrupted. How can I fix this issue? Please help! This issue is bugging me for days!

Answer 1

Thanks for reaching out! The error occurs because Visual Studio is searching for the Windows SDK 10.0.20348.0, but that specific SDK is not fully installed or is partially corrupted on your system. Even though the folders exist, the build tools are not correctly registered.

Here are some steps you can follow

1.Install the exact SDK version 10.0.20348.0, Visual Studio 2022 does not install this SDK by default so install it manually.

2.Set your project to use an installed SDK. After installation of project right-click the project and Select Properties, open General settings and change Windows SDK Version to 10.0.20348.0.

3.Reset Visual Studio SDK paths. If the SDK was installed but not detected then close Visual Studio and delete this folder

%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\MSBuild\SdkResolverCache

Re-open Visual Studio and rebuild.

4.Verify SDK path environment variable. Run the following in Developer Command Prompt where windows.h. If it does not return the path to C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Include\10.0.20348.0, then the SDK is incomplete. Reinstall it from Visual Studio Installer.