How Do I Retarget a C++ Application?

Question

How Do I Retarget a C++ Application?

Larry 20

Hello Folks:

Developing on Windows 10 Pro on the Extended Security Update program, VS 2019 Community Version 16.11.53, all C++.

I'm getting the following error.

error MSB8020: The build tools for v143 (Platform Toolset = 'v143') cannot be found.
To build using the v143 build tools, please install v143 build tools.
Alternatively, you may upgrade to the current Visual Studio tools by selecting the Project menu or
right-click the solution, and then selecting "Retarget solution".

I've used "Retarget Solution" in the Project's menu a few times.

Here the Project tab's menu:

3_project_drop_down

Here is the menu from selecting on the main project in the Solution explorer:

4_solution_explorer_drop_down

Is anybody seeing "Retarget solution"in either of these menus? I'm not.

Rescan solution doesn't seem to do much.

Suggestions?

Thanks
Larry

Viorel 125.6K Reputation points

2025-12-02T17:10:13.0133333+00:00

It was recommended to right-click on the solution.
RLWA32 51,361 Reputation points

2025-12-03T19:05:47.6966667+00:00

@Larry, Were you able to retarget your C++ project for VS2019 by following the Answer that I posted?

2 answers

Your answer

Viorel 125.6K Reputation points

2025-12-02T17:10:13.0133333+00:00

It was recommended to right-click on the solution.
RLWA32 51,361 Reputation points

2025-12-03T19:05:47.6966667+00:00

@Larry, Were you able to retarget your C++ project for VS2019 by following the Answer that I posted?

Answer 1

RLWA32 51,361

In solution explorer select the project node. Right click and select properties. When the project property page opens make sure that all configurations/all platforms is selected. Then you can set the Configuration->General->Platform Toolset to v142 for VS2019. This is where you make the change -

Retarget

Answer 2

Jay Pham (WICLOUD CORPORATION) 3,060 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hi @Larry ,

The error occurs because your project is set to Platform Toolset v143 (VS2022), but you're using VS2019 which requires v142.

User's image

Quick Fix:

Right-click your project → Properties

User's image

Set Configuration: All Configurations | Platform: All Platforms
Go to: Configuration Properties → General → Platform Toolset
Change to: Visual Studio 2019 (v142)

User's image

Click OK, then right-click project → Clean and Rebuild

About "Retarget Solution": This option appears when you right-click the Solution node (top level in Solution Explorer), not the project node.

Reference: How to Modify Platform Toolset

Please let me know if this resolves the MSB8020 error! If my answer was helpful - kindly follow the instructions here so others with the same problem can benefit as well.

RLWA32 51,361 Reputation points

2025-12-03T08:17:25.2466667+00:00

Thank you for repeating the same guidance that I provided in my previously posted Answer.
Jay Pham (WICLOUD CORPORATION) 3,060 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-12-03T09:19:50.9166667+00:00

Thank you for letting me know. However, I have had this problem myself so we kind of research the same problem. My object is to support users on Microsoft Q&A.
RLWA32 51,361 Reputation points

2025-12-03T10:11:34.05+00:00

About "Retarget Solution": This option appears when you right-click the Solution node (top level in Solution Explorer), not the project node.

For the benefit of the Questioner kindly note that suggested use of "Retarget Solution" seems to be inaccurate in VS2019. There is no such choice in the Solution node's default context menu --
Jay Pham (WICLOUD CORPORATION) 3,060 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-12-03T10:54:12.43+00:00

The “Retarget Solution” option only appears when at least one project in the solution actually requires retargeting. If all projects already use the toolset installed on your machine, Visual Studio will hide this option, which is why you don’t see it in VS2019.
RLWA32 51,361 Reputation points

2025-12-03T11:22:21.9833333+00:00

Well, in the example I posted the single project in the solution clearly needs retargeting as you can plainly see from the message in the Output pane.
RLWA32 51,361 Reputation points

2025-12-03T13:22:20.7533333+00:00

Apparently, VS2019 only offers to Retarget a Solution when the loaded project's platform is from a lower VS version than v142. For example, opening a VS2015 solution in VS2019 does offer to upgrade the v140 project platform -

For a project targeting v143 (like the Questioner's project) VS2019 does not offer to retarget.
Jay Pham (WICLOUD CORPORATION) 3,060 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-12-04T02:51:03.85+00:00

Hi @RLWA32 ,

Thank you for pointing this out and for the detailed screenshots – after reviewing again, you're absolutely right about the specific behavior in Visual Studio 2019.

As you know, in this downgrade scenario (v143 → v142), there simply isn't an automated "Retarget Solution" wizard available in VS2019, so the manual change to Platform Toolset remains the only practical solution. My answer was based on an issue I’ve personally encountered and resolved the same way, I didn't intend to blindly copy anything, just wanted to help Larry get it fixed quickly – definitely not to overshadow or affect the original author.

Appreciate the correction – it makes the thread even clearer for everyone.

Share via

How Do I Retarget a C++ Application?

2 answers

Your answer