| title | Setup Assistant | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| description | When a project is loaded, Setup Assistant helps get what you need to build with ease. | ||
| ms.custom | vs-acquisition | ||
| ms.date | 3/10/2026 | ||
| ms.subservice | installation | ||
| ms.topic | concept-article | ||
| helpviewer_keywords |
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| author | jasonchlus | ||
| ms.author | rosemalcolm |
Visual Studio supports multiple toolsets and SDKs. When a project is loaded, Setup Assistant automatically detects dependencies your project targets and makes it easy to install missing dependencies and/or retarget your project to the latest dependencies. If you’d rather not install or retarget right now, select Ignore, then choose Apply.
Setup Assistant identifies MSVC toolsets and Windows SDKs your project targets. You can retarget your project to the latest version or install missing components with a single click directly in the Visual Studio Installer.
:::image type="content" source="./media/visualstudio/cpp-setup-assistant.png" alt-text="Screenshot of the C++ Setup Assistant." lightbox="./media/visualstudio/cpp-setup-assistant.png":::
If your project uses a pinned global.json file, Setup Assistant provides a link that matches the pinned .NET SDK so you can quickly install it in your browser.
:::image type="content" source="./media/visualstudio/net-setup-assistant.png" alt-text="Screenshot of the C# Setup Assistant." lightbox="./media/visualstudio/net-setup-assistant.png":::
You can reopen the Setup Assistant dialog anytime:
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In Solution Explorer, right-click the solution and select Retarget solution.
:::image type="content" source="./media/visualstudio/retarget-solution.png" alt-text="Screenshot showing the Retarget solution command in the solution context menu.":::
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From the project toolbar dropdown, select Retarget solution.
:::image type="content" source="./media/visualstudio/retarget-project.png" alt-text="Screenshot showing the Retarget project command in the project toolbar dropdown.":::