Upgrade Visual Studio 2015 solutions to Visual Studio 2017

Question

How to convert Visual Studio 2015 solution (.sln) to Visual Studio 2017.

In the past, when a solution from a previous version was opened in the newer VS there was a wizard doing the conversion, but it seems it's not the case in with these versions.

Solution 1

Edit the .sln file with a text editor like notepad. Change the first 3 lines to

Microsoft Visual Studio Solution File, Format Version 12.00
# Visual Studio 15

The first line is empty.

When you save the changes, the icon of the .sln file is changed and the solution will be opened by VS 2017 when double-clicked.

Solution 2

I cannot find Retarget Solution. What I did instead:

1. Open the solution file using Visual Studio 2017
2. Select the solution file in Solution Explorer.
3. Type Ctrl-S

Actually I got the idea from here: Upgrade Visual Studio 2013 solutions to Visual Studio 2015

Solution 3

1. open solution(sln) with vs2017
2. if prompt 'Retarget Project ...' click ok and done!

3. else in Solution Explorer > right click on solution name
4. select 'Retarget Solution'

5. select last version sdk and click ok and done!

Comments

[BJ Myers]

Visual Studio 2012 and on use the same solution format, so there is no need to do any conversion. (Unless the projects themselves need to be converted.)

[Pollitzer]

Does the ".sln" file show the VS2017 icon? If not, look here.

[Ruud van Gaal]

Indeed it works. :-) The next line says something about a more specific VS version, but I haven't run into trouble with that yet, so thanks!

[Kamarey]

Don't see "Retarget solution" option

[tschumann]

Is there an in-IDE solution?

[tschumann]

Doesn't work in Visual Studio 2019 - it stays as a Visual Studio 2017 .sln

[Marc]

If you right-click on the Solution or a Project in "Solution Explorer", the context menu will have the option "Retarget Solution" (about halfway down) or "Retarget Projects" (end of first group). At least, that's how it comes up in VS 2019. File: Save All will save the projects, but for some reason NOT the solution. Your steps are required to save the solution itself.