Software⏱️ 2 min read📅 2026-06-03

How to Fix: External VS2013 build error "error MSB4019: The imported project <path> was not found"

Error MSB4019: The imported project was not found. Check the path to Microsoft.WebApplication.targets.

Quick Answer: Check if the path to Microsoft.WebApplication.targets is correct and try reinstalling Visual Studio 2013 or updating the project references.

The error you're encountering, "error MSB4019: The imported project was not found", typically occurs when the Visual Studio compiler is unable to locate a required project file. This issue can arise even after upgrading from an older version of Visual Studio and ensuring that all necessary files are present.

⚠️ Common Causes

  • Outdated or corrupted MSBuild installation.

🛠️ Step-by-Step Verified Fixes

Method 1: Reinstalling MSBuild

  1. Step 1: Go to Control Panel, select Programs and Features, uninstall Microsoft Visual Studio 2013, and then restart your computer.

Method 2: Updating MSBuild

  1. Step 1: Open a command prompt as an administrator and type `msbuild -version` to check the current version of MSBuild. If it's outdated, update it using the official Microsoft website.

🎯 Final Words

By following these steps and verifying that your project files are correctly referenced, you should be able to resolve the "error MSB4019: The imported project was not found" issue. Remember to always keep your Visual Studio installations up-to-date for optimal performance.

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