Tips to open TARGETS file

Can't open the TARGETS file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open TARGETS files as well as a list of programs that support TARGETS files.

TARGETS file extension

File Name MSBuild Targets Format
File Developer Microsoft
File Category Developer Files

The TARGETS file is supported on 1 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the TARGETS files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the TARGETS file on each system platform.

Operating systems
  • 1
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

What is TARGETS file?

The file in the TARGETS format belongs to the Developer Files category. The author of this format is Microsoft. Developer Files consists of 1205 similar files. MSBuild Targets Format is most often found on 1 operating systems. Although it can be found with greater or lesser success on any operating system, it will only be useful on Windows. The Microsoft Visual Studio application is recommended to open the file. It was released by Microsoft Corporation.

How to open TARGETS file?

An often recurring problem with MSBuild Targets Format is that TARGETS is not associated with the correct program file. This causes the file TARGETS to open by system applications not designed for this purpose, or to display a message that there is no associated program. This can be quickly resolved by following the instructions below.

The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the TARGETS file icon you want to open. If the operating system has an appropriate application to support it and there is also an association between the file and the program, the file should be opened.

Step 1. Install Microsoft Visual Studio

An often overlooked issue is to make sure that Microsoft Visual Studio is installed on the computer. This can be achieved by typing Microsoft Visual Studio into the operating system search engine. If we do not have this program, it is worth installing it, as it will help you automatically associate the file TARGETS with Microsoft Visual Studio. Later in this article you will find a list of programs that can open TARGETS files.

Programs to open TARGETS file

Remember to download programs supporting TARGETS files only from verified and safe sources. We suggest using the websites of software developers.

Step 2. Create association of Microsoft Visual Studio with TARGETS files

However, it may happen that the application itself does not cause the TARGETS file to open in the Microsoft Visual Studio application, but you can set it manually. This option is available from the level of Properties of a specific file available in the context menu. Information about the file and the program that the file is associated with are available here. Using the "Change" button we can set the program to handle this type. If there is no software on the list, simply select "Browse" and manually select the directory where the application is installed. Checking the "Always use the selected program ..." box will permanently associate the TARGETS file with the Microsoft Visual Studio program.

Step 3. Update Microsoft Visual Studio to the latest version

If, despite the association of the Microsoft Visual Studio program with the MSBuild Targets Format file, the file still does not open, check the program version and possibly update it to the newest version. Some applications allow you to update from the program level, and for others you need to download the installer from the Microsoft Corporation page and install.

Step 4. Check for the following problems with the TARGETS file

The problem may also be with the file itself if the above steps don't work. The most common file problems are:

The affected file may be 0 KB or smaller than expected. This is most often caused by a problem while downloading the TARGETS file. The file should be downloaded again, making sure that the process has finished correctly.
The computer may have fallen victim to a computer virus or hacker. A virus scan using an up-to-date antivirus program should fix the problem. Alternatively, you can use the scanners available online. However, it is important to scan the entire system, not only the file TARGETS or the program directory. However, remember that not every infected TARGETS file can be recovered, so it is important to take care of regular backups.
Older version of TARGETS file may not always be supported by the latest software version. These problems are known and are often very easy to fix using the software developers's website.
There can be many reasons for the failure. Depending on the type of file, it is necessary to repair it accordingly. Some programs offer the option of recovering data from damaged TARGETS files. The easiest way to restore the file is from a backup or by contacting Microsoft, but this one can be expensive. Not all damage can be reversed.
The program can also signal the fact of encryption. The encrypted TARGETS files cannot be played on other computers than the one on which they were encrypted, they must be decrypted before using on another device.
Some operating systems do not allow file operations in certain locations, eg in system directories or directly on the system drive. While there is usually no problem reading such a file, it may not be possible to save it. It is best to move TARGETS to a different directory.
This problem usually affects more complex files. Some file types can only be opened in one program at a time. Just close unnecessary programs. If the error persists after closing other programs, wait for a while. Antivirus programs or a backup being made may lock the file for a while without the user's knowledge. If this does not work either, restart the device.