Run solutions in different versions of Microsoft Office
Applies to: 
Visual Studio 
Visual Studio for Mac
Note
This article applies to Visual Studio 2017. If you're looking for the latest Visual Studio documentation, see Visual Studio documentation. We recommend upgrading to the latest version of Visual Studio. Download it here
Run Office solutions created by using Visual Studio 2010 and above
| Version of Office targeted by the project template | Target .NET Framework of the project1 | Versions of Office that can run the solution | Required runtime on end-user computer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Office 2016 and Office 2013 | .NET Framework 4 or later | Office 2016 Office 2013 Office 2010 2007 Microsoft Office system2 |
Visual Studio 2010 Tools for Office Runtime |
| Office 2010 | .NET Framework 4 or later | Office 2016 Office 2013 Office 2010 2007 Microsoft Office system2 |
Visual Studio 2010 Tools for Office Runtime |
| Office 2010 | .NET Framework 3.5 | Office 2016 Office 2013 Office 2010 |
Visual Studio 2010 Tools for Office Runtime |
| 2007 Microsoft Office system | .NET Framework 4 or later, or .NET Framework 3.5 |
Office 2016 Office 2013 Office 2010 2007 Microsoft Office system |
Visual Studio 2010 Tools for Office Runtime |
The .NET Framework version that your project targets is required on end-user computers for your solution to run. For example, if your project targets the .NET Framework 3.5, the .NET Framework 3.5 is required on end-user computers. In this example, your solution will not run if only the .NET Framework 4 is installed on end-user computers.
In this scenario, the solution will run without errors in the 2007 Microsoft Office system only if it does not use features that are new in Office 2010.
Run Office solutions created by using versions of Visual Studio prior to Visual Studio 2010
Microsoft Office applications can run solutions created by using versions of Visual Studio prior to Visual Studio 2010. In some cases, these solutions require different versions of the Visual Studio Tools for Office runtime. Different versions of the Visual Studio Tools for Office runtime can be installed side by side on the same computer.
The following table shows which versions of Microsoft Office can run solutions created by using previous versions of Visual Studio, and which versions of the Visual Studio Tools for Office runtime and the .NET Framework are required for each solution.
| Edition of Visual Studio used to create the solution | Version of Office targeted by the project template | Versions of Office that can run the solution | Required runtime on end-user computer | Required .NET Framework version on end-user computer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visual Studio 2008 Professional or Visual Studio Team System 2008 |
2007 Microsoft Office system | Office 2013 and Office 20101 2007 Microsoft Office system |
Visual Studio 2010 Tools for Office Runtime1 or Visual Studio Tools for the Microsoft Office system (version 3.0 Runtime) |
.NET Framework 3.5 |
| One of the following editions of Visual Studio 2005 with VSTO 2005 SE2 installed: - Visual Studio 2005 Tools for Office - Visual Studio Team System 2005 - Visual Studio 2005 Professional |
2007 Microsoft Office system | Office 2013 and Office 2010 (32-bit only3) 2007 Microsoft Office system |
Visual Studio 2005 Tools for Office Second Edition Runtime | .NET Framework 2.0, .NET Framework 3.0, or .NET Framework 3.5 |
| Any of the following editions of Visual Studio: - Visual Studio 2008 Professional - Visual Studio Team System 2008 - Visual Studio 2005 Tools for Office (with or without VSTO 2005 SE2 installed) - Visual Studio Team System 2005 (with or without VSTO 2005 SE2 installed) - Visual Studio 2005 Professional with VSTO 2005 SE2 installed |
Microsoft Office 2003 | Office 2013 and Office 2010 (32-bit only3) 2007 Microsoft Office system Microsoft Office 2003 |
Visual Studio 2005 Tools for Office Second Edition Runtime | .NET Framework 2.0, .NET Framework 3.0, or .NET Framework 3.5 |
Office 2013 and Office 2010 applications include the Visual Studio 2010 Tools for Office runtime. Therefore, these applications always use the Visual Studio 2010 Tools for Office runtime rather than the Visual Studio Tools for the Microsoft Office system (version 3.0 Runtime) in this scenario. Applications in the 2007 Microsoft Office system can use the Visual Studio 2010 Tools for Office Runtime or the Visual Studio Tools for the Microsoft Office system (version 3.0 Runtime).
VSTO 2005 SE is a free Visual Studio add-on that provides VSTO Add-in project templates for Microsoft Office 2003 and the 2007 Microsoft Office system. It can be installed with Visual Studio 2005 Professional, Visual Studio 2005 Tools for Office, or an edition in the Visual Studio Team System 2005. For more information, see Visual Studio 2005 Tools for Office Second Edition.
Office solutions that require the Visual Studio 2005 Tools for Office Second Edition Runtime are not compatible with 64-bit versions of Office 2013 and Office 2010. To run these solutions in the 64-bit edition of Office 2013 or Office 2010, you must upgrade the project to Visual Studio 2010 or to a Visual Studio 2008 project that targets the 2007 Microsoft Office system.