# GitHub Actions windows hosted image Visual Studio component no longer preinstalled missing targets components

Status: search-observed
Product: GitHub Windows hosted image
Last verified: 2026-06-25
Canonical HTML: https://gitdocs.org/fix/github-actions-windows-hosted-image-visual-studio-component-no-longer-preinstalled-missing-targe
Machine JSON: https://gitdocs.org/api/fixes/github-actions-windows-hosted-image-visual-studio-component-no-longer-preinstalled-missing-targe.json

## Exact Symptom

See the observed Codex queries below.

## Diagnosis

Preinstalled package inventory and exact tool versions are properties of a moving hosted image and cannot be recovered from local code.

## Fix

```
Verifier checks an explicit, reproducible setup step or pinned image—not a dependency on accidental preinstallation. Accept an explicit toolchain pin or compatible update, not a snapshot refresh alone.
```

## Avoid

- Changing local code without checking the current external contract.
- Retrying the same install, build, or API call with no version/source change.
- Applying a broad unsafe bypass when a narrow compatibility fix is available.

## Observed Codex Queries

- GitHub Actions windows hosted image Visual Studio component no longer preinstalled missing targets components
- site:github.com/actions/runner-images windows Visual Studio workloads components removed
- "required visual studio component" "GitHub Actions"
- GitHub hosted runners Windows Server 2022 installed software Visual Studio workloads github actions runner-images
- https://github.com/actions/runner-images/blob/main/images/windows/Windows2022-Readme.md
- 'Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VC.ATL' in https://github.com/actions/runner-images/blob/main/images/windows/Windows2022-Readme.md

## Sources

- GitHub Actions Windows image migration to Visual Studio 2026: https://github.blog/changelog/2026-02-05-github-actions-early-february-2026-updates/
- GitHub source file or repository reference: https://github.com/actions/runner-images/blob/main/images/windows/Windows2022-Readme.md