Why convert SLN to SLNX?
The .slnx format is Microsoft's XML-based replacement for the legacy .sln custom text format. It carries the same solution data - project references, build configurations, and solution folders - in a cleaner syntax that produces much more readable version-control diffs. Microsoft intends .slnx to be the long-term standard, so migrating earlier reduces future friction as tooling shifts toward it.
How to convert SLN to SLNX
.NET CLI FREE
In a terminal, run dotnet sln migrate MySolution.sln from the folder containing the .sln; the CLI writes a new .slnx in the same directory and leaves the original .sln untouched.
Visual Studio 2022 FREE
Open the .sln in Visual Studio 2022 (17.10 or later), go to File > Save As, select 'Visual Studio Solution File (*.slnx)' as the type, and save alongside the original.
About these formats
.SLN
Visual Studio Solution File
An SLN file is a Visual Studio "solution" - a plain-text file that groups one or more code projects (.csproj, .vcxproj, etc.) so they build together. Open it by double-clicking in Microsoft…
Open .SLN details →A .SLNX file is a data file used by specific software.
Open .SLNX details →Quality & what to watch
- The migration only rewrites the solution manifest; all
.csproj,.vbproj, and source files are untouched, and the.slnxpoints to the same project files at the same relative paths. - Build configurations, platform mappings (Any CPU, x64), and solution folder groupings all transfer to
.slnx- nothing is lost from the solution structure. - The
.slnxformat requires Visual Studio 2022 version 17.10 or later; earlier versions of Visual Studio cannot open.slnxfiles.
Frequently asked questions
Is the .sln deleted after migration?
.slnx alongside the original .sln; you can delete the old file once you have verified the new one loads correctly.Do the .csproj files change during migration?
Can older versions of Visual Studio open .slnx files?
.slnx support requires Visual Studio 2022 version 17.10 or later.
