ifx.exe is installed but Visual Stusio cannot find it - do I need to set a path?

[EdRowe]

I found that a Fortran project, which built fine until recently, gave the error message "Configuration ‘Debug|Win32’ requires compiler support for the ‘Win32’ platform, but that support is not installed”. I've updated VS to Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2022 (64-bit) - Current Version 17.14.33 (May 2026), and updated Intel Fortran to Intel® Fortran Compiler 2026.0. Now I get the message "The Fortran compiler (ifx.exe) cannot be found".

Under Tools - Options - Intel compilers and libraries - IFX Intel Fortran - Compilers, it says the Selected Compiler is "Latest", with the info: Intel® Fortran Compiler for applications running on Intel(R) 64, version 2026.0.0 Package ID: w_fortran-compiler_2026.0.0.944. My guess is that ifx.exe is installed OK, but there is an option or path set wrongly somewhere so VS cannot find it. Does that sound plausible? How do I set the path correctly?

[Steve_Lionel]

I don't think that's the issue, though I admit that the error messages are confusing. Your existing project is 32-bit (Win32), but Intel Fortran no longer supports building 32-bit applications.  With the project open in VS, click the "x86" in the toolbar (typically to the right of Debug or Release, and select "x64", then build. That should do it, unless you have 32-bit dependencies in your project.

[JohnNichols]

Ed:

If you have a home computer then try loading VS 2026 Insider on that computer.  Select all of the components so you do not miss something.  Then install the latest OneAPI that is a single download, take the whole package not just the Fortran component.  Honest this is important.  

Then try Hello World.

Then look and see what the differences are and tell you IT people how to fix it.  They left something out, for sure.  

JMN

[EdRowe]

Many thanks @Steve_Lionel. My project was already set to x64, so I've investigated whether I might have a 32-bit dependency somewhere. I can’t see anything though. I haven’t deliberately set up any DLL calls, and Properties – Linker – Input – Additional Dependencies shows blank.

I thought I’d start from scratch with a new project, and used the “hello world” template… and this gives the same error message! “The Fortran compiler (ifx.exe) cannot be found”.  It is definitely on my machine though, in C:\Program Files (x86)\Intel\oneAPI\compiler\2026.0\bin.  

I asked CoPilot, and it suggests toggling the Selected Compiler under  Tools → Options → Intel Compilers and Libraries → IFX → Compilers, to force VS to reload the registry entries. But I only have one compiler option, Latest, so I can’t toggle it.

I could try another reinstall, but I don’t have admin rights so I'd have to organise that with my IT support. And I might end up in the same place. I’m still thinking that there must be a path setting that points VS to the ifx.exe file – or rather doesn’t, at the moment! Any thoughts?

[Steve_Lionel]

In this Tools > Options screen:

Click on the ... to the right of Executables. It should look like this:

The $(IfortInstallDir)bin entry is the important one. You can try adding the full path to the folder with ifx.exe (don't include the filename) here, but my preferred suggestion is to uninstall and reinstall the compiler.