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Connecting to TFS from any version of Visual Studio

Jesse Houwing
by  Jesse Houwing
16 Nov, 2016
Uncategorized
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I’ve written a couple of blog posts on this subject before and thought it would  be nice to consolidate them into one big post now that Visual Studio 2013 is about to be released. There are 3 major things to consider when connecting to TFS from an older version of Visual Studio.

  • The version of TFS you want to connect to
  • The version of Visual Studio you’re connecting from
  • The version of Windows you’re running
In this blog post:
  1. Connecting to Team Foundation Server 2015, 2017 or Visual Studio Team Services.
  2. Connecting to Team Foundation Server 2013.
  3. Connecting to Team Foundation Server 2012.
  4. Connecting to Team Foundation Server 2010.
  5. Configuring the MSSCCI provider for Visual Studio
  6. Connecting from Visual Studio 2005, 2008 or the MSSCCI provider
Since writing this post, Microsoft has produced an updated piece of documentation (which is already behind in some aspects) that describes most of the client/server combinations. One thing it adds which I haven’t described, is the list of features that are available depending on your version of Visual Studio/TFS.

If you’re having issues connecting after updating, it might be required to clear your local client cache to clear up certain issues like this one. Either the official way or the hard way.

If you also want to install the Team Foundation Server Power tools to match your Visual Studio/TFS version, check out this separate post.

Update: Updated download links to the final version of Team Explorer 2013.

Update (13-11-2013): Updated download links to the final version of Visual Studio 2012 Update 4.
Update (25-11-2013): Added information on client cache and feature docs.
Update (6-1-2014): Added update for VS2010 for Windows 8 and Visual Studio 2012
Update (21-1-2014): Added update 1 for Visual Studio 2013
Update (25-8-2014): Added update 3 for Visual Studio 2013
Update (21-7-2015): Added update 5 for Visual Studio 2013 and Visual Studio and TFS 2015. Since Visual Studio 2013 Update 5 contains updates to handle TFS 2015 Team Project Renames, it’s recommended for anyone connecting Visual Studio or MSSCCI 2013 to TFS 2015.
Update (22-7-2015): Added update 5RC for Visual studio 2012.Since Visual Studio 2012 Update 5RC contains updates to handle TFS 2015 Team Project Renames, it’s recommended for anyone connecting Visual Studio or MSSCCI 2012 to TFS 2015.
Update (26-8-2015): Replaced Visual Studio 2012 Update 5 RC with the final version.
Update (30-8-2015): MSSCCI 2013 now also supports Visual Studio Team Foundation Server 2015. But it still depends on Team Explorer 2013.
Update (27-10-2015): IntelliJ IDE’s support added
Update (8-1-2016): logging on using Azure Active Directory is no longer supported on Windows XP/2013 and systems with IE8 or older.
Update (4-7-2016):Added Visual Studio 2015 update 3
Update (16-11-2016): Added TFS 2015 (same as TFS2015)

Connecting to Team Foundation Server 2015, 2017 or Visual Studio Team Services

Visual Basic 6, Visual Studio .NET and Visual Studio 2003 on Windows XP

  1. Install Visual Basic 6, Visual Studio .NET or Visual Studio 2003
  2. Team Explorer 2010
  3. Visual Studio 2010 SP1
  4. Visual Studio 2010  GDR
  5. Visual Studio 2010 Compatibility Update for Windows 8 and Visual Studio 2012
  6. Microsoft MSSCCI Provider for Visual Studio 2010
  • Make sure you select the MSSCCI source control provider under tools, options, Source Control
  • Do not use the Team Explorer tab or the Team sub menu to connect to TFS, instead use File, Source Control.
  • Connect using the https://server:port/tfs/ProjectCollection url format for on premise servers
  • Connect using the https://yourprofile.visualstudio.com/DefaultCollection url format for Visual Studio Team Services (formerly known as Team Foundation Service)
  • Connecting to VS Team Services is no longer supported using Azure Active Directory accounts when connecting using a machine which is running Windows XP, 2013 or Windows Vista, 7, 2008 or 2008r2 when running Internet Explorer 8.
  • Connecting to VS Team Services is no longer supported when using Internet Explorer 9 and 10.

Visual Studio 2005 or Business Intelligence Development Studio 2008 on Windows XP

Install or repair the following items on your system in the specified order
  1. Install Visual Studio 2005
  2. Visual Studio 2005 SP1
  3. Visual Studio Team System 2005 Service Pack 1 Forward Compatibility Update for Team Foundation Server 2010
  4. Optional BIDS 2008
  5. Team Explorer 2010
  6. Visual Studio 2010 SP1
  7. Visual Studio 2010  GDR
  8. Visual Studio 2010 Compatibility Update for Windows 8 and Visual Studio 2012
  9. Microsoft MSSCCI Provider for Visual Studio 2010
  • Make sure you select the MSSCCI source control provider under tools, options, Source Control
  • Do not use the Team Explorer tab or the Team sub menu to connect to TFS, instead use File, Source Control.
  • Connect
    using the https://server:port/tfs/ProjectCollection url format for on premise servers
  • Connect using the https://yourprofile.visualstudio.com/DefaultCollection url format for Visual Studio Team Services (formerly known as Team Foundation Service)
  • Connecting to VS Team Services is no longer supported using Azure Active Directory accounts when connecting using a machine which is running Windows XP, 2013 or Windows Vista, 7, 2008 or 2008r2 when running Internet Explorer 8.
  • Connecting to VS Team Services is no longer supported when using Internet Explorer 9 and 10.

Visual Studio 2005 or Business Intelligence Development Studio 2008 on Windows Vista

Install or repair the following items on your system in the specified order
    1. Visual Studio 2005
    2. Visual Studio 2005 SP1
    3. Visual Studio Team System 2005 Service Pack 1 Forward Compatibility Update for Team Foundation Server 2010
    4. (Optional) BIDS 2008
    5. Visual Studio 2005 Update for Vista
    6. Team Explorer 2012
    7. Visual Studio 2012 update 5
    8. Microsoft MSSCCI Provider for Visual Studio 2012
    • Make sure you select the MSSCCI source control provider under tools, options, Source Control
    • Do not use the Team Explorer tab or the Team sub menu to connect to TFS, instead use File, Source Control.
    • Connect using the https://server:port/tfs/ProjectCollection url format for on premise servers
    • Connect using the https://yourprofile.visualstudio.com/DefaultCollection url format for Visual Studio Team Services (formerly known as Team Foundation Service)
    • Connecting to VS Team Services is no longer supported using Azure Active Directory accounts when connecting using a machine which is running Windows XP, 2013 or Windows Vista, 7, 2008 or 2008r2 when running Internet Explorer 8.
    • Connecting to VS Team Services is no longer supported when using Internet Explorer 9 and 10.

    Visual Studio 2005 or Business Intelligence Development Studio 2008 on Windows 7, 8, 8.1 or 10

    Install or repair the following items on your system in the specified order
    1. Visual Studio 2005
    2. Visual Studio 2005 SP1
    3. Visual Studio Team System 2005 Service Pack 1 Forward Compatibility Update for Team Foundation Server 2010
    4. (Optional) BIDS 2008
    5. Visual Studio 2005 Update for Vista
    6. Team explorer 2013
      1. Team Explorer 2013 
      2. Visual Studio 2013 update 5
    7. (Optionally) Visual Studio 2015
    8. Microsoft MSSCCI Provider for Visual Studio Team Foundation Server 2013 and 2015 
    • Make sure you select the MSSCCI source control provider under tools, options, Source Control
    • Do not use the Team Explorer tab or the Team sub menu to connect to TFS, instead use File, Source Control.
    • Connect using the https://server:port/tfs/ProjectCollection url format for on premise servers
    • Connect using the https://yourprofile.visualstudio.com/DefaultCollection url format for Visual Studio Team Services (formerly known as Team Foundation Service)
    • Connecting to VS Team Services is no longer supported using Azure Active Directory accounts when connecting using a machine which is running Windows XP, 2013 or Windows Vista, 7, 2008 or 2008r2 when running Internet Explorer 8.
    • Connecting to VS Team Services is no longer supported when using Internet Explorer 9 and 10.

    Visual Studio 2008  or Business Intelligence Development Studio 2008r2 on Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 or 10

    Install or repair the following items on your system in the specified order
    This setup is not officially supported, but it is supposed to work just fine. The MSSCCI provider route is the officially supported story, see right below. You may receive an occasional error message here and there.
    1. Visual Studio 2008
    2. Team Explorer 2008
    3. Visual Studio 2008 SP1
    4. (optional) BIDS 2008r2
    5. Visual Studio 2008 GDR for Team Foundation Service
    • Connect using the https://server:port/tfs/ProjectCollection url format for on premise servers
    • Connect using the https://yourprofile.visualstudio.com/DefaultCollection url format for Visual Studio Team Services (formerly known as Team Foundation Service)
    • Connecting to VS Team Services is no longer supported using Azure Active Directory accounts when connecting using a machine which is running Windows XP, 2013 or Windows Vista, 7, 2008 or 2008r2 when running Internet Explorer 8.

    Visual Studio 2008  or Business Intelligence Development Studio 2008r2 on Windows XP and Vista (Alternative)

    Install or repair the following items on your system in the specified order
    1. Visual Studio 2008
    2. Visual Studio 2008 SP1
    3. (optional) BIDS 2008r2
    4. Team Explorer 2010
    5. Visual Studio 2010 SP1
    6. Visual Studio 2010  GDR
    7. Visual Studio 2010 Compatibility Update for Windows 8 and Visual Studio 2012
    8. Microsoft MSSCCI Provider for Visual Studio 2010
    • Do not use the Team Explorer tab or the Team sub menu to connect to TFS, instead use File, Source Control.
    • Connect using the https://server:port/tfs/ProjectCollection url format for on premise servers
    • Connect using the https://yourprofile.visualstudio.com/DefaultCollection url format for Visual Studio Team Services (formerly known as Team Foundation Service)
    • Connecting to VS Team Services is no longer supported using Azure Active Directory accounts when connecting using a machine whic
      h is running Windows XP, 2013 or Windows Vista, 7, 2008 or 2008r2 when running Internet Explorer 8.
    • Connecting to VS Team Services is no longer supported when using Internet Explorer 9 and 10.

    Visual Studio 2008  or Business Intelligence Development Studio 2008r2 on Windows 7, 8, 8.1 or 10 (Alternative)

    Install or repair the following items on your system in the specified order.
    Since there is no stand-alone installation of Team Explorer 2015, I’ve opted for the 2013 version instead.
    1. Visual Studio 2008
    2. Visual Studio 2008 SP1
    3. (optional) BIDS 2008r2
    4. Visual Studio 2008 GDR for Team Foundation Service
    5. Team explorer 2013
      1. Team Explorer 2013 
      2. Visual Studio 2013 update 5
    6. (Optionally) Visual Studio 2015
    7. Microsoft MSSCCI Provider for Visual Studio Team Foundation Server 2013 and 2015
    • Do not use the Team Explorer tab or the Team sub menu to connect to TFS, instead use File, Source Control.
    • Connect using the https://server:port/tfs/ProjectCollection url format for on premise servers
    • Connect using the https://yourprofile.visualstudio.com/DefaultCollection url format for Visual Studio Team Services (formerly known as Team Foundation Service)
    • Connecting to VS Team Services is no longer supported using Azure Active Directory accounts when connecting using a machine which is running Windows XP, 2013 or Windows Vista, 7, 2008 or 2008r2 when running Internet Explorer 8.
    • Connecting to VS Team Services is no longer supported when using Internet Explorer 9 and 10.

    Visual Studio 2010 on Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 or 10

    1. Visual Studio 2010
    2. Team Explorer 2010
    3. Visual Studio 2010 SP1
    4. Visual Studio 2010 GDR for Team Foundation Service
    5. Visual Studio 2010 Compatibility Update for Windows 8 and Visual Studio 2012
    • Connect using the https://server:port/tfs/ url format for on premise servers.
    • Connect using the https://yourprofile.visualstudio.com/ url format for Visual Studio Team Services (formerly known as Team Foundation Service)
    • Connecting to VS Team Services is no longer supported using Azure Active Directory accounts when connecting using a machine which is running Windows XP, 2013 or Windows Vista, 7, 2008 or 2008r2 when running Internet Explorer 8.
    • Connecting to VS Team Services is no longer supported when using Internet Explorer 9 and 10.

    Visual Studio 2012 on Window 7, 8, 8.1 or 10

    1. Visual Studio 2012
    2. Team Explorer 2012
    3. Visual Studio 2012 update 5
    4. (optional) Visual Studio Tools for Git
    • Connect using the https://server:port/tfs/ url format for on premise servers.
    • Connect using the https://yourprofile.visualstudio.com/ url format for Visual Studio Team Services (formerly known as Team Foundation Service)
    • Connecting to VS Team Services is no longer supported using Azure Active Directory accounts when connecting using a machine which is running Internet Explorer 8.
    • Connecting to VS Team Services is no longer supported when using Internet Explorer 9 and 10.

    Visual Studio 2013 on Windows 7, 8, 8.1 or 10

    1. Visual Studio 2013
    2. Team Explorer 2013
    3. Visual Studio 2013 update 5
    • Connect using the https://server:port/tfs/ url format for on premise servers.
    • Connect using the https://yourprofile.visualstudio.com/ url format for Visual Studio Team Services (formerly known as Team Foundation Service)
    • Connecting to VS Team Services is no longer supported using Azure Active Directory accounts when connecting using a machine which is running Internet Explorer 8.
    • Connecting to VS Team Services is no longer supported when using Internet Explorer 9 and 10.

    Visual Studio 2015 on Windows 7, 8, 8.1 or 10

    1. Visual Studio 2015
    2. Visual Studio 2015 Update 3
    Note: Team Explorer for Visual Studio 2015 is not available as a stand-alone download. Users who just want to use the Team Explorer features, install:
      1. Team Explorer 2013
      2. Visual Studio 2013 update 5
      • Connect using the https://server:port/tfs/ url format for on premise servers.
      • Connect using the https://yourprofile.visualstudio.com/ url format for Visual Studio Team Services (formerly known as Team Foundation Service)
      • Connecting to VS Team Services is no longer supported using Azure Active Directory accounts when connecting using a machine which is running Internet Explorer 8.
      • Connecting to VS Team Services is no longer supported when using Internet Explorer 9 and 10.

      Eclipse on Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 or 10

      1. Eclipse
      2. Team Explorer Everywhere for Team Foundation Server
      • Connect using the https://server:port/tfs/ url format for on premise servers.
      • Connect using the https://yourprofile.visualstudio.com/ url format for Visual Studio Team Services (formerly known as Team Foundation Service)

      IntelliJ on Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 or 10

      1. IntelliJ IDEA, RubyMine, WebStorm, PhpStorm, PyCharm, AppCode, MPS, Android Studio, 0xDBE or CLion
      2. Visual Studio IntelliJ Plugin
      • Connect using the https://server:port/tfs/ url format for on premise servers.
      • Connect u
        sing the https://yourprofile.visualstudio.com/ url format for Visual Studio Team Services (formerly known as Team Foundation Service)

      Connecting to Team Foundation Server 2013.

      Visual Basic 6, Visual Studio .NET and Visual Studio 2003 on Windows XP

      1. Install Visual Basic 6, Visual Studio .NET or Visual Studio 2003
      2. Team Explorer 2010
      3. Visual Studio 2010 SP1
      4. Visual Studio 2010  GDR
      5. Visual Studio 2010 Compatibility Update for Windows 8 and Visual Studio 2012
      6. Microsoft MSSCCI Provider for Visual Studio 2010

      Visual Studio 2005 or Business Intelligence Development Studio 2008 on Windows XP

      Install or repair the following items on your system in the specified order
      1. Install Visual Studio 2005
      2. Visual Studio 2005 SP1
      3. Visual Studio Team System 2005 Service Pack 1 Forward Compatibility Update for Team Foundation Server 2010
      4. Optional BIDS 2008
      5. Team Explorer 2010
      6. Visual Studio 2010 SP1
      7. Visual Studio 2010  GDR
      8. Visual Studio 2010 Compatibility Update for Windows 8 and Visual Studio 2012
      9. Microsoft MSSCCI Provider for Visual Studio 2010

      Visual Studio 2005 or Business Intelligence Development Studio 2008 on Windows Vista

      Install or repair the following items on your system in the specified order
        1. Visual Studio 2005
        2. Visual Studio 2005 SP1
        3. Visual Studio Team System 2005 Service Pack 1 Forward Compatibility Update for Team Foundation Server 2010
        4. (Optional) BIDS 2008
        5. Visual Studio 2005 Update for Vista
        6. Team Explorer 2012
        7. Visual Studio 2012 update 5
        8. Microsoft MSSCCI Provider for Visual Studio 2012

        Visual Studio 2005 or Business Intelligence Development Studio 2008 on Windows 7, 8, 8.1 or 10

        Install or repair the following items on your system in the specified order
        1. Visual Studio 2005
        2. Visual Studio 2005 SP1
        3. Visual Studio Team System 2005 Service Pack 1 Forward Compatibility Update for Team Foundation Server 2010
        4. (Optional) BIDS 2008
        5. Visual Studio 2005 Update for Vista
        6. Team explorer 2013
          1. Team Explorer 2013 
          2. Visual Studio 2013 update 5
        7. (Optionally) Visual Studio 2015
        8. Microsoft MSSCCI Provider for Visual Studio Team Foundation Server 2013 and 2015

        Visual Studio 2008  or Business Intelligence Development Studio 2008r2 on Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 or 10

        Install or repair the following items on your system in the specified order
        If I understand correctly, this setup is not officially supported, but it is supposed to work just fine. The MSSCCI provider route is the officially supported story, see right below.
        1. Visual Studio 2008
        2. Team Explorer 2008
        3. Visual Studio 2008 SP1
        4. (optional) BIDS 2008r2
        5. Visual Studio 2008 GDR for Team Foundation Service
        • Connect using the https://server:port/tfs/ProjectCollection url format for on premise servers
        • Connect using the https://yourprofile.visualstudio.com/DefaultCollection url format for Visual Studio Online (formerly known as Team Foundation Service)

        Visual Studio 2008  or Business Intelligence Development Studio 2008r2 on Windows XP and Vista (Alternative)

        Install or repair the following items on your system in the specified order
        1. Visual
          Studio 2008
        2. Visual Studio 2008 SP1
        3. (optional) BIDS 2008r2
        4. Team Explorer 2010
        5. Visual Studio 2010 SP1
        6. Visual Studio 2010  GDR
        7. Visual Studio 2010 Compatibility Update for Windows 8 and Visual Studio 2012
        8. Microsoft MSSCCI Provider for Visual Studio 2010
        • Do not use the Team Explorer tab or the Team sub menu to connect to TFS, instead use File, Source Control.
        • Connect using the https://server:port/tfs/ProjectCollection url format for on premise servers
        • Connect using the https://yourprofile.visualstudio.com/DefaultCollection url format for Visual Studio Online (formerly known as Team Foundation Service)

        Visual Studio 2008  or Business Intelligence Development Studio 2008r2 on Windows 7, 8, 8.1 or 10 (Alternative)

        Install or repair the following items on your system in the specified order
        1. Visual Studio 2008
        2. Visual Studio 2008 SP1
        3. (optional) BIDS 2008r2
        4. Visual Studio 2008 GDR for Team Foundation Service
        5. Team explorer 2013
          1. Team Explorer 2013 
          2. Visual Studio 2013 update 5
        6. (Optionally) Visual Studio 2015
        7. (Optionally) Visual Studio 2015 Update 3
        8. Microsoft MSSCCI Provider for Visual Studio Team Foundation Server 2013 and 2015
        • Do not use the Team Explorer tab or the Team sub menu to connect to TFS, instead use File, Source Control.
        • Connect using the https://server:port/tfs/ProjectCollection url format for on premise servers
        • Connect using the https://yourprofile.visualstudio.com/DefaultCollection url format for Visual Studio Online (formerly known as Team Foundation Service)

        Visual Studio 2010 on Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 or 10

        1. Visual Studio 2010
        2. Team Explorer 2010
        3. Visual Studio 2010 SP1
        4. Visual Studio 2010 GDR for Team Foundation Service
        5. Visual Studio 2010 Compatibility Update for Windows 8 and Visual Studio 2012
        • Connect using the https://server:port/tfs/ url format for on premise servers.
        • Connect using the https://yourprofile.visualstudio.com/ url format for Visual Studio Online (formerly known as Team Foundation Service)

        Visual Studio 2012 on Window 7, 8, 8.1 or 10

        1. Visual Studio 2012
        2. Team Explorer 2012
        3. Visual Studio 2012 update 5
        4. (optional) Visual Studio Tools for Git
        • Connect using the https://server:port/tfs/ url format for on premise servers.
        • Connect using the https://yourprofile.visualstudio.com/ url format for Visual Studio Online (formerly known as Team Foundation Service)

        Visual Studio 2013 on Windows 7, 8, 8.1 or 10

        Note: Update to at least Visual Studio Update 2 to enable Tag editing inside Visual Studio and Microsoft Test Manager.
        1. Visual Studio 2013
        2. Team Explorer 2013
        3. Visual Studio 2013 update 5
        • Connect using the https://server:port/tfs/ url format for on premise servers.
        • Connect using the https://yourprofile.visualstudio.com/ url format for Visual Studio Online (formerly known as Team Foundation Service)

        Visual Studio 2015 on Windows 7, 8, 8.1 or 10

        1. Visual Studio 2015
        2. Visual Studio 2015 Update 3
        • Connect using the https://server:port/tfs/ url format for on premise servers.
        • Connect using the https://yourprofile.visualstudio.com/ url format for Visual Studio Online (formerly known as Team Foundation Service)

        Eclipse on Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8 or 8.1

        1. Eclipse
        2. Team Explorer Everywhere for Team Foundation Server
        • Connect using the https://server:port/tfs/ url format for on premise servers.
        • Connect using the https://yourprofile.visualstudio.com/ url format for Visual Studio Online (formerly known as Team Foundation Service)

        IntelliJ on Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 or 10

        1. IntelliJ IDEA, RubyMine, WebStorm, PhpStorm, PyCharm, AppCode, MPS, Android Studio, 0xDBE or CLion
        2. Visual Studio IntelliJ Plugin
        • Connect using the https://server:port/tfs/ url format for on premise servers.
        • Connect using the https://yourprofile.visualstudio.com/ url format for Visual Studio Online (formerly known as Team Foundation Service)

        Connecting to Team Foundation Server 2012

        Visual Basic 6, Visual Studio .NET or Visual Studio 2003 on Windows XP

        1. Install Visual Basic 6, Visual Studio .NET or Visual Studio 2003
        2. Team Explorer 2010
        3. Visual Studio 2010 SP1
        4. Visual Studio 2010  GDR
        5. Visual Studio 2010 Compatibility Update for Windows 8 and Visual Studio 2012
        6. Microsoft MSSCCI Provider for Visual Studio 2010

        Visual Studio 2005 or Business Intelligence Development Studio 2008 on Windows XP and Vista

        Install or repair the following items on your system in the specified order
        1. Install Visu
          al Studio 2005
        2. Visual Studio 2005 SP1
        3. Visual Studio Team System 2005 Service Pack 1 Forward Compatibility Update for Team Foundation Server 2010
        4. (Optional) BIDS 2008
        5. Team Explorer 2010
        6. Visual Studio 2010 SP1
        7. Visual Studio 2010  GDR
        8. Visual Studio 2010 Compatibility Update for Windows 8 and Visual Studio 2012
        9. Microsoft MSSCCI Provider for Visual Studio 2010

        Visual Studio 2005 or Business Intelligence Development Studio 2008 on Windows 7, 8 , 8.1 or 10

        Install or repair the following items on your system in the specified order
        1. Visual Studio 2005
        2. Visual Studio 2005 SP1
        3. Visual Studio Team System 2005 Service Pack 1 Forward Compatibility Update for Team Foundation Server 2010
        4. (Optional) BIDS 2008
        5. Visual Studio 2005 Update for Vista
        6. Team explorer 2013
          1. Team Explorer 2013 
          2. Visual Studio 2013 update 5
        7. (Optionally) Visual Studio 2015
        8. Microsoft MSSCCI Provider for Visual Studio Team Foundation Server 2013 and 2015

        Visual Studio 2008  or Business Intelligence Development Studio 2008r2 on Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 or 10

        Install or repair the following items on your system in the specified order
        1. Visual Studio 2008
        2. Team Explorer 2008
        3. Visual Studio 2008 SP1
        4. (optional) BIDS 2008r2
        5. Visual Studio 2008 GDR for Team Foundation Service
        • Connect using the https://server:port/tfs/ProjectCollection url format for on premise servers
        • Connect using the https://yourprofile.visualstudio.com/DefaultCollection url format for Visual Studio Online (formerly known as Team Foundation Service)

        Visual Studio 2010 on Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 or 10

        Install or repair the following items on your system in the specified order
        1. Visual Studio 2010
        2. Team Explorer 2010
        3. Visual Studio 2010 SP1
        4. Visual Studio 2010 GDR for Team Foundation Service
        5. Visual Studio 2010 Compatibility Update for Windows 8 and Visual Studio 2012
        • Connect using the https://server:port/tfs/ProjectCollection url format for on premise servers
        • Connect using the https://yourprofile.visualstudio.com/DefaultCollection url format for Visual Studio Online (formerly known as Team Foundation Service)

        Visual Studio 2012 on Window 7, 8, 8.1 or 10

        Install or repair the following items on your system in the specified order
        1. Visual Studio 2012
        2. Team Explorer 2012
        3. (optional) Visual Studio 2012 update 5
        • Connect using the https://server:port/tfs/ProjectCollection url format for on premise servers
        • Connect using the https://yourprofile.visualstudio.com/DefaultCollection url format for Visual Studio Online (formerly known as Team Foundation Service)

        Visual Studio 2013 on Windows 7, 8, 8.1 or 10

        Install or repair the following items on your system in the specified order
        1. Visual Studio 2013
        2. Team Explorer 2013
        3. (optional) Visual Studio 2013 update 5
        • Connect using the https://server:port/tfs/ProjectCollection url format for on premise servers
        • Connect using the https://yourprofile.visualstudio.com/DefaultCollection url format for Visual Studio Online (formerly known as Team Foundation Service)

        Visual Studio 2015 on Windows 7, 8, 8.1 or 10

        1. Visual Studio 2015
        2. Visual Studio 2015 Update 3
        • Connect using the https://server:port/tfs/ url format for on premise servers.
        • Connect using the https://yourprofile.visualstudio.com/ url format for Visual Studio Online (formerly known as Team Foundation Service)

        Eclipse on Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 or 10

        1. Eclipse
        2. Team Explorer Everywhere for Team Foundation Server
        • Connect using the https://server:port/tfs/ProjectCollection url format for on premise servers
        • Connect using the https://yourprofile.visualstudio.com/DefaultCollection url format for Visual Studio Online (formerly known as Team Foundation Service)

        IntelliJ on Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 or 10

        1. IntelliJ IDEA, RubyMine, WebStorm, PhpStorm, PyCharm, AppCode, MPS, Android Studio, 0xDBE or CLion
        2. Visual Studio IntelliJ Plugin
        • Connect using the https://server:port/tfs/ url format for on premise servers.
        • Connect using the https://yourprofile.visualstudio.com/ url format for Visual Studio Online (formerly known as Team Foundation Service)

        Connecting to Team Foundation Server 2010

        Visual Basic 6, Visual Studio .NET or Visual Studio 2003 on Windows XP

        1. Install Visual Basic 6, Visual Studio .NET or Visual Studio 2003
        2. Team Explorer 2010
        3. Visual Studio 2010 SP1
        4. Visual Studio 2010  GDR
        5. Microsoft MSSCCI Provider for Visual Studio 2010

        Visual Studio 2005 or Business Intelligence Development Studio 2008 on Windows XP, Windows 7, 8, 8.1 or 10

        Install or repair the following items on your system in the specified order
        1. Visual Studio 2005
        2. Team Explorer 2005
        3. Visual Studio 2005 SP1
        4. Optional BIDS 2008
        5. (not on XP) Visual Studio 2005 Update for Vista
        6. Visual Studio 2005 SP1 Forward Compatibility update for Team Foundation Server 2010
        • Connect using the https://server:port/tfs/ProjectCollection url format for on premise servers
        • Connect using the https://yourprofile.visualstudio.com/DefaultCollection url format for Visual Studio Online (formerly known as Team Foundation Service)

        Visual Studio 2008  or Business Intelligence Development Studio 2008r2 on Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 or 10

        Install or repair the following items on your system in the specified order
        1. Visual Studio 2008
        2. Team Explorer 2008
        3. Visual Studio 2008 SP1
        4. (optional) BIDS 2008r2
        5. Visual Studio 2008 GDR for Team Foundation Service
        • Connect using the https://server:port/tfs/ProjectCollection url format for on premise servers
        • Connect using the https://yourprofile.visualstudio.com/DefaultCollection url format for Visual Studio Online (formerly known as Team Foundation Service)

        Visual Studio 2010 on Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 or 10

        Install or repair the following items on your system in the specified order
        1. Visual Studio 2010
        2. Team Explorer 2010
        3. Visual Studio 2010 SP1
        4. Visual Studio 2010 GDR for Team Foundation Service
        • Connect using the https://server:port/tfs/ProjectCollection url format for on premise servers
        • Connect using the https://yourprofile.visualstudio.com/DefaultCollection url format for Visual Studio Online (formerly known as Team Foundation Service)

        Visual Studio 2012 on Window 7, 8, 8.1 or 10

        Install or repair the following items on your system in the specified order
        1. Visual Studio 2012
        2. Team Explorer 2012
        3. (Optional) Visual Studio 2012 update 5
        • Connect using the https://server:port/tfs/ProjectCollection url format for on premise servers
        • Connect using the https://yourprofile.visualstudio.com/DefaultCollection url format for Visual Studio Online (formerly known as Team Foundation Service)

        Visual Studio 2013 on Windows 7, 8, 8.1 or 10

        Install or repair the following items on your system in the specified order
        1. Visual Studio 2013
        2. Team Explorer 2013
        3. (optional) Visual Studio 2013 update 5
        • Connect using the https://server:port/tfs/ProjectCollection url format for on premise servers
        • Connect using the https://yourprofile.visualstudio.com/DefaultCollection url format for Visual Studio Online (formerly known as Team Foundation Service)

        Visual Studio 2015 on Windows 7, 8, 8.1 or 10

        1. Visual Studio 2015
        2. Visual Studio 2015 Update 3
        • Connect using the https://server:port/tfs/ url format for on premise servers.
        • Connect using the https://yourprofile.visualstudio.com/ url format for Visual Studio Online (formerly known as Team Foundation Service)

        Eclipse on Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 or 10

        1. Eclipse
        2. Team Explorer Everywhere for Team Foundation Server
        • Connect using the https://server:port/tfs/ProjectCollection url format for on premise servers
        • Connect using the https://yourprofile.visualstudio.com/DefaultCollection url format for Visual Studio Online (formerly known as Team Foundation Service)

        IntelliJ on Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 or 10

        1. IntelliJ IDEA, RubyMine, WebStorm, PhpStorm, PyCharm, AppCode, MPS, Android Studio, 0xDBE or CLion
        2. Visual Studio IntelliJ Plugin
        • Connect using the https://server:port/tfs/ url format for on premise servers.
        • Connect using the https://yourprofile.visualstudio.com/ url format for Visual Studio Online (formerly known as Team Foundation Service)

        Configuring the MSSCCI provider for Visual Studio

        To use the MSSCCI provider in Visual Studio you must make sure you have the correct Source Control provider selected. In your version of Visual Studio go to Tools, Options, Source Control and select the MSSCCI provider:
        Select Source Control
        Then go to File, Source Control to open a project from source control.

        You won’t be able to trigger builds or access work items using the version of Visual Studio you are now using. Instead you must start Team Explorer 2010 or higher to interact with these features from Visual Studio.
        When you use Visual Studio 2012 or higher to configure your Version Control mappings, you need to make sure you select a “Server Workspace”.

        Configure Server Workspace

        Connecting from Visual Studio 2005, 2008 or the MSSCCI provider

        To connect to Visual Studio 2010 or higher from an older version of Visual Studio, you need to use a different URI format to add your server. Before Visual Studio 2010 was released, there was no such thing as a Project Collection.
        Instead of the now standard format:

        On-premise: http[s]://{yourserver}[:{port}]?/tfs/

        Team Foundation Service: https://{yourprofile}.visualstudio.com/ 

        You need to add the Project Collection to the URI, so that it becomes:

        On-premise: http[s]://{yourserver}[:{port}]/tfs/{ProjectCollection}

        Team Foundation Service: https://{yourprofile}.visualstudio.com/DefaultCollection

        Otherwise you will get the following error message:

        TF30335: The server name cannot contain the characters ‘/’ or ‘:’, or start with ‘https://’ or ‘https://’

        Jesse Houwing
        by Jesse Houwing
        Jesse is a passionate trainer and coach, helping teams improve their productivity and quality all while trying to keep work fun. He is a Professional Scrum Trainer (PST) through Scrum.org, Microsoft Certified Trainer and GitHub Accredited Trainer. Jesse regularly blogs and you'll find him on StackOverflow, he has received the Microsoft Community Contributor Award three years in a row and has been awarded the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional award since 2015. He loves espresso and dark chocolate, travels a lot and takes photos everywhere he goes.
        LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jessehouwing Twitter: jessehouwing
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