[wcf] Where can I find WcfTestClient.exe (part of Visual Studio)

The MSDN docs state that I can find the WCF Test Client in:

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\Common7\IDE\

but it seems like a lot of stuff is missing from there, including WcfTestClient.exe.

What do I need to install?

This question is related to wcf visual-studio visual-studio-2008

The answer is


In addition, one can add this to the Visual Studio Tools menu.

Tools => External Tools.

And then in the Command box enter the path for WcfTestClient.exe.

In my case

C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 12.0\Common7\IDE\WcfTestClient.exe

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Mine was here: "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2017\Enterprise\Common7\IDE"


VS 2019 Professional:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2019\Professional\Common7\IDE\WcfTestClient.exe

VS 2019 Community:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2019\Community\Common7\IDE\WcfTestClient.exe

VS 2019 Enterprise:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2019\Enterprise\Common7\IDE\WcfTestClient.exe

VS 2017 Community:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2017\Community\Common7\IDE\WcfTestClient.exe

VS 2017 Professional:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2017\Professional\Common7\IDE\WcfTestClient.exe

VS 2017 Enterprise:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2017\Enterprise\Common7\IDE\WcfTestClient.exe

VS 2015:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0\Common7\IDE\WcfTestClient.exe

VS 2013:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 12.0\Common7\IDE\WcfTestClient.exe

VS 2012:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 11.0\Common7\IDE\WcfTestClient.exe

You won't find the component if it hasn't been installed.

In Visual Studio 2019 go to:

Tools > Get Tools and Features > Select the Individual Components tab > Type wcf in the search box and install it.

This installs the component, and you should be able to load it from the command prompt or other methods suggested in the answer.


If you use "Developer Command Prompt" you can just type WcfTestClient to start it or type where wcftestclient to find the location.


For Visual studio 2013, Windows 8...

C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 12.0\Common7\IDE\WcfTestClient.exe


FYI - I could not find WcfTestClient.exe under any of the listed file paths. It turns out it needed to be installed by Visual Studio Installer. When you launch the installer and modify your version of VS, make sure Windows Communication Foundation is checked under Optional. It may seem obvious, but it wasn't to me and therefore might not be obvious to everyone else.


For 64 bit OS, its here (If .Net 4.5) : C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 11.0\Common7\IDE


The prerequisite to have WcfTestClient is to have Windows Communication Foundation component installed. If WcfTestClient is missing, install it by modifying Visual Studio:

Control Panel > Apps & Features > Visual Studio (your version)

In Visual Studio Installer, click on Modify, choose Individual components tab and then select (see below screenshot):

? Windows Communication Foundation

Click on Modify and voilĂ , application will be on your disk.

Visual Studio Installer

If you want to use WcfTestClient with no Visual Studio, see answer(s) on: How can the Wcf Test Client be used without Visual Studio?


New Direction on VS 2017 (x64 systems)

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2017\*your lic type*\Common7\IDE\WcfTestClient.exe"

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