diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/build-windows.yml b/.gitea/workflows/build-windows.yml
index eca62319d..015930743 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/build-windows.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/build-windows.yml
@@ -381,10 +381,42 @@ jobs:
           python preprocess.py --arp -d ..\..\rustdesk -v "${env:VERSION_BASE}"
 
           # Resolve MSBuild from the installed VS Build Tools.
-          $vswhere = "${env:ProgramFiles(x86)}\Microsoft Visual Studio\Installer\vswhere.exe"
-          $msbuild = & $vswhere -latest -requires Microsoft.Component.MSBuild `
+          # Resolve vswhere.exe explicitly. ${env:ProgramFiles(x86)} interpolation
+          # has parser-version quirks; use [Environment] to avoid them.
+          $pfx86   = [Environment]::GetEnvironmentVariable('ProgramFiles(x86)')
+          $vswhere = Join-Path $pfx86 'Microsoft Visual Studio\Installer\vswhere.exe'
+          if (-not (Test-Path $vswhere)) {
+            throw "vswhere.exe not found at $vswhere -- VS Installer missing?"
+          }
+          Write-Host "vswhere: $vswhere"
+
+          # Diagnostic: show what VS installs vswhere can see.
+          Write-Host "`n== vswhere installations =="
+          & $vswhere -all -prerelease -products '*' -property installationPath
+          Write-Host "==="
+
+          # Try the targeted -requires first; fall back to a broader search if the
+          # component name doesn't match (e.g. on Build Tools the component IDs differ).
+          $msbuild = & $vswhere -latest -products '*' `
+              -requires Microsoft.Component.MSBuild `
               -find "MSBuild\**\Bin\MSBuild.exe" | Select-Object -First 1
-          if (-not $msbuild) { throw "MSBuild not found via vswhere" }
+          if (-not $msbuild) {
+            Write-Host "Targeted lookup failed; trying broader search."
+            $msbuild = & $vswhere -latest -products '*' -prerelease `
+                -find "MSBuild\**\Bin\MSBuild.exe" | Select-Object -First 1
+          }
+          if (-not $msbuild) {
+            # Last resort: any MSBuild.exe under any VS install path.
+            $vsRoots = & $vswhere -all -prerelease -products '*' -property installationPath
+            foreach ($r in $vsRoots) {
+              $candidate = Get-ChildItem -Path $r -Recurse -Filter 'MSBuild.exe' -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue |
+                           Where-Object { $_.FullName -like '*\Bin\MSBuild.exe' -and $_.FullName -notlike '*\amd64\*' } |
+                           Select-Object -First 1
+              if ($candidate) { $msbuild = $candidate.FullName; break }
+            }
+          }
+          if (-not $msbuild) { throw "MSBuild not found via vswhere or filesystem search" }
+          Write-Host "msbuild: $msbuild"
 
           # Two-stage restore covers both project flavors in this solution:
           #   - CustomActions.vcxproj uses old-style packages.config -> nuget restore