How to use CentralPackageVersionOverrideEnabled == 'false' and MSTest/Sdk?

[Youssef1313]

Discussed in #7440

^{Originally posted by anthonymastreanvae February 20, 2026}
Directory.Build.props

<Project>
  <PropertyGroup>
    <ManagePackageVersionsCentrally>true</ManagePackageVersionsCentrally>
    <CentralPackageVersionOverrideEnabled>false</CentralPackageVersionOverrideEnabled>
  </PropertyGroup>
</Project>

Example.Tests.csproj

<Project Sdk="MSTest.Sdk/4.1.0">

  <PropertyGroup>
    <TargetFramework>net10.0</TargetFramework>
    <ImplicitUsings>enable</ImplicitUsings>
    <Nullable>enable</Nullable>
  </PropertyGroup>

</Project>

Error:

error NU1013: The following PackageReference items cannot specify a value for VersionOverride: MSTest.TestFramework.  Projects using Central Package Management are currently configured to disable this functionality. For more information, visit https://aka.ms/nuget/cpm/versionoverride
error NU1013: The following PackageReference items cannot specify a value for VersionOverride: MSTest.TestAdapter.  Projects using Central Package Management are currently configured to disable this functionality. For more information, visit https://aka.ms/nuget/cpm/versionoverride
error NU1013: The following PackageReference items cannot specify a value for VersionOverride: Microsoft.Testing.Extensions.CodeCoverage.  Projects using Central Package Management are currently configured to disable this functionality. For more information, visit https://aka.ms/nuget/cpm/versionoverride
error NU1013: The following PackageReference items cannot specify a value for VersionOverride: Microsoft.Testing.Extensions.TrxReport.  Projects using Central Package Management are currently configured to disable this functionality. For more information, visit https://aka.ms/nuget/cpm/versionoverride
```</div>

[Youssef1313]

I think what we need to do is always avoid using VersionOverride. Instead:

• If ManagePackageVersionsCentrally is not true -> We just use Version metadata on PackageReference items.
• If ManagePackageVersionsCentrally is true -> We use PackageReference items without any metadata, and we define PackageVersion items with Version metadata.

@Evangelink Was there any specific reason this wasn't done this way from the beginning? Is it only because it was easier to set both Version and VersionOverride unconditionally?

[MihuBot]

I'm a bot. Here is a possible duplicate issue (I may be wrong):

• Package References are added improperly from the SDK #2726

[nohwnd]

fwiw: this is where override was introduced #2880