
## Table of Contents

1. [Introduction](#introduction)
2. [Steps](#steps)
3. [Result](#result)
4. [Bonus: For Git Users](#bonus-for-git-users)
5. [Conclusion](#conclusion)

## Introduction

When you build a solution in Visual Studio, NuGet restores packages and downloads DLLs into a `packages` folder. You should **not** check these files into source control — they can be restored automatically, and committing them bloats your repository.

This guide shows how to properly ignore the NuGet `packages` folder when using **TFS (Team Foundation Server)** as your source control.

## Steps

### 1. Create the `.nuget` Folder

At the root of your Visual Studio solution, create a `.nuget` folder and add a `NuGet.config` file inside it.

### 2. Create the `.tfignore` File

At the root of your Visual Studio solution, create a `.tfignore` file.

Your solution structure should look like this:

```
MySolution/
├── .nuget/
│   └── NuGet.config
├── .tfignore
├── MySolution.sln
├── MyProject/
└── packages/          ← This folder will be ignored
```

### 3. Add `NuGet.config` Content

Inside `.nuget/NuGet.config`, add the following to disable source control integration for the packages folder:

```xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<configuration>
  <solution>
    <add key="disableSourceControlIntegration" value="true" />
  </solution>
</configuration>
```

### 4. Add `.tfignore` Content

In the `.tfignore` file, add the packages folder path:

```
\packages
```

## Result

After adding these two files, when you check in your changes via TFS, files and folders under the `packages` directory will **no longer appear** in your Pending Changes window.

## Bonus: For Git Users

If you're using **Git** instead of TFS, add this line to your `.gitignore` file:

```
packages/
```

Most Visual Studio `.gitignore` templates already include this by default.

## Conclusion

| File           | Location              | Purpose                                   |
| -------------- | --------------------- | ----------------------------------------- |
| `NuGet.config` | `.nuget/NuGet.config` | Disables NuGet source control integration |
| `.tfignore`    | Solution root         | Tells TFS to ignore the `packages` folder |

This simple setup keeps your repository clean and avoids unnecessary package files in source control.


How to exclude the NuGet packages folder from source control in Visual Studio using .tfignore and NuGet.config.

NuGet

A Tip for Ignoring NuGet Packages Folder in Visual Studio