This should be really easy, I've searched online for hours and throughout my project files as well for an answer to no avail.
Majority of the 'answers' I've found online say to get to the project's properties one way or another. Then click the Application tab on the left hand column in the properties window. I've done that and I do not have an Application tab, in fact I'm finding the properties window I see is extremely different than what is shown in the examples.
Mainly it's a difference between a C++ project and other projects apparently, which leads me to the 2nd link at the end of this post.
I'm instructed to do the following (and yes I've found this file just fine)
In the project file, locate the entry for the target Framework version. For example, if your project is designed to use the .NET Framework 4.5, locate v4.5 in the element of the element. If the element isn't present, your project doesn't use the .NET Framework and no change is required. That element is not present for me, and it says no change is required. But when I try to use something that is new to v4.5 of the framework I am unable to. (such as Windows.UI)
These MSDN pages are where I keep ending up on my various internet searches for a solution, and neither has helped.
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/vstudio/bb398202
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff770576.aspx
Any help would be greatly appreciated.