diff --git a/docs/processes/release/tasks/versions.md b/docs/processes/release/tasks/versions.md
index 9e8c21f8b4c..48913c70261 100644
--- a/docs/processes/release/tasks/versions.md
+++ b/docs/processes/release/tasks/versions.md
@@ -73,15 +73,13 @@ Edit icuver.txt directly.
 
 1.  The instructions for updating the version number are in
     [icu4c/source/common/unicode/uvernum.h](https://github.com/unicode-org/icu/blob/main/icu4c/source/common/unicode/uvernum.h).
-2.  [icu4c/source/stubdata/stubdata.vcxproj](https://github.com/unicode-org/icu/blob/main/icu4c/source/stubdata/stubdata.vcxproj)
-    and
-    [icu4c/source/data/makedata.mak](https://github.com/unicode-org/icu/blob/main/icu4c/source/data/makedata.mak)
-    may also need to updated with the correct version for icudt.
-3.  After uvernum.h is updated, the Windows project files should be updated by
-    running the UNIX makefile target '**update-windows-makefiles**' in
-    icu/source.
-    *   You will need to rerun "./configure" first though before you can run the
-        command "make update-windows-makefiles".
+2.  [icu4c/source/data/makedata.mak](https://github.com/unicode-org/icu/blob/main/icu4c/source/data/makedata.mak)
+    also needs to be updated with the correct version for `U_ICUDATA_NAME` (icudt).
+3.  After `uvernum.h` is updated, the file [Build.Windows.IcuVersion.props](https://github.com/unicode-org/icu/blob/main/icu4c/source/allinone/Build.Windows.IcuVersion.props) should be updated.
+    This can be done by hand, or by running the UNIX makefile target '**update-windows-makefiles**'
+    in `icu4c/source`.
+    *   You will need to rerun "`./configure`" first though before you can run the
+        command "`make update-windows-makefiles`".
     *   Note: You can use MSYS+MinGW to run the UNIX makefile on Windows
         platforms as well.
 4.  As well, the ICU4C "configure" script should be updated so that it reflects
diff --git a/icu4c/source/Makefile.in b/icu4c/source/Makefile.in
index 79a0a3423ab..ddc70e13fa9 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/Makefile.in
+++ b/icu4c/source/Makefile.in
@@ -371,7 +371,7 @@ icu4j-data-install icu4j-data: all tests
 
 # For updating Windows makefiles
 
-WINDOWS_UPDATEFILES=$(srcdir)/data/makedata.mak $(shell find $(srcdir) -name '*.vcproj' -o -name '*.vcxproj')
+WINDOWS_UPDATEFILES=$(srcdir)/data/makedata.mak $(srcdir)/allinone/Build.Windows.IcuVersion.props
 
 WINDOWS_UPDATEFILES_SED=config/windows-update.sed
 
diff --git a/icu4c/source/allinone/Build.Windows.IcuVersion.props b/icu4c/source/allinone/Build.Windows.IcuVersion.props
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..92e11d6a661
--- /dev/null
+++ b/icu4c/source/allinone/Build.Windows.IcuVersion.props
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
+<!-- Copyright (C) 2016 and later: Unicode, Inc. and others. License & terms of use: http://www.unicode.org/copyright.html -->
+<Project ToolsVersion="14.0" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
+  <!-- This file is used to set the ICU Major Version number, which is used as a suffix on various file names in other Visual Studio projects. -->
+  <PropertyGroup>
+    <IcuMajorVersion>71</IcuMajorVersion>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+</Project>
diff --git a/icu4c/source/allinone/Build.Windows.ProjectConfiguration.props b/icu4c/source/allinone/Build.Windows.ProjectConfiguration.props
index 147689b910a..bcb0f411d64 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/allinone/Build.Windows.ProjectConfiguration.props
+++ b/icu4c/source/allinone/Build.Windows.ProjectConfiguration.props
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
 <!-- Copyright (C) 2016 and later: Unicode, Inc. and others. License & terms of use: http://www.unicode.org/copyright.html -->
-<Project DefaultTargets="Build" ToolsVersion="14.0" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
+<Project ToolsVersion="14.0" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
   <!-- This file is used to set default configuration options for all non-UWP Visual Studio projects. -->
+  <!-- The following import will set the ICU Major Version number. -->
+  <Import Project="Build.Windows.IcuVersion.props" />
   <!-- These are the default project configurations for building. -->
   <ItemGroup Label="ProjectConfigurations">
     <ProjectConfiguration Include="Debug|Win32">
diff --git a/icu4c/source/allinone/Build.Windows.UWP.ProjectConfiguration.props b/icu4c/source/allinone/Build.Windows.UWP.ProjectConfiguration.props
index 89d528a7791..948b7c4f98b 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/allinone/Build.Windows.UWP.ProjectConfiguration.props
+++ b/icu4c/source/allinone/Build.Windows.UWP.ProjectConfiguration.props
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
 <!-- Copyright (C) 2016 and later: Unicode, Inc. and others. License & terms of use: http://www.unicode.org/copyright.html -->
-<Project DefaultTargets="Build" ToolsVersion="14.0" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
+<Project ToolsVersion="14.0" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
+  <!-- The following import will set the ICU Major Version number. -->
+  <Import Project="Build.Windows.IcuVersion.props" />
   <!-- This file is used to set common configuration options for all *_uwp projects. -->
   <PropertyGroup>
     <MinimumVisualStudioVersion>14.0</MinimumVisualStudioVersion>
diff --git a/icu4c/source/common/common.vcxproj b/icu4c/source/common/common.vcxproj
index 6b0a60e46c1..e35e1b0cff7 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/common/common.vcxproj
+++ b/icu4c/source/common/common.vcxproj
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@
       <RuntimeLibrary>MultiThreadedDebugDLL</RuntimeLibrary>
     </ClCompile>
     <Link>
-      <OutputFile>..\..\$(IcuBinOutputDir)\icuuc71d.dll</OutputFile>
+      <OutputFile>..\..\$(IcuBinOutputDir)\icuuc$(IcuMajorVersion)d.dll</OutputFile>
       <ProgramDatabaseFile>.\..\..\$(IcuLibOutputDir)\icuucd.pdb</ProgramDatabaseFile>
       <ImportLibrary>..\..\$(IcuLibOutputDir)\icuucd.lib</ImportLibrary>
     </Link>
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@
       <FunctionLevelLinking>true</FunctionLevelLinking>
     </ClCompile>
     <Link>
-      <OutputFile>..\..\$(IcuBinOutputDir)\icuuc71.dll</OutputFile>
+      <OutputFile>..\..\$(IcuBinOutputDir)\icuuc$(IcuMajorVersion).dll</OutputFile>
       <ProgramDatabaseFile>.\..\..\$(IcuLibOutputDir)\icuuc.pdb</ProgramDatabaseFile>
       <ImportLibrary>..\..\$(IcuLibOutputDir)\icuuc.lib</ImportLibrary>
     </Link>
diff --git a/icu4c/source/common/common_uwp.vcxproj b/icu4c/source/common/common_uwp.vcxproj
index dcd95b8c318..fc165629f29 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/common/common_uwp.vcxproj
+++ b/icu4c/source/common/common_uwp.vcxproj
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@
     <Link>
       <EnableCOMDATFolding>true</EnableCOMDATFolding>
       <AdditionalDependencies>vccorlib.lib;msvcrt.lib;vcruntime.lib;%(AdditionalDependencies)</AdditionalDependencies>
-      <OutputFile>..\..\$(IcuBinOutputDir)\icuuc71.dll</OutputFile>
+      <OutputFile>..\..\$(IcuBinOutputDir)\icuuc$(IcuMajorVersion).dll</OutputFile>
       <ProgramDatabaseFile>.\..\..\$(IcuLibOutputDir)\icuuc.pdb</ProgramDatabaseFile>
       <ImportLibrary>..\..\$(IcuLibOutputDir)\icuuc.lib</ImportLibrary>
     </Link>
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@
     <Link>
       <GenerateDebugInformation>true</GenerateDebugInformation>
       <AdditionalDependencies>vccorlibd.lib;msvcrtd.lib;vcruntimed.lib;%(AdditionalDependencies)</AdditionalDependencies>
-      <OutputFile>..\..\$(IcuBinOutputDir)\icuuc71d.dll</OutputFile>
+      <OutputFile>..\..\$(IcuBinOutputDir)\icuuc$(IcuMajorVersion)d.dll</OutputFile>
       <ProgramDatabaseFile>.\..\..\$(IcuLibOutputDir)\icuucd.pdb</ProgramDatabaseFile>
       <ImportLibrary>..\..\$(IcuLibOutputDir)\icuucd.lib</ImportLibrary>
     </Link>
diff --git a/icu4c/source/common/unicode/uvernum.h b/icu4c/source/common/unicode/uvernum.h
index 2706e0b0606..a8fe7481629 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/common/unicode/uvernum.h
+++ b/icu4c/source/common/unicode/uvernum.h
@@ -31,19 +31,12 @@
   *                    renaming macro, and copyright
   *
   * The following files need to be updated as well, which can be done
-  *  by running the UNIX makefile target 'update-windows-makefiles' in icu/source.
+  *  by running the UNIX makefile target 'update-windows-makefiles' in icu4c/source.
   *
-  *
-  * source/common/common_uwp.vcxproj
-  * source/common/common.vcxproj - update 'Output file name' on the link tab so
-  *                   that it contains the new major/minor combination
-  * source/i18n/i18n.vcxproj - same as for the common.vcxproj
-  * source/i18n/i18n_uwp.vcxproj - same as for the common_uwp.vcxproj
-  * source/layoutex/layoutex.vcproj - same
-  * source/stubdata/stubdata.vcproj - same as for the common.vcxproj
-  * source/io/io.vcproj - same as for the common.vcxproj
+  * source/allinone/Build.Windows.IcuVersion.props - Update the IcuMajorVersion
   * source/data/makedata.mak - change U_ICUDATA_NAME so that it contains
-  *                            the new major/minor combination and the Unicode version.
+  *                            the new major/minor combination, and UNICODE_VERSION
+  *                            for the Unicode version.
   */
 
 #ifndef UVERNUM_H
diff --git a/icu4c/source/config/windows-update.sed.in b/icu4c/source/config/windows-update.sed.in
index 23473a757e9..e0d540730e5 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/config/windows-update.sed.in
+++ b/icu4c/source/config/windows-update.sed.in
@@ -4,5 +4,4 @@
 # sed script for updating windows .mak and .vcproj files
 s%^U_ICUDATA_NAME=.*%U_ICUDATA_NAME=icudt@LIB_VERSION_MAJOR@%
 s%^UNICODE_VERSION=.*%UNICODE_VERSION=@UNICODE_VERSION@%
-s%\(icu[a-zA-Z]*\)[0-9][0-9]\(d\.dll\)%\1@LIB_VERSION_MAJOR@\2%g
-s%\(icu[a-zA-Z]*\)[0-9][0-9]\(\.dll\)%\1@LIB_VERSION_MAJOR@\2%g
+s%\(<IcuMajorVersion>\)[0-9][0-9]%\1@LIB_VERSION_MAJOR@%g
diff --git a/icu4c/source/i18n/i18n.vcxproj b/icu4c/source/i18n/i18n.vcxproj
index 23b8527cf0e..04b396c823d 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/i18n/i18n.vcxproj
+++ b/icu4c/source/i18n/i18n.vcxproj
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@
     </ClCompile>
     <Link>
       <AdditionalDependencies>icuucd.lib;%(AdditionalDependencies)</AdditionalDependencies>
-      <OutputFile>..\..\$(IcuBinOutputDir)\icuin71d.dll</OutputFile>
+      <OutputFile>..\..\$(IcuBinOutputDir)\icuin$(IcuMajorVersion)d.dll</OutputFile>
       <ProgramDatabaseFile>.\..\..\$(IcuLibOutputDir)\icuind.pdb</ProgramDatabaseFile>
       <ImportLibrary>..\..\$(IcuLibOutputDir)\icuind.lib</ImportLibrary>
     </Link>
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@
     </ClCompile>
     <Link>
       <AdditionalDependencies>icuuc.lib;%(AdditionalDependencies)</AdditionalDependencies>
-      <OutputFile>..\..\$(IcuBinOutputDir)\icuin71.dll</OutputFile>
+      <OutputFile>..\..\$(IcuBinOutputDir)\icuin$(IcuMajorVersion).dll</OutputFile>
       <ProgramDatabaseFile>.\..\..\$(IcuLibOutputDir)\icuin.pdb</ProgramDatabaseFile>
       <ImportLibrary>..\..\$(IcuLibOutputDir)\icuin.lib</ImportLibrary>
     </Link>
diff --git a/icu4c/source/i18n/i18n_uwp.vcxproj b/icu4c/source/i18n/i18n_uwp.vcxproj
index ca0f335927b..086d5986572 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/i18n/i18n_uwp.vcxproj
+++ b/icu4c/source/i18n/i18n_uwp.vcxproj
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@
       <ProgramDataBaseFileName>.\x86\ReleaseUWP/</ProgramDataBaseFileName>
     </ClCompile>
     <Link>
-      <OutputFile>..\..\bin32uwp\icuin71.dll</OutputFile>
+      <OutputFile>..\..\bin32uwp\icuin$(IcuMajorVersion).dll</OutputFile>
       <ProgramDatabaseFile>.\..\..\lib32uwp\icuin.pdb</ProgramDatabaseFile>
       <ImportLibrary>..\..\lib32uwp\icuin.lib</ImportLibrary>
       <AdditionalDependencies>..\..\lib32uwp\icuuc.lib;%(AdditionalDependencies)</AdditionalDependencies>
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@
       <ProgramDataBaseFileName>.\x86\DebugUWP/</ProgramDataBaseFileName>
     </ClCompile>
     <Link>
-      <OutputFile>..\..\bin32uwp\icuin71d.dll</OutputFile>
+      <OutputFile>..\..\bin32uwp\icuin$(IcuMajorVersion)d.dll</OutputFile>
       <ProgramDatabaseFile>.\..\..\lib32uwp\icuind.pdb</ProgramDatabaseFile>
       <ImportLibrary>..\..\lib32uwp\icuind.lib</ImportLibrary>
       <AdditionalDependencies>..\..\lib32uwp\icuucd.lib;%(AdditionalDependencies)</AdditionalDependencies>
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@
       <ProgramDataBaseFileName>.\x64\ReleaseUWP/</ProgramDataBaseFileName>
     </ClCompile>
     <Link>
-      <OutputFile>..\..\bin64uwp\icuin71.dll</OutputFile>
+      <OutputFile>..\..\bin64uwp\icuin$(IcuMajorVersion).dll</OutputFile>
       <ProgramDatabaseFile>.\..\..\lib64uwp\icuin.pdb</ProgramDatabaseFile>
       <ImportLibrary>..\..\lib64uwp\icuin.lib</ImportLibrary>
       <AdditionalDependencies>..\..\lib64uwp\icuuc.lib;%(AdditionalDependencies)</AdditionalDependencies>
@@ -237,7 +237,7 @@
       <ProgramDataBaseFileName>.\x64\DebugUWP/</ProgramDataBaseFileName>
     </ClCompile>
     <Link>
-      <OutputFile>..\..\bin64uwp\icuin71d.dll</OutputFile>
+      <OutputFile>..\..\bin64uwp\icuin$(IcuMajorVersion)d.dll</OutputFile>
       <ProgramDatabaseFile>.\..\..\lib64uwp\icuind.pdb</ProgramDatabaseFile>
       <ImportLibrary>..\..\lib64uwp\icuind.lib</ImportLibrary>
       <AdditionalDependencies>..\..\lib64uwp\icuucd.lib;%(AdditionalDependencies)</AdditionalDependencies>
@@ -254,7 +254,7 @@
       <ProgramDataBaseFileName>.\ARM\ReleaseUWP/</ProgramDataBaseFileName>
     </ClCompile>
     <Link>
-      <OutputFile>..\..\binARMuwp\icuin71.dll</OutputFile>
+      <OutputFile>..\..\binARMuwp\icuin$(IcuMajorVersion).dll</OutputFile>
       <ProgramDatabaseFile>.\..\..\libARMuwp\icuin.pdb</ProgramDatabaseFile>
       <ImportLibrary>..\..\libARMuwp\icuin.lib</ImportLibrary>
       <AdditionalDependencies>..\..\libARMuwp\icuuc.lib;%(AdditionalDependencies)</AdditionalDependencies>
@@ -271,7 +271,7 @@
       <ProgramDataBaseFileName>.\ARM\DebugUWP/</ProgramDataBaseFileName>
     </ClCompile>
     <Link>
-      <OutputFile>..\..\binARMuwp\icuin71d.dll</OutputFile>
+      <OutputFile>..\..\binARMuwp\icuin$(IcuMajorVersion)d.dll</OutputFile>
       <ProgramDatabaseFile>.\..\..\libARMuwp\icuind.pdb</ProgramDatabaseFile>
       <ImportLibrary>..\..\libARMuwp\icuind.lib</ImportLibrary>
       <AdditionalDependencies>..\..\libARMuwp\icuucd.lib;%(AdditionalDependencies)</AdditionalDependencies>
@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@
       <ProgramDataBaseFileName>.\ARM64\ReleaseUWP/</ProgramDataBaseFileName>
     </ClCompile>
     <Link>
-      <OutputFile>..\..\binARM64uwp\icuin71.dll</OutputFile>
+      <OutputFile>..\..\binARM64uwp\icuin$(IcuMajorVersion).dll</OutputFile>
       <ProgramDatabaseFile>.\..\..\libARM64uwp\icuin.pdb</ProgramDatabaseFile>
       <ImportLibrary>..\..\libARM64uwp\icuin.lib</ImportLibrary>
       <AdditionalDependencies>..\..\libARM64uwp\icuuc.lib;%(AdditionalDependencies)</AdditionalDependencies>
@@ -305,7 +305,7 @@
       <ProgramDataBaseFileName>.\ARM64\DebugUWP/</ProgramDataBaseFileName>
     </ClCompile>
     <Link>
-      <OutputFile>..\..\binARM64uwp\icuin71d.dll</OutputFile>
+      <OutputFile>..\..\binARM64uwp\icuin$(IcuMajorVersion)d.dll</OutputFile>
       <ProgramDatabaseFile>.\..\..\libARM64uwp\icuind.pdb</ProgramDatabaseFile>
       <ImportLibrary>..\..\libARM64uwp\icuind.lib</ImportLibrary>
       <AdditionalDependencies>..\..\libARM64uwp\icuucd.lib;%(AdditionalDependencies)</AdditionalDependencies>
diff --git a/icu4c/source/io/io.vcxproj b/icu4c/source/io/io.vcxproj
index 34af85f6d93..ff3485fd4dc 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/io/io.vcxproj
+++ b/icu4c/source/io/io.vcxproj
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@
     </ClCompile>
     <Link>
       <GenerateDebugInformation>true</GenerateDebugInformation>
-      <OutputFile>..\..\$(IcuBinOutputDir)\icuio71d.dll</OutputFile>
+      <OutputFile>..\..\$(IcuBinOutputDir)\icuio$(IcuMajorVersion)d.dll</OutputFile>
       <ProgramDatabaseFile>..\..\$(IcuLibOutputDir)\icuiod.pdb</ProgramDatabaseFile>
       <ImportLibrary>..\..\$(IcuLibOutputDir)\icuiod.lib</ImportLibrary>
       <AdditionalDependencies>icuucd.lib;icuind.lib;%(AdditionalDependencies)</AdditionalDependencies>
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@
       <FunctionLevelLinking>true</FunctionLevelLinking>
     </ClCompile>
     <Link>
-      <OutputFile>..\..\$(IcuBinOutputDir)\icuio71.dll</OutputFile>
+      <OutputFile>..\..\$(IcuBinOutputDir)\icuio$(IcuMajorVersion).dll</OutputFile>
       <ProgramDatabaseFile>..\..\$(IcuLibOutputDir)\icuio.pdb</ProgramDatabaseFile>
       <ImportLibrary>..\..\$(IcuLibOutputDir)\icuio.lib</ImportLibrary>
       <AdditionalDependencies>icuuc.lib;icuin.lib;%(AdditionalDependencies)</AdditionalDependencies>
diff --git a/icu4c/source/layoutex/layoutex.vcxproj b/icu4c/source/layoutex/layoutex.vcxproj
index c9cbce51e79..ba548fc33ea 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/layoutex/layoutex.vcxproj
+++ b/icu4c/source/layoutex/layoutex.vcxproj
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@
       <CompileAs>Default</CompileAs>
     </ClCompile>
     <Link>
-      <OutputFile>..\..\bin\iculx71.dll</OutputFile>
+      <OutputFile>..\..\bin\iculx$(IcuMajorVersion).dll</OutputFile>
       <AdditionalDependencies>icuuc.lib;%(AdditionalDependencies)</AdditionalDependencies>
       <AdditionalLibraryDirectories>.\..\..\lib;%(AdditionalLibraryDirectories)</AdditionalLibraryDirectories>
       <ProgramDatabaseFile>.\..\..\lib\iculx.pdb</ProgramDatabaseFile>
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@
       <CompileAs>Default</CompileAs>
     </ClCompile>
     <Link>
-      <OutputFile>..\..\bin\iculx71d.dll</OutputFile>
+      <OutputFile>..\..\bin\iculx$(IcuMajorVersion)d.dll</OutputFile>
       <AdditionalDependencies>icuucd.lib;%(AdditionalDependencies)</AdditionalDependencies>
       <AdditionalLibraryDirectories>.\..\..\lib;%(AdditionalLibraryDirectories)</AdditionalLibraryDirectories>
       <GenerateDebugInformation>true</GenerateDebugInformation>
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@
       <CompileAs>Default</CompileAs>
     </ClCompile>
     <Link>
-      <OutputFile>..\..\bin64\iculx71.dll</OutputFile>
+      <OutputFile>..\..\bin64\iculx$(IcuMajorVersion).dll</OutputFile>
       <AdditionalDependencies>icuuc.lib;%(AdditionalDependencies)</AdditionalDependencies>
       <AdditionalLibraryDirectories>.\..\..\lib64;%(AdditionalLibraryDirectories)</AdditionalLibraryDirectories>
       <ProgramDatabaseFile>.\..\..\lib64\iculx.pdb</ProgramDatabaseFile>
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@
       <CompileAs>Default</CompileAs>
     </ClCompile>
     <Link>
-      <OutputFile>..\..\bin64\iculx71d.dll</OutputFile>
+      <OutputFile>..\..\bin64\iculx$(IcuMajorVersion)d.dll</OutputFile>
       <AdditionalDependencies>icuucd.lib;%(AdditionalDependencies)</AdditionalDependencies>
       <AdditionalLibraryDirectories>.\..\..\lib64;%(AdditionalLibraryDirectories)</AdditionalLibraryDirectories>
       <GenerateDebugInformation>true</GenerateDebugInformation>
diff --git a/icu4c/source/stubdata/stubdata.vcxproj b/icu4c/source/stubdata/stubdata.vcxproj
index 5607dead597..d5108b49415 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/stubdata/stubdata.vcxproj
+++ b/icu4c/source/stubdata/stubdata.vcxproj
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@
       <SetChecksum>true</SetChecksum>
       <TurnOffAssemblyGeneration>true</TurnOffAssemblyGeneration>
       <!-- Note: stubdata is somewhat odd in that it doesn't suffix the Debug output DLL/LIB with a "d" like common/i18n/etc. -->
-      <OutputFile>..\..\$(IcuBinOutputDir)\icudt71.dll</OutputFile>
+      <OutputFile>..\..\$(IcuBinOutputDir)\icudt$(IcuMajorVersion).dll</OutputFile>
       <ProgramDatabaseFile>.\..\..\$(IcuLibOutputDir)\icudt.pdb</ProgramDatabaseFile>
       <ImportLibrary>..\..\$(IcuLibOutputDir)\icudt.lib</ImportLibrary>
     </Link>
diff --git a/icu4c/source/tools/ctestfw/ctestfw.vcxproj b/icu4c/source/tools/ctestfw/ctestfw.vcxproj
index a4bd954bf56..f55c3f0b007 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/tools/ctestfw/ctestfw.vcxproj
+++ b/icu4c/source/tools/ctestfw/ctestfw.vcxproj
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@
       <RuntimeLibrary>MultiThreadedDebugDLL</RuntimeLibrary>
     </ClCompile>
     <Link>
-      <OutputFile>..\..\..\$(IcuBinOutputDir)\icutest71d.exe</OutputFile>
+      <OutputFile>..\..\..\$(IcuBinOutputDir)\icutest$(IcuMajorVersion)d.exe</OutputFile>
       <ProgramDatabaseFile>.\..\..\..\$(IcuLibOutputDir)\icutestd.pdb</ProgramDatabaseFile>
       <ImportLibrary>.\..\..\..\$(IcuLibOutputDir)\icutestd.lib</ImportLibrary>
       <AdditionalDependencies>icuucd.lib;icutud.lib;%(AdditionalDependencies)</AdditionalDependencies>
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@
       <FunctionLevelLinking>true</FunctionLevelLinking>
     </ClCompile>
     <Link>
-      <OutputFile>..\..\..\$(IcuBinOutputDir)\icutest71.exe</OutputFile>
+      <OutputFile>..\..\..\$(IcuBinOutputDir)\icutest$(IcuMajorVersion).exe</OutputFile>
       <ProgramDatabaseFile>.\..\..\..\$(IcuLibOutputDir)\icutest.pdb</ProgramDatabaseFile>
       <ImportLibrary>.\..\..\..\$(IcuLibOutputDir)\icutest.lib</ImportLibrary>
       <AdditionalDependencies>icuuc.lib;icutu.lib;%(AdditionalDependencies)</AdditionalDependencies>
diff --git a/icu4c/source/tools/toolutil/toolutil.vcxproj b/icu4c/source/tools/toolutil/toolutil.vcxproj
index c7088baf676..0995ef06f7e 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/tools/toolutil/toolutil.vcxproj
+++ b/icu4c/source/tools/toolutil/toolutil.vcxproj
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@
       <TypeLibraryName>.\..\..\..\lib\icutu.tlb</TypeLibraryName>
     </Midl>
     <Link>
-      <OutputFile>..\..\..\bin\icutu71.dll</OutputFile>
+      <OutputFile>..\..\..\bin\icutu$(IcuMajorVersion).dll</OutputFile>
       <ProgramDatabaseFile>.\..\..\..\lib\icutu.pdb</ProgramDatabaseFile>
       <DataExecutionPrevention>
       </DataExecutionPrevention>
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@
       <TypeLibraryName>.\..\..\..\lib\icutud.tlb</TypeLibraryName>
     </Midl>
     <Link>
-      <OutputFile>..\..\..\bin\icutu71d.dll</OutputFile>
+      <OutputFile>..\..\..\bin\icutu$(IcuMajorVersion)d.dll</OutputFile>
       <ProgramDatabaseFile>.\..\..\..\lib\icutud.pdb</ProgramDatabaseFile>
       <DataExecutionPrevention>
       </DataExecutionPrevention>
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@
       <WholeProgramOptimization>true</WholeProgramOptimization>
     </ClCompile>
     <Link>
-      <OutputFile>..\..\..\bin64\icutu71.dll</OutputFile>
+      <OutputFile>..\..\..\bin64\icutu$(IcuMajorVersion).dll</OutputFile>
       <ProgramDatabaseFile>.\..\..\..\lib64\icutu.pdb</ProgramDatabaseFile>
       <ImportLibrary>..\..\..\lib64\icutu.lib</ImportLibrary>
     </Link>
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@
       <TypeLibraryName>.\..\..\..\lib64\icutud.tlb</TypeLibraryName>
     </Midl>
     <Link>
-      <OutputFile>..\..\..\bin64\icutu71d.dll</OutputFile>
+      <OutputFile>..\..\..\bin64\icutu$(IcuMajorVersion)d.dll</OutputFile>
       <ProgramDatabaseFile>.\..\..\..\lib64\icutud.pdb</ProgramDatabaseFile>
       <ImportLibrary>..\..\..\lib64\icutud.lib</ImportLibrary>
     </Link>
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@
       <TypeLibraryName>..\..\..\libARM\icutu.tlb</TypeLibraryName>
     </Midl>
     <Link>
-      <OutputFile>..\..\..\binARM\icutu71.dll</OutputFile>
+      <OutputFile>..\..\..\binARM\icutu$(IcuMajorVersion).dll</OutputFile>
       <ProgramDatabaseFile>.\..\..\..\libARM\icutu.pdb</ProgramDatabaseFile>
       <ImportLibrary>..\..\..\libARM\icutu.lib</ImportLibrary>
     </Link>
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@
       <DebugInformationFormat>ProgramDatabase</DebugInformationFormat>
     </ClCompile>
     <Link>
-      <OutputFile>..\..\..\binARM\icutu71d.dll</OutputFile>
+      <OutputFile>..\..\..\binARM\icutu$(IcuMajorVersion)d.dll</OutputFile>
       <ProgramDatabaseFile>.\..\..\..\libARM\icutud.pdb</ProgramDatabaseFile>
       <ImportLibrary>..\..\..\libARM\icutud.lib</ImportLibrary>
     </Link>
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@
       <TypeLibraryName>.\..\..\..\libARM64\icutu.tlb</TypeLibraryName>
     </Midl>
     <Link>
-      <OutputFile>..\..\..\binARM64\icutu71.dll</OutputFile>
+      <OutputFile>..\..\..\binARM64\icutu$(IcuMajorVersion).dll</OutputFile>
       <ProgramDatabaseFile>.\..\..\..\libARM64\icutu.pdb</ProgramDatabaseFile>
       <ImportLibrary>..\..\..\libARM64\icutu.lib</ImportLibrary>
     </Link>
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@
       <DebugInformationFormat>ProgramDatabase</DebugInformationFormat>
     </ClCompile>
     <Link>
-      <OutputFile>..\..\..\binARM64\icutu71d.dll</OutputFile>
+      <OutputFile>..\..\..\binARM64\icutu$(IcuMajorVersion)d.dll</OutputFile>
       <ProgramDatabaseFile>.\..\..\..\libARM64\icutud.pdb</ProgramDatabaseFile>
       <ImportLibrary>..\..\..\libARM64\icutud.lib</ImportLibrary>
     </Link>