Note
Access to this page requires authorization. You can try signing in or changing directories.
Access to this page requires authorization. You can try changing directories.
Note
If you need to programmatically install Visual Studio, see Use command-line parameters.
Ready to install? This article walks you through the process, step-by-step.
Step 1 - Make sure your computer is ready for Visual Studio
Before you begin installing Visual Studio:
Step 2 - Determine which version and edition of Visual Studio to install
Decide which version and edition of Visual Studio to install. The most common options are:
- If you already have Visual Studio installed, you can install another version alongside it by choosing one that's listed on the Available tab of the Visual Studio Installer.
- Your IT administrator might point you to a specific location from which to install Visual Studio.
Step 3 - Initiate the installation
If you downloaded a bootstrapper file, you can use it to install Visual Studio. You need administrator permissions. The bootstrapper installs the latest version of the Visual Studio Installer. The installer is a separate program that provides everything you need to both install and customize Visual Studio.
Visual Studio Installer opens. You can also install any product that's listed on the Visual Studio Installer Available tab.
Step 4 - Choose workloads
After you install the Visual Studio Installer, you can use it to customize your installation by selecting the feature sets, or workloads, that you want. Here's how.
Tip
At any time after installation, you can install workloads or components that you didn't install initially. If you have Visual Studio open, go to Tools > Get Tools and Features, which opens the Visual Studio Installer. Or open the Visual Studio Installer from the Start menu. From there, you can choose the workloads or components that you want to install. Then choose Modify.
Step 5 - Choose individual components (optional)
If you don't want to use the Workloads feature to customize your Visual Studio installation, or if you want to add more components than a workload installs, you can install or add individual components from the Individual components tab. Choose what you want, and then follow the prompts.
Step 6 - Install language packs (optional)
By default, the installer program tries to match the language of the operating system when it runs for the first time. To install Visual Studio in a language that you choose, go to the Language packs tab from the Visual Studio Installer, and then follow the prompts.
Change the installer language at a command prompt
Step 7 - Select the installation location (optional)
You can reduce the installation footprint of Visual Studio on your system drive. For more information, see Select installation locations.
Important
You can select a different drive for the Visual Studio IDE or the Download cache only when you first install Visual Studio. If you already installed it and want to change drives, you must uninstall Visual Studio and then reinstall it.
If you installed Visual Studio on your computer before, you won't be able to change the Shared components, tools, and SDKs path. It appears dimmed. This location is shared by all installations of Visual Studio.
Step 8 - Sign in to your account (optional)
Although you don't have to sign in, there are many advantages to doing so.
You can evaluate a free trial of Visual Studio Professional or Visual Studio Enterprise for 30 days. If you sign in, you can extend the trial period to 90 days. The 90-day trial extension works only one time. To continue using Visual Studio after a trial period ends, unlock it with an online subscription or a product key.
Visual Studio Community doesn't require you to sign in. However, if the installation prompts you to sign in periodically, sign in to continue using Visual Studio Community without interruptions.
Step 9 - Start developing
After your installation is complete, you can get started developing with Visual Studio.
Support or troubleshooting
Sometimes, things can go wrong. If your Visual Studio installation fails, see Troubleshoot Visual Studio installation and upgrade issues for step-by-step guidance.
Here are a few more support options:
- Use the installation chat (English only) support option for installation-related issues.
- Report product issues to us by using the Report a Problem tool that appears both in the Visual Studio Installer and in the Visual Studio IDE. If you're an IT Administrator and don't have Visual Studio installed, you can submit IT Admin feedback.
- Suggest a feature, track product issues, and find answers in the Visual Studio Developer Community.