Keep a specific version of Visual Studio safely stored for legacy project maintenance. Step 1: Download the Visual Studio Bootstrapper
Microsoft.VisualStudio.Workload.Universal
vs_community.exe --layout C:\VSLayout --add Microsoft.VisualStudio.Workload.NetWeb --add Microsoft.VisualStudio.Workload.NativeDesktop --includeRecommended --lang en-US Use code with caution. Copied to clipboard
Visual Studio Community Edition is a free version of the popular Visual Studio IDE, which offers a wide range of features and tools for developing Windows, web, and mobile applications. While the online installer provides a convenient way to download and install Visual Studio, it requires a stable internet connection, which can be a challenge for developers in areas with limited internet connectivity. Moreover, developers who need to install Visual Studio on multiple machines may face difficulties in managing the installation process. To overcome these challenges, Microsoft provides an offline installer for Visual Studio Community Edition, which allows developers to download the entire installation package once and install it on multiple machines without an internet connection. visual studio community edition offline installer
vs_community.exe --layout C:\VS2022Layout --add Microsoft.VisualStudio.Workload.ManagedDesktop --add Microsoft.VisualStudio.Workload.NetWeb --includeOptional --lang en-US
For example, to create a layout dedicated exclusively to .NET Desktop and Web development in English, execute the following command:
: Copy the c:\vslayout folder to your offline computer. Open the folder and run vs_community.exe to begin the installation from the local files. Key Considerations Keep a specific version of Visual Studio safely
Create an offline installation - Visual Studio (Windows) - Microsoft Learn
vs_community.exe --layout C:\VS2022_Offline --fix
For deeper technical details, you can refer to the official Microsoft Learn Guide on Offline Installations . Create an offline installation - Visual Studio (Windows) While the online installer provides a convenient way
: Note that for Visual Studio 2026 , some community reports suggest 16GB of RAM may no longer be sufficient for smooth development [33].
Save the downloaded vs_community.exe file to a known directory, such as C:\VSLayout . This executable does not contain the actual software; it acts as the engine that pulls down the individual installation packages. Step 2: Choose Your Layout Strategy
To install Visual Studio onto a target client machine using this layout:
: Transfer the entire C:\VSLayout folder to the offline machine via USB or network drive.