The Visual Studio 2019 download is still available from Microsoft, and it installs version 16.11 on Windows 11 and Windows 10 PCs. You download a small bootstrapper, run it, and the Visual Studio Installer fetches the workloads you pick.
Visual Studio 2019 remains the right choice when a project, a toolset such as MSVC v142, or a client contract pins you to it. Microsoft keeps version 16.11 patched with security fixes through April 2029.
This guide covers the official download links, installation, the free trial, an offline installer, the tools to use on a Mac, updates and install fixes.
Which Visual Studio 2019 download do you need?
Match your situation to a row. Each bootstrapper installs the same 16.11 release and differs only in edition.
| Your situation | What to install | Where to get it |
|---|---|---|
| You want the full IDE and can trial or license it | Visual Studio Professional 2019 (vs_Professional.exe, about 4.2 MB) | Visual Studio 2019 release history |
| Your company holds Enterprise licences | Visual Studio Enterprise 2019 (vs_Enterprise.exe, about 4.2 MB) | Visual Studio 2019 release history |
| A build server needs the MSVC v142 compilers without the IDE | Build Tools for Visual Studio 2019 (vs_BuildTools.exe) | Visual Studio 2019 release history |
| You have a Visual Studio Subscription | Any 2019 edition, signed in on my.visualstudio.com | Visual Studio older downloads |
| You want a free IDE and are not tied to 2019 | Current Visual Studio Community | Visual Studio downloads |
Check the Visual Studio 2019 system requirements
The download is tiny, but the installed IDE is not. Typical installations need 20 GB to 50 GB of free space.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Developer | Microsoft Corporation |
| Latest version | 16.11.60 (build 16.11.37627.13), released September 8, 2026 |
| Editions | Community, Professional, Enterprise, plus Build Tools |
| Licence | 30-day free trial of Professional and Enterprise, 90 days after sign-in; then a subscription or product key |
| Download size | Approx. 4.2 MB bootstrapper |
| Disk space | 800 MB minimum, up to 210 GB; typical 20 GB to 50 GB |
| Supported Windows | Windows 11 Home, Pro, Pro Education, Pro for Workstations, Enterprise and Education; Windows Server 2016, 2019, 2022 and 2025 |
| Architecture | x64 and x86, 64-bit recommended. ARM is not supported |
| Processor | 1.8 GHz or faster, quad-core recommended |
| Memory | 2 GB minimum, 8 GB recommended (2.5 GB in a virtual machine) |
| Display | 1280 by 720 minimum, 1366 by 768 or higher recommended |
| .NET | .NET Framework 4.5.2 to install, 4.7.2 to run (setup adds it) |
| Support ends | April 2029 for version 16.11 |
| Offline installer | Yes, as a local layout built with the bootstrapper |
| macOS | No |
| Official source | visualstudio.microsoft.com |
| Last verified | 2026-09-19 |
Windows 10 no longer appears on Microsoft’s supported list. An operating system in its Extended Security Updates phase counts as supported only with ESU patches installed.
Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC, Windows 10 S and Server Core are not supported for development.
Download Visual Studio 2019 from the official Microsoft pages
Microsoft publishes a fixed bootstrapper for every 16.11 servicing release on its release history page. These files come straight from download.visualstudio.microsoft.com and install that exact version.
- Visual Studio Professional 2019 bootstrapper — 4.2 MB · latest 16.11 release
- Visual Studio Enterprise 2019 bootstrapper — 4.2 MB · latest 16.11 release
- Build Tools for Visual Studio 2019 bootstrapper — 4.2 MB · latest 16.11 release
- Visual Studio 2019 release history — bootstrappers for earlier 16.x releases
- Visual Studio older downloads — subscriber downloads via my.visualstudio.com
- Visual Studio 2019 release notes
To confirm what a file installs, right-click it, choose Properties > Digital Signatures, and check that the signer is Microsoft Corporation. A copy from any other website is not an official file.
How to install Visual Studio 2019 on Windows 11 and 10
Sign in with an administrator account and install pending Windows updates first. Setup needs admin rights and an internet connection.
- Download the bootstrapper for your edition from the Visual Studio 2019 release history.
- Open your Downloads folder and double-click the file, such as vs_Professional.exe .
- Choose Yes at the User Account Control prompt.
- Accept the licence terms and choose Continue. The Visual Studio Installer installs itself and opens.
- On the Workloads tab, tick what you build, such as .NET desktop development or Desktop development with C++.
- Open Individual components to add extras the workloads leave out.
- Open Language packs if you want the IDE in a language other than your Windows language.
- Open Installation locations to move the IDE or Download cache to another drive.
- Select Install and wait for the packages to download and install.
- Select Launch, then sign in with a Microsoft account or skip sign-in for now.
The drives for the IDE and the download cache can be changed only on the first install. Moving them later means uninstalling and reinstalling.
Add workloads at any time from Tools > Get Tools and Features inside the IDE.
How to create a Visual Studio 2019 offline installer
Visual Studio 2019 has no single offline setup file. The bootstrapper downloads the packages into a folder, called a layout, and installs from it later.
Run these commands from an administrator Command Prompt in the folder that holds the bootstrapper. Creating the layout needs the internet; installing from it does not.
| Goal | Command |
|---|---|
| Get the bootstrapper first | Visual Studio 2019 release history |
| Every feature and language (very large) | vs_enterprise.exe –layout c:\localVSlayout |
| .NET desktop and web, English only | vs_enterprise.exe –layout c:\localVSlayout –add Microsoft.VisualStudio.Workload.ManagedDesktop –add Microsoft.VisualStudio.Workload.NetWeb –lang en-US |
| C++ desktop with all components, English only | vs_enterprise.exe –layout c:\localVSlayout –add Microsoft.VisualStudio.Workload.NativeDesktop –includeRecommended –includeOptional –lang en-US |
| Install from the layout without going online | Run the bootstrapper inside c:\localVSlayout with the same –add and –lang options plus –noweb |
Swap vs_enterprise.exe for vs_professional.exe to build a Professional layout. For a one-PC offline install, pick Download all, then install from the drop-down beside Install instead.
If setup reports an invalid signature, open the Certificates folder in the layout and install each certificate, leaving the password blank.
Which Visual Studio tool do you need on a Mac?
Visual Studio 2019 runs only on Windows. Microsoft retired Visual Studio 2022 for Mac on August 31, 2024, so no current Visual Studio IDE ships for macOS.
| Your Mac setup | Install this | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Silicon or Intel Mac, editing and debugging code | Visual Studio Code, which Microsoft builds for any OS | Visual Studio downloads |
| Any Mac, but a project needs Visual Studio 2019 itself | An x64 Windows 11 PC, or a persistent full Windows virtual machine | Visual Studio 2019 system requirements |
| You used Visual Studio for Mac before | Visual Studio Code, since Visual Studio 2022 for Mac is retired | Visual Studio older downloads |
Visual Studio 2019 does not support ARM, so a Windows virtual machine must run an x64 or x86 edition of Windows. Windows containers and app virtualization tools such as App-V are not supported either.
Is Visual Studio 2019 free?
Visual Studio 2019 comes in three editions. Community is the free one, while Professional and Enterprise are paid products with a trial.
Visual Studio 2019 is free to try, not free to keep, through the public download. The public bootstrappers are Professional and Enterprise, which run free for 30 days, or 90 days after you sign in once. After that you unlock them with an online subscription or a product key. Microsoft’s older-downloads page says older versions require an active Visual Studio Subscription, and its release history carries no Community 2019 file.
For a free IDE with no trial clock, install the current Visual Studio Community. Microsoft offers it free to individuals, students, open-source projects and non-enterprise teams of up to five.
Signing up for the free Visual Studio Dev Essentials programme adds Azure credit and training, but Microsoft does not list older IDE downloads among its benefits. Any site selling a Visual Studio 2019 key or cracked installer is not Microsoft.
Should you install Visual Studio 2019 or a newer version?
Visual Studio 2019 version 16.11 is the final servicing baseline. Earlier baselines such as 16.9 and 16.7 are already out of support.
Install Visual Studio 2019 only when a project or toolchain requires it. Otherwise install the current Visual Studio. Version 16.11 gets security fixes until April 2029, but no new features. The current release keeps getting features and includes a free Community edition you can download without a subscription.
Both versions install side by side. Keep 2019 for older solutions and open new work in the newer IDE.
How to check your Visual Studio 2019 version and update it
Visual Studio 2019 shows a notification icon in the bottom bar of the IDE when an update is ready. Close the IDE and save your work before updating.
- Open Visual Studio 2019 and choose Help > About Microsoft Visual Studio.
- Read the version number at the top of the dialog.
- Choose Help > Check for Updates, or select the notification icon in the bottom bar.
- In the Visual Studio Installer, find Visual Studio 2019 and select Update.
- Choose Yes at the User Account Control prompt.
- Wait for the update to finish, then select Launch.
Administrators can also apply updates from the Microsoft Update Catalog by running the downloaded update in the installation folder.
Fix Visual Studio 2019 not installing on Windows 11 or 10
Find the symptom that matches, then work through its fix in order.
The install fails partway or the IDE will not start afterwards
A damaged component or interrupted download is the usual cause.
- Open the Visual Studio Installer from the Start menu.
- Select More > Repair next to Visual Studio 2019.
- If repair fails, uninstall and reinstall, using InstallCleanup.exe as a last resort.
The installer runs out of space
Typical installations need 20 GB to 50 GB, and the system drive holds shared components.
- Free space on drive C: or remove workloads you do not need.
- Open Installation locations and move the IDE and Download cache to another drive.
- Select Install again.
An offline install reports an invalid signature
The PC lacks the certificates that sign the packages.
- Open the Certificates folder inside your layout.
- Double-click each certificate file and step through the wizard, leaving the password blank.
- Run the bootstrapper from the layout again.
Setup will not run on your edition of Windows
ARM PCs, Windows 10 S, Enterprise LTSC and Server Core are unsupported.
- Open Settings > System > About and check System type.
- Install on an x64 or x86 PC running a supported Windows 11 or Windows Server edition.
How to uninstall Visual Studio 2019
Remove Visual Studio 2019 from the Visual Studio Installer so that other Visual Studio versions on the PC stay intact.
- Close Visual Studio 2019.
- Search the Start menu for Visual Studio Installer and open it.
- Find Visual Studio 2019 in the list and select More > Uninstall.
- Choose OK to confirm and wait for removal to finish.
- If uninstall fails, open Command Prompt with Run as administrator.
- Run “C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\Installer\InstallCleanup.exe” -i 16 to remove version 16 products only.
- Use -f instead of -i 16 only when you want to remove Visual Studio for good.
InstallCleanup can also remove shared features used by other Visual Studio versions, so repair those afterwards if they misbehave.
Which Microsoft tool should you use instead of Visual Studio 2019?
Pick by platform and by whether you need the full IDE.
| Tool | Runs on | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visual Studio 2019 | Windows 11 and Windows Server, x64 and x86 | Trial, then subscription or product key | Projects pinned to the 2019 toolset |
| Current Visual Studio Community | Windows | Free for individuals and small teams | New .NET and C++ work |
| Build Tools for Visual Studio 2019 | Windows, including Server Core and containers | Public bootstrapper from Microsoft | CI servers that compile 2019 projects |
| Visual Studio Code | Any OS, including macOS | Free | Editing and debugging on a Mac or Linux PC |
Use the current Visual Studio Community unless a project demands 2019. Use Visual Studio Code on a Mac.
Frequently asked questions
Is Visual Studio 2019 free?
Only for a trial through the public download. Professional and Enterprise 2019 run free for 30 days, or 90 days after you sign in, then need a subscription or product key. For a free IDE with no time limit, install the current Visual Studio Community.
Where is the official Visual Studio 2019 download page?
Microsoft lists Visual Studio 2019 on its older downloads page at visualstudio.microsoft.com. The Visual Studio 2019 release history on learn.microsoft.com carries direct Professional, Enterprise and Build Tools bootstrappers for every 16.11 servicing release.
Does Visual Studio 2019 work on Windows 11?
Yes. Visual Studio 2019 supports Windows 11 Home, Pro, Pro Education, Pro for Workstations, Enterprise and Education, plus Windows Server 2016 to 2025. Windows 11 on ARM PCs is not supported because Visual Studio 2019 has no ARM support.
How big is the Visual Studio 2019 download?
The bootstrapper you download is about 4.2 MB. It then downloads the workloads you select, and a typical installation needs 20 GB to 50 GB of free disk space. A minimal install needs 800 MB, and every feature together needs up to 210 GB.
Is there a Visual Studio 2019 offline installer?
There is no single offline file. Run the bootstrapper with the –layout switch to download the packages into a folder, then install from that folder with –noweb. For one PC, choose Download all, then install in the Visual Studio Installer.
Is there a Visual Studio 2019 for Mac?
No. Visual Studio 2019 runs only on Windows, and Microsoft retired Visual Studio 2022 for Mac on August 31, 2024. On a Mac, use Visual Studio Code, or run Visual Studio 2019 on an x64 Windows PC or virtual machine.
Does Visual Studio 2019 support 64-bit and ARM64?
Visual Studio 2019 installs on x64 and x86 Windows, and Microsoft recommends a 64-bit system. ARM is not supported, so it will not install on Windows on ARM PCs. Its remote debugging tools do support Windows on ARM.
Is the Visual Studio 2019 download safe?
Yes, when the file comes from download.visualstudio.microsoft.com through Microsoft’s own release history or older downloads pages. Right-click the file, open Properties, and check the Digital Signatures tab names Microsoft Corporation before you run it.
What is the latest version of Visual Studio 2019?
The latest release is Visual Studio 2019 version 16.11.60, build 16.11.37627.13, released on September 8, 2026. Version 16.11 is the final servicing baseline and receives security fixes through April 2029.
Why won’t Visual Studio 2019 install?
The usual causes are missing administrator rights, too little disk space, an unsupported Windows edition such as ARM or LTSC, or a damaged earlier install. Run setup as administrator, free 20 GB or more, and repair or clean up the old install first.
