Modify Visual Studio workloads, components, and language packs
It's easy to modify Visual Studio so that it includes only what you want, when you want it. To do so, open the Visual Studio Installer, and then add or remove workloads, components, and language packs.
Prerequisites
By default, in order to install, update, or modify Visual Studio, the account performing the update must have administrative permissions on the machine and also must have permissions to the source where the product updates are located (either the internet or an internal location). If you are logged in as a typical user and try to perform one of these commands, then you'll get a User Account Control notice prompting you for admin credentials. Starting in August 2023, an admin can delegate control of modifying Visual Studio to standard users by configuring the
AllowStandardUserControlpolicy. For more information, see User Permissions and Visual Studio.The following procedures assume you have an internet connection. For more about how to modify a previously created offline installation of Visual Studio, see:
Launch the installer to modify your installation
To modify your Visual Studio installation, you first need to launch the Visual Studio Installer, and then select a Visual Studio installation to modify.
Find the Visual Studio Installer on your computer.
In the Windows Start menu, you can search for "installer".
Note
You can also find the Visual Studio Installer in the following location:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\Installer\setup.exeYou might have to update the installer before continuing. If so, follow the prompts.
In the installer, look for the edition of Visual Studio that you installed, and then choose Modify.
Important
If you have an update pending, the Modify button is in a different place. This way, you can modify Visual Studio without updating it, should you want to. Choose More, and then choose Modify.
There are many ways to open the Visual Studio Installer:
In the Windows Start menu, you can search for "installer", and then select Visual Studio Installer from the results.
Run the Visual Studio Installer executable, which is located at this path:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\Installer\setup.exeIf you have Visual Studio open, select Tools > Get Tools and Features..., which opens the Visual Studio Installer.
You might be prompted to update the Visual Studio Installer before continuing. If so, follow the prompts.
In the Visual Studio Installer, look for the installation of Visual Studio that you want to modify, and then choose the Modify button.
Change workloads or individual components
Workloads contain the features you need for the programming language or platform that you're using. Use workloads to modify Visual Studio so that it supports the work you want to do, when you want to do it.
Tip
For more information about which tool and component bundles you need for development, see Visual Studio workloads.
In the Visual Studio Installer, choose the Workloads tab, and then select or deselect the workloads that you want.
Choose whether you want to accept the default Install while downloading option or the Download all, then install option.
The "Download all, then install" option is handy if you want to download first and then install later.
Choose Modify.
After the new workloads are installed, choose Launch from the Visual Studio Installer to open Visual Studio.
Workloads contain the components you need for the programming language or platform that you're using. Use workloads to modify Visual Studio so that it supports the work you want to do, when you want to do it.
Tip
For more about which tools and component bundles you need for development, see Visual Studio workloads.
In the Visual Studio Installer, choose the Workloads tab, and then select or deselect the workloads that you want.
To add more components than a workload installs, choose the Individual components tab, and then select or deselect the individual components that you want.
Choose whether you want to Install while downloading or Download all, then install. The default option, Install while downloading, saves overall time by starting the install earlier.
Choose Modify.
After the modified workloads or components are installed, choose Launch from the Visual Studio Installer to open Visual Studio 2022.
You can also use a configuration file to modify an existing installation to add or remove components. Learn more about using installation configuration files to configure Visual Studio.
Tip
For information about the SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT) component, see Download and install SSDT for Visual Studio.
Modify language packs
The Visual Studio Installer selects a default language pack for Visual Studio that matches the language of the operating system. However, you can change the default language whenever you want.
To do so:
- Choose the Language packs tab in the Visual Studio Installer.
- Select the language you prefer.
- Follow the prompts.
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:
- We offer an installation chat (English only) support option for installation-related issues.
- Report product issues to us via 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 here.
- Suggest a feature, track product issues, and find answers in the Visual Studio Developer Community.
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