We’ve all been there: a strict corporate network, unreliable Wi-Fi, or the need to set up multiple development machines without downloading 40+ GB per PC. While Microsoft pushes Visual Studio 2022 forward, many enterprises and legacy projects still rely on Visual Studio 2019 .
This usually means the bootstrapper is trying to update itself online. Always use a refreshed bootstrapper from the Microsoft Download Center to avoid version mismatches.
Recent technical hurdles have changed how offline installations must be handled: Certificate Revocation Issues
vs_community.exe --layout C:\VS2019_Offline_Installer --lang en-US microsoft visual studio 2019 offline installer new
Open a command prompt as an and navigate to the folder where you downloaded the bootstrapper. Run the following command to download only the core components and a specific workload (e.g., .NET desktop development) to save space:
: Microsoft.VisualStudio.Workload.NetWeb Azure Development : Microsoft.VisualStudio.Workload.Azure Step 3: Run the Command Prompt to Download Files
At first glance, downloading Visual Studio 2019 directly from Microsoft's servers seems the simplest approach. However, real-world constraints often make this impossible. Here are the primary scenarios where offline installation proves indispensable: We’ve all been there: a strict corporate network,
Right-click each certificate file ( .cer ) and select .
This write-up covers how to create a for Visual Studio 2019 – including the latest supported updates as of its mainstream support lifecycle.
: The most recent version as of early 2026 is 16.11.55 . Using the latest bootstrapper ensures you include all current security patches. Create an offline installation - Visual Studio (Windows) Always use a refreshed bootstrapper from the Microsoft
Before diving into the technical steps, it helps to understand why a local layout (offline installer) is so beneficial:
Choose your desired edition: , Professional , or Enterprise .
.NET desktop development, Desktop development with C++, Mobile development with .NET.
Visual Studio 2019 comes in three editions, each suited to different use cases. Your choice determines both the feature set and which bootstrapper file you download.