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How do I skip the first Visual Studio 2026 installation screen?

Armin 20 Reputation points
2026-05-19T06:41:18.22+00:00

Hello. Given that the internet in my country is weak, I downloaded the full version of Visual Studio from my country's sites to install it, which was about 60 gigabytes of compressed file, and after running the program setup file, the installation window remains on the first page and the certificate that is supposed to be installed on my system is not installed. And in fact, the installation line is not filled in and both lines do not get the green tick and the installation window is completely closed. The internet is also on during installation, I even tested with VPN but it didn't work. What should I do to get past this page?1000040139

Developer technologies | Visual Studio | Setup
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Answer accepted by question author

Leon Tran (WICLOUD CORPORATION) 1,910 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
2026-05-19T07:54:56.0033333+00:00

Hi @Armin ,

The dialog you’re seeing is part of the installation progress. The first progress bar handles downloading and verifying the files. If there are no missing files, a green check mark will appear, and the process will move on to the next installation stage. This is a part of progress and can't be skipped.

Since you mentioned that neither progress bar shows a green check mark, I recommend trying the following steps to resolve the issue:

1. Download and install the certificate

Please download and install the certificate from the link below: http://www.microsoft.com/pkiops/certs/Microsoft%20Windows%20Code%20Signing%20PCA%202024.crt

Once done, try running the installation command again. Missing certificate usually makes the dialog disappear without any error message.

2. Verify the installation command

For offline installation, make sure to include the --noWeb parameter in your command. This prevents the installer from accessing the internet and ensures it uses your local layout:

c:\localVSlayout\vs_enterprise.exe --noWeb --add <Your component> --includeOptional --passive

If you’re unsure about the correct command, feel free to let me know in the comments. I’d be happy to help you build it.

3. Check policies and restrictions

If you’re using a company managed computer, the installation might be blocked by Group Policy. In that case, please contact your IT administrator for assistance. Also, antivirus software can sometimes interfere with the installation, try temporarily disabling it and then run the installer again.

Hope this helps! If my answer was helpful, you can follow this guidance to provide some feedback. This also help another find the solution easier. 

I look forward to hearing from you soon. 

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  1. AI answer

    2026-05-19T06:41:53.88+00:00

    The first Visual Studio 2026 installer screen cannot be skipped. When it hangs at “Getting the Visual Studio Installer ready” and never completes verification/installation, the issue is typically with certificates or connectivity, especially for offline or semi‑offline installs.

    Use these supported approaches instead of the 60‑GB third‑party package:

    1. Create a local/offline layout from the official bootstrapper
      1. Download the small Visual Studio 2026 bootstrapper (vs_enterprise.exe, vs_professional.exe, or vs_community.exe) from the official Visual Studio downloads page.
      2. On a machine that has a more reliable internet connection, run a layout command to download all required packages: 
              vs_enterprise.exe --layout C:\localVSlayout --lang en-US
        or include specific workloads, for example: 
              vs_enterprise.exe --layout C:\localVSlayout \
        --add Microsoft.VisualStudio.Workload.ManagedDesktop \
        --add Microsoft.VisualStudio.Workload.NetWeb \
        --includeOptional --lang en-US
      3. Copy the C:\localVSlayout folder to the offline/slow‑internet machine.
      4. Install from the layout without needing to download more content and without the initial “stuck” screen: 
              C:\localVSlayout\vs_enterprise.exe --noWeb \
        --add Microsoft.VisualStudio.Workload.ManagedDesktop \
        --add Microsoft.VisualStudio.Workload.NetWeb \
        --includeOptional
        The --noWeb switch prevents the installer from trying to reach the internet.
    2. Use “Download all, then install” on a connected machine If Visual Studio can be installed at least once on a machine with better connectivity:
      1. Run the bootstrapper and open the Visual Studio Installer.
      2. On the Workloads tab, choose the workloads.
      3. At the bottom, select the Download all, then install option.
      4. Let it fully download and install on that machine. This method prepares all packages locally so the actual installation phase does not depend on a stable connection. Note that this download is customized to that machine and is not intended to be copied to another computer.
    3. Ensure required certificates are present for offline installs Visual Studio setup verifies Authenticode signatures and requires current Microsoft root and intermediate certificates. For offline or restricted environments, missing certificates can cause the installer to fail at the very first screen. Make sure the machine has the latest Microsoft code‑signing certificates installed as described in the offline‑installation certificate guidance.
    4. Avoid using large third‑party repackaged installers The 60‑GB compressed package from non‑Microsoft sites may be incomplete, corrupted, or missing required signing information. Use only the official bootstrapper and supported layout/“Download all, then install” mechanisms to avoid verification failures on the first installer screen.

    If the problem persists even with an official layout and correct certificates, follow the general Visual Studio installation troubleshooting steps (repair, check known issues, and review logs) from the Visual Studio installation troubleshooting guidance.

    References:

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