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Quickstart: Configure Visual Studio for cross-platform development with Unity

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In this quickstart, you learn how to install the Visual Studio Tools for Unity extension and configure it for developing cross-platform games and apps with Unity. The Visual Studio Tools for Unity extension is free and provides support for writing and debugging C# and more. Visit the Tools for Unity overview for a complete list of what that workload includes.

Note

For Visual Studio Code & Unity, visit the Unity Development with VS Code documentation.

Install Visual Studio and Unity

  1. Download the Visual Studio installer, or open it if already installed.

  2. Select Install, or Modify if Visual Studio is already installed.

  3. Select the Workloads tab, then select the Game development with Unity workload.

  4. If Unity isn't already installed, select Unity Hub under Optional.

  5. Select Modify or Install to complete the installation.

    Screenshot of the game development with Unity workload checkbox in the installer.

When Visual Studio completes the installation process, you're ready to set up Unity.

  1. Open the Unity Hub, which was installed during the Visual Studio Tools for Unity installation.

  2. On the left of the Unity Hub window, select the Installs tab.

  3. Select the Add button.

  4. In the Add Unity Version window, select a version of Unity to install.

  5. Select Next to continue the installation.

  6. In the Add modules to your install step, select Done.

    Note

    If you've already installed Visual Studio 2022, you can deselect the Microsoft Visual Studio Community 2019 option.

The Unity Hub continues installing Unity in the background. When it's complete, you can create a new project by selecting the Projects tab and selecting New.

Tip

Projects are created using the Unity Editor and not Visual Studio.

Note

This installation guide is for Visual Studio for Mac. If you're using Visual Studio Code, please visit the Unity Development with VS Code documentation.

Visual Studio for Mac Tools for Unity is included with the installation of Visual Studio for Mac. It requires no separate installation steps. You can verify the installation in the Visual Studio for Mac > Extensions > Game Development menu. Visual Studio for Mac Tools for Unity should be enabled.

Screenshot of the Extension Manager view showing Visual Studio for Mac Tools for Unity enabled.

Configure Unity to use Visual Studio

By default, Unity should already be configured to use Visual Studio or Visual Studio for Mac as a script editor. You can confirm this option or change the external script editor to a specific version of Visual Studio from the Unity Editor.

  1. In the Unity Editor, select the Edit > Preferences menu.

  2. On the left, select the External Tools tab.

    Screenshot of the External Tools preference menu in the Unity Editor on Windows.

Add a version of Visual Studio that isn't listed

It's possible to select other versions of Visual Studio that are unlisted and installed in a custom directory.

  1. Select Browse... from the dropdown list.
  2. Navigate to the Common7/IDE directory inside your Visual Studio installation directory and select devenv.exe. Then select Open.
  3. For Unity 2019 and older only, confirm that Editor Attaching is selected.
  4. Close the Preferences dialog to complete the configuration process.

  1. In the Unity Editor, select the Unity > Preferences menu.

  2. On the left, select the External Tools tab.

  3. Use the External Script Editor dropdown list to choose different installations of Visual Studio for Mac.

    Screenshot of the External Tools preference menu in the Unity Editor on macOS.

  4. Close the Preferences dialog to complete the configuration process.

Install or update the Visual Studio Editor package

In Unity versions 2020 and later, a separate Unity Package is required for the best experience working with IDEs like Visual Studio and Visual Studio for Mac. This package should be included by default, but updates are released to this package that you can install to at any time.

  1. In the Unity Editor, select the Windows > Package Manager menu.

  2. Select the Visual Studio Editor package.

  3. If a new version is available, select Update.

    Screenshot of the Package Manager window in the Unity Editor on Windows.

In Unity versions 2020 and later, a separate Unity Package is required for the best experience working with IDEs like Visual Studio and Visual Studio for Mac. This package should be included by default, but updates are released to this package that you can install to at any time.

  1. In the Unity Editor, select the Windows > Package Manager menu.

  2. Select the Visual Studio Editor package.

  3. If a new version is available, select Update.

    Screenshot of the Package Manager window in the Unity Editor on Mac.

Check for updates

We recommend that you keep Visual Studio and Visual Studio for Mac updated for the latest bug fixes, features, and Unity support. Updating Visual Studio doesn't require an update of Unity versions.

  1. Select the Help > Check for Updates menu.

    Screenshot of the Check for Updates menu in Visual Studio Help menu.

  2. If an update is available, the Visual Studio Installer shows a new version. Select Update.

    Screenshot of Visual Studio Installer with the Updates.

  1. Select the Visual Studio for Mac > Check for Updates... menu to open the Visual Studio Update dialog.

    Screenshot of the Check for Updates menu in Visual Studio Help menu.

  2. If an update is available, Visual Studio Update shows a new version, select Restart and Install Updates.

    Screenshot of Visual Studio Updates with the Updates.

Next steps

Learn about this extension's integration and productivity features, and how to use the Visual Studio debugger for Unity development.