Modify Visual Studio workloads, components, and language packs

It's easy to modify Visual Studio so that it includes only what you want. To do so, open the Visual Studio Installer, and then add or remove workloads, components, and language packs. This article walks you through the process.

Prerequisites

• By default, to install, update, or modify Visual Studio, the account performing the update must have administrative permissions on the machine. It must also have permissions to the source where the product updates are located (either the internet or an internal location). If you're logged in as a typical user and try to perform one of these commands, you 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 AllowStandardUserControl policy. For more information, see User Permissions and Visual Studio.

• The following procedures assume you have an internet connection. For information about how to modify a previously created offline installation of Visual Studio, see:

  • Update a network-based installation of Visual Studio
  • Control updates to network-based Visual Studio deployments

Open the installer to modify your installation

To modify your Visual Studio installation, you need to open the Visual Studio Installer and then select a Visual Studio installation to modify.

1. There are many ways to open the Visual Studio Installer:

   • On the Windows Start menu, you can search for "installer" and then select Visual Studio Installer from the results.

     

   • Run the Visual Studio Installer executable file, which is located at C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\Installer\setup.exe.

   • If you have Visual Studio open, select Tools > Get Tools and Features.

     

   You might be prompted to update the Visual Studio Installer before continuing. If you are, follow the prompts.

2. In the Visual Studio Installer, look for the installation of Visual Studio that you want to modify and then select Modify.

   

Change workloads or individual components

Workloads contain the components you need for the programming language or platform that you use. Use workloads to modify Visual Studio so that it supports the work you want to do.

Tip

For more information about which tools and component bundles you need for development, see Visual Studio workloads.

1. In the Visual Studio Installer, on the Workloads tab, select the workloads that you want.

   

2. To add more components than a workload installs, on the Individual components tab, select the individual components that you want.

   

3. You can select the default Install while downloading or Download all, then install.

   

4. Select Modify.

5. After the modified workloads or components are installed, select Launch in 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. For more information, see Import or export installation configurations.

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 your operating system. You can change the default language whenever you want.

To change the default language:

1. Select the Language packs tab in the Visual Studio Installer.
2. Select the language you prefer.
3. 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.

Related content

• Visual Studio workload & component IDs
• Update Visual Studio
• Uninstall Visual Studio
• Update a network-based installation of Visual Studio