Keep a specific version of Visual Studio safely stored for legacy project maintenance. Step 1: Download the Visual Studio Bootstrapper
| Layout Type | Approximate Size | |-------------|------------------| | Full Visual Studio Community (all workloads, all languages) | ~45 GB | | .NET desktop development only | ~10–15 GB | | C++ desktop development only | ~8–12 GB | | Web & cloud development only | ~10–15 GB |
vs_community.exe --layout C:\VSLayout --add Microsoft.VisualStudio.Workload.ManagedDesktop --add Microsoft.VisualStudio.Workload.NetWeb --lang en-US Use code with caution. Example B: Download the Entire Community Edition visual studio community edition offline installer
It is a common misconception that one must wait for Microsoft to release a DVD ISO image to install offline. In reality, Microsoft provides a command-line mechanism to generate an offline installation layout using the very same bootstrapper executable used for online installs.
For the latest updates and more detailed parameter references, consult Microsoft's official documentation: Keep a specific version of Visual Studio safely
Once the command finishes downloading all components, you can transfer the C:\VSLayout folder to a USB drive or network share to install it on an offline machine.
By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can set up a fully functional Visual Studio Community environment on any Windows machine—whether it has internet access or not—and stay productive wherever your work takes you. In reality, Microsoft provides a command-line mechanism to
Select the workloads you plan to use (e.g., ASP.NET and web development , Desktop development with C++ ).
--add Microsoft.VisualStudio.Workload.Python
Navigate to your offline layout folder ( C:\VSLayout ) on the target machine. Run the vs_community.exe file directly from that folder.
Microsoft uses the term for an offline installer. You will use a command-line tool called vs_community.exe with specific switches.