Installing Visual Studio 2019 Community Edition (Step by Step)

A simple walkthrough of how I install Visual Studio 2019 Community Edition and get a .NET project running in minutes.

   , ,   4 min read

Visual Studio 2019 might not be the newest kid on the block anymore, but it’s still very useful—especially if you’re working on legacy projects or older .NET Framework applications.

I still install it from time to time, usually when dealing with an older codebase or opening an open-source repository that works best with VS 2019. So here’s a quick, no-nonsense walkthrough of how I install Visual Studio 2019 Community Edition.

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Step 1: Download the Visual Studio 2019 Installer

I’ve prepared the official download links for the genuine Visual Studio 2019 installers below. You can, of course, visit the official Visual Studio website, but that usually requires signing in and navigating through several pages to find the correct download.

You can use the Community edition without an active paid subscription, as long as your usage complies with Microsoft’s license terms.

EditionInstaller
Visual Studio 2019 Community⬇️ vs_Community.exe
Visual Studio 2019 Professional⬇️ vs_Professional.exe
Visual Studio 2019 Enterprise⬇️ vs_Enterprise.exe

Step 2: Run the Installer

After launching the installer:

  • Click Continue
  • Let it complete the initial setup

This step is usually quick, but it can take a bit longer depending on your system and internet speed.

Step 3: Select the Workloads

This is the most important step.

Visual Studio 2019 doesn’t install everything by default—you choose only what you need. In my case, I usually select:

  • ASP.NET and web development
  • .NET desktop development

These two cover most of my use cases, especially when working with classic .NET Framework applications.

These are all available workloads in Visual Studio 2019:

Web & Cloud (4)

  1. ASP.NET and web

    Build web applications using ASP.NET Core, ASP.NET, HTML/JavaScript, and Containers including Docker support.

  2. Azure development

    Azure SKs, tools, and projects for developing cloud apps and creating resources using NET and .NET Framework.

  3. Python development

    Editing, debugging, interactive development and source control for Python.

  4. Node.js development

    Build scalable network applications using Node.js, an asynchronous event-driven JavaScript runtime.

Desktop & Mobile (5)

  1. .NET desktop development

    Build WPF, Windows Forms, and console applications using C#, Visual Basic, and F# with .NET and .NET Framework.

  2. Desktop development with C++

    Build modern C++ apps for Windows using tools of your choice, including MSVC, Clang, CMake, or MSBuild.

  3. Universal Windows Platform development

    Create applications for the Universal Windows Platform with C#, VB, or optionally C++.

  4. Mobile development with NET (out of support)

    Build cross-platform applications for iOS, Android or Windows using Xamarin.

  5. Mobile development with C++

    Build cross-platform applications for iOS, Android or Windows using C++.

Gaming (2)

  1. Game development with Unity

    Create 2D and 3D games with Unity, a powerful cross-platform development environment.

  2. Game development with C++

    Use the full power of C++ to build professional games powered by Direct, Unreal, or Cocos2d.

Other Toolsets (6)

  1. Data storage and processing

    Connect, develop, and test data solutions with SQL Server, Azure Data Lake, or Hadoop.

  2. Data science and analytical applications

    Languages and tooling for creating data science applications, including Python and F#.

  3. Visual Studio extension development

    Create add-ons and extensions for Visual Studio, including new commands, code analyzers and tool windows.

  4. Office/SharePoint development

    Create Office and SharePoint add-ins, SharePoint solutions, and VSTO add-ins using C#, VB, and JavaScript.

  5. Linux development with C++

    Create and debug applications running in a Linux environment.

  6. NET cross-platform development (out of support)

    Build cross-platform applications using. NET, ASP.NET Core, HTML/JavaScript, and Containers including Docker support.

Once you’ve selected the workloads you need, click Install.

Now… wait. This is a good time to grab a coffee ☕, as the installation can take a while.

Step 4: Launch Visual Studio 2019

When the installation is complete:

  • Click Launch
  • Visual Studio 2019 will start

You’ll likely be prompted to sign in and choose a theme—pick whatever you prefer.

Step 5: Create a Test Project

To make sure everything works correctly:

  1. Click Create a new project
  2. Choose a .NET Framework project type
  3. Click Next
  4. Create the project

If the project opens successfully, you’re good to go.

Final Thoughts

Even though newer versions of Visual Studio are available, Visual Studio 2019 Community Edition remains a solid choice—especially for maintaining older projects or matching specific runtime requirements.

The installation process is straightforward, and once the required workloads are installed, you can start coding immediately without extra hassle.

That’s it for today. As usual, if you have any questions or better approaches, feel free to leave a comment below. Thanks for reading, and happy coding 👋

References