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.
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.
Not in the mood for reading? Watch the video instead.
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.
| Edition | Installer |
|---|---|
| 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.
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:
- Click Create a new project
- Choose a .NET Framework project type
- Click Next
- Create the project
If the project opens successfully, you’re good to go.
Video
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 👋
