Install the Microsoft C++ (MSVC) Build Tools

The Visual Studio Installer lets you install multiple Microsoft C++ (MSVC) Build Tools versions side by side:

• A preview version of the next MSVC Build Tools release.
• The latest released, in-support MSVC Build Tools version. This version is the default toolset used for C++ projects.
• Earlier MSVC Build Tools releases that are still in support.

Previews are updated regularly with new features and fixes. The latest release and in-support build tools receive servicing fixes, as needed, for the duration of their support lifecycle.

For details about the versioning scheme, servicing policy, and how often the latest released MSVC toolset changes, see Microsoft C++ (MSVC) compiler versioning. For a summary of features added in each release, see What's new for MSVC Build Tools.

You can acquire MSVC through the Visual Studio Installer UI, through the Visual Studio Installer command line, or through winget.

Install by using the Visual Studio Installer UI

Download the Visual Studio Installer from visualstudio.microsoft.com/downloads (Stable channel) or visualstudio.microsoft.com/insiders (Insiders channel).

In the installer, choose Desktop development with C++ to install the latest released C++ toolset.

In the Installation details panel, the MSVC Build Tools for x64/x86 (Preview) option installs the preview tools. Similar options exist for ARM64 installs.

To install an older in-support toolset, select the Individual components tab, search for MSVC, and scroll to find the version you want to install. For example, MSVC Build Tools v14.50 for x64/x86. Out-of-support toolsets are marked as such.

Install by using the Visual Studio Installer from the command line

Use the Visual Studio Installer to perform a scripted, unattended install of MSVC.

To install the latest Insiders build:

1. Download vs_enterprise.exe (the same installer as above, sometimes named VisualStudioSetup.exe).

2. Create a .vsconfig file that lists the components to install. For more information, see Create a .vsconfig file.

3. Open an administrator Command Prompt.

4. Run the installer:

   .\vs_enterprise.exe --passive --config .\.vsconfig --installPath <vs-install-dir>
   

5. If an earlier Visual Studio Build Tools installation exists on the machine, uninstall it first.

Channel-specific installer links:

• Use the Visual Studio Installer to update or uninstall.
• For more information, see Use command-line parameters to install, update, and manage Visual Studio.

Install MSVC by using winget

To install MSVC by using winget:

1. Create a .vsconfig file that lists the components to install. For more information, see Create a .vsconfig file.

2. Open an administrator Command Prompt.

3. Run the following script:

   winget install -e --id Microsoft.VisualStudio.Enterprise.Insiders --override "--passive --config .\.vsconfig --installPath <vs-install-dir>"
   

Winget install options:

• Use --id Microsoft.VisualStudio.BuildTools to install the Build Tools on the Stable channel.
• Use --id Microsoft.VisualStudio.Enterprise to install Visual Studio Enterprise on the Stable channel.
• Use -v <version> to specify an exact version, for example, -v 18.6.2.
• Use winget search Microsoft.VisualStudio.BuildTools --versions to list all available versions.

Create a .vsconfig file

A .vsconfig file specifies the component IDs to install. You can find component IDs in the Visual Studio Enterprise component directory and the Visual Studio Build Tools component directory.

For example, in the Visual Studio Installer's Individual components tab, the MSVC Build Tools v14.50 for x64/x86 component ID is Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VC.14.50.18.0.x86.x64.

The Visual Studio Installer also supports importing or exporting installation configurations from an existing Visual Studio installation.

The following .vsconfig file downloads the x86 and x64 tools for the preview toolset, the latest release, and the 14.50 release:

{
  "version": "1.0",
  "components": [
    "Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VC.Preview.Tools.x86.x64",
    "Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VC.Tools.x86.x64",
    "Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VC.14.50.18.0.x86.x64"
  ]
}

This configuration installs very few dependencies. Just the compilers, runtimes, and command prompts.

A more complete installation with ARM64 tools, MFC/ATL, C++/CLI support, and a Windows SDK is:

{
  "version": "1.0",
  "components": [
    "Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VC.Preview.Tools.x86.x64",
    "Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VC.Preview.ARM64",
    "Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VC.Preview.CLI.Support",
    "Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VC.Tools.x86.x64",
    "Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VC.Tools.ARM64",
    "Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VC.ATLMFC",
    "Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VC.CLI.Support",
    "Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VC.14.50.18.0.x86.x64",
    "Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VC.14.50.18.0.ARM64",
    "Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VC.14.50.18.0.CLI.Support",
    "Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.Windows11SDK.26100"
  ]
}

Use an installed MSVC toolset

Toolsets are installed under <vs-install-dir>\VC\Tools\MSVC\<version>.

The following files under <vs-install-dir>\VC\Auxiliary\Build\ identify the default and preview toolsets:

• Microsoft.VCToolsVersion.default.txt contains the <version> folder of the latest in-support MSVC toolset.
• Microsoft.VCToolsVersion.default.props contains MSBuild properties for the in-support MSVC toolset.
• Microsoft.VCToolsVersion.Preview.txt contains the <version> folder of the MSVC preview toolset.
• Microsoft.VCToolsVersion.Preview.props contains MSBuild properties for the MSVC preview toolset.

After you install the toolsets, configure your projects to use the toolset you want.

Visual Studio (MSBuild)

In the project properties, select Configuration Properties > General > MSVC Build Tools Version and choose a supported Build Tools version. The dropdown is populated from <vs-install-dir>\VC\Tools\MSVC\<version>.

To use the MSVC Build Tools preview, set Use MSVC Build Tools Preview to Yes.

Save these property changes to your .vcxproj file. Later builds from the Visual Studio IDE or command line use the saved project settings.

MSBuild command line

To build with a supported MSVC version from a Visual Studio Command Prompt, add /p:VCToolsVersion=<version>. For example:

msbuild /p:Platform=<platform> /p:Configuration=<configuration> <your-vcxproj> /p:VCToolsVersion=14.50.35717

<version> matches the folder name under <vs-install-dir>\VC\Tools\MSVC\<version>.

To build with the MSVC preview tools, add /p:MSVCPreviewEnabled=true:

msbuild /p:Platform=<platform> /p:Configuration=<configuration> <your-vcxproj> /p:MSVCPreviewEnabled=true

CMake

Configure CMake with the -T "version=<version-substring>" toolset argument. For example:

cmake -G "Visual Studio 18 2026" -T "version=14.50" ..\
cmake -G "Visual Studio 18 2026" -T "version=14.51" ..\
cmake -G "Visual Studio 18 2026" -T "version=14.52" ..\

Visual Studio Command Prompt

Some build systems need the command prompt to have the PATH, LIB, INCLUDE, and related environment variables set before you run them.

To start a Visual Studio Command Prompt that targets a supported Build Tools version, add -vcvars_ver=<version> where <version> matches the folder name under <vs-install-dir>\VC\Tools\MSVC\<version>.

<vs-install-dir>\VC\Auxiliary\Build\vcvars64.bat -vcvars_ver=14.50.35717

To start a Visual Studio Command Prompt targeting the MSVC preview tools, use -vcvars_ver=preview:

<vs-install-dir>\VC\Auxiliary\Build\vcvars64.bat -vcvars_ver=preview

Uninstall MSVC

To uninstall Visual Studio by using the Installer UI, select More > Uninstall.

To uninstall Visual Studio from the command line, use any version of the Visual Studio installer:

.\vs_enterprise.exe uninstall --passive --installPath <vs-install-dir>

See also

• What's new for MSVC Build Tools
• Microsoft C++ (MSVC) compiler versioning
• Install C and C++ support in Visual Studio
• Visual Studio Enterprise component directory
• Visual Studio Build Tools component directory
• Use command-line parameters to install, update, and manage Visual Studio