Download this only if you must support a legacy product or learn older Microsoft tech. For new projects, use VS 2022 Community. The “updated” 2015 version is stable but feels ancient compared to modern IDEs.
Click , review your selected features, and click Install . The process can take anywhere from 20 minutes to over an hour depending on your internet connection speed and hardware. Post-Installation: Activating and Updating Resolving the "30-Day Trial Expired" Notification
There are several benefits to using Visual Studio 2015 Community Edition, including: Download this only if you must support a
Visual Studio 2015 uses a workload-based installer structure. Follow these steps for a clean installation: Step 1: Run the Installer
The Community Edition is completely free but requires validation. Sign in with a Microsoft account within 30 days of installation to unlock a permanent, free license. Install Update 3 Cumulative Patches Click , review your selected features, and click Install
Here are the official direct download links (available as of 2026):
– The ISO file you download from the Subscriptions Portal already includes Update 3, so a fresh install using that ISO will give you the latest version. Follow these steps for a clean installation: Step
Before diving into the download process, it helps to understand the major versions available within the VS 2015 family:
Log in with your Microsoft account (Outlook, Hotmail, or Xbox Live).
vs_community.exe /layout c:\VS2015Offline
Particular libraries and SDKs require the v140 compiler toolset.