The most current version, Build Tools for Visual Studio 2022, is available for download at the official Microsoft page: https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/visual-cpp-build-tools/.
Direct download links for specific versions are as follows:
Visual Studio 2022:
https://aka.ms/vs/17/release/vs_buildtools.exeVisual Studio 2019:
https://aka.ms/vs/16/release/vs_buildtools.exeVisual Studio 2017:
https://aka.ms/vs/15/release/vs_buildtools.exe
For offline installation or automated deployment, the tools can be installed via winget or by using command-line switches with the downloaded installer. For example, to install the 2022 version with specific C++ tools and SDKs:
winget install Microsoft.VisualStudio.2022.BuildTools --force --override "--wait --passive --add Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VC.Tools.x86.x64 --add Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.Windows11SDK.26100"Build Tools for Visual Studio are free to use for building applications, though a valid Visual Studio license is required for commercial use unless building open-source dependencies. Older versions (2015 and earlier) may require downloading from the Visual Studio Older Downloads page, which requires an active Visual Studio Subscription.
How to install Visual C++ Build tools? - Stack Overflow
Build Tools for Visual Studio
Where do I buy visual studio 2019 build tools?
Is it possible to download Visual Studio Build Tools 15.7.6?
Videos
I just stumbled onto this issue accessing some Python libraries: Microsoft Visual C++ 14.0 is required. Get it with "Microsoft Visual C++ Build Tools". The latest link to that is actually here: https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/downloads/#build-tools-for-visual-studio-2019
When you begin the installer, it will have several "options" enabled which will balloon the install size to 5gb. If you have Windows 10, you'll need to leave selected the "Windows 10 SDK" option as mentioned here, and if you have Windows 11, you'll need to leave selected the "Windows 11 SDK" option.
I hope it helps save others time!
2025/07 Updated Link: https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/downloads/#title-build-tools-for-visual-studio-2022
The current version (2023/09/14) is Build Tools for Visual Studio 2022. It's an online installer, you need to include at least the individual components:
- VC++ 2022 version xx.x tools
- Windows SDK to use standard libraries.
For updated Windows 10 or Windows 11: use the new winget cli
Just copy and paste that command in cmd, powershell or Run (WinKey + R).
Windows 10 SDK
winget install Microsoft.VisualStudio.2022.BuildTools --force --override "--wait --passive --add Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VC.Tools.x86.x64 --add Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.Windows10SDK"
Windows 11 SDK
winget install Microsoft.VisualStudio.2022.BuildTools --force --override "--wait --passive --add Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VC.Tools.x86.x64 --add Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.Windows11SDK.26100"
The above commands will download and run the installer with the switches passed after --override.
The --add will add specific features when installing, in this case:
Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VC.Tools.x86.x64Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.Windows10SDKorMicrosoft.VisualStudio.Component.Windows11SDK.26100
Within Microsoft's docs you can find the IDs of the features available for the Visual Studio Build Tools and in this section also learn more about other parameters available for the installer.
Hi @Aurimas N ,
You can find the Build tools for Visual Studio 2019 at the bottom of the following page:
https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/downloads/
Under the section of Tools for Visual Studio 2019:
I noticed the download link doesn't work properly, here's the direct download link:
https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/thank-you-downloading-visual-studio/?sku=BuildTools&rel=16
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(If the reply was helpful please don't forget to upvote or accept as answer, thank you)
Best regards,
Leon
Microsoft Visual C++ 14 is the compiler that was distributed with VS2015. The build tools for VS2015 can be downloaded from older-downloads. Expand the Other Tools, Frameworks and Redistributables to see the download link for the Build Tools.
I don't want to buy a subscription
I need this specific version to build something and I can't find it anywhere. I've looked on the older releases on the microsoft website, it wasn't there. I tried using chocolately to install that specific version and it installed 15.9 instead. Is this just impossible?