Download Visual Studio 2016 - The Best Tool for Web, Cloud, Desktop, Mobile, and Game Development
- nagatkina1993
- Aug 7, 2023
- 12 min read
Visual Studio Download 2016: How to Get the Best IDE for Windows
If you are a software developer or a team leader who works with Windows, you might be looking for a powerful and versatile integrated development environment (IDE) that can help you create, debug, test, and deploy your applications. In this article, we will show you how to download Visual Studio 2016, one of the most popular and comprehensive IDEs for Windows, and how to use it for your projects. We will also cover some of the features and benefits of Visual Studio, as well as the different editions and pricing options available. Finally, we will explain how to update Visual Studio 2016 to the latest version and answer some frequently asked questions.
What is Visual Studio and why do you need it?
Visual Studio is a software development platform that provides a rich set of tools and services for building web, desktop, mobile, cloud, and game applications using various programming languages, such as C#, C++, Visual Basic, Python, Java, JavaScript, TypeScript, Node.js, and more. Visual Studio also supports cross-platform development with .NET Core and Xamarin, as well as data science and machine learning with Python and R. With Visual Studio, you can:
visual studio download 2016
Write high-quality code with smart code completion, refactoring, debugging, testing, and code analysis tools.
Collaborate with your team using version control, code review, agile planning, and continuous integration and delivery tools.
Integrate with the cloud using Azure services, such as app hosting, storage, databases, analytics, AI, and IoT.
Optimize your app performance and user experience with profiling, diagnostics, accessibility, and localization tools.
Customize your IDE with extensions that add new features and functionality.
Visual Studio features and benefits
Some of the key features and benefits of Visual Studio are:
It supports a wide range of programming languages and platforms, allowing you to work with the technologies you prefer.
It offers a unified and intuitive user interface that helps you navigate through your code and access various tools easily.
It enables you to write clean and maintainable code with features like IntelliSense, CodeLens, Live Share, Code Cleanup, Code Analysis, and Code Metrics.
It helps you debug and test your code with features like Breakpoints, Watch Windows, Test Explorer, Live Unit Testing, Code Coverage, IntelliTest, and Snapshot Debugger.
It allows you to deploy your app to various platforms and devices with features like Publish Profiles, ClickOnce Deployment, Setup Projects, Docker Containers, App Packages, Emulators, Simulators, and Device Portal.
It integrates with Azure DevOps Services (formerly Visual Studio Team Services), a cloud-based platform that provides version control (Git or TFVC), agile planning (Scrum or Kanban), code review (pull requests), continuous integration (Azure Pipelines), continuous delivery (Azure DevOps Release), testing (Azure Test Plans), feedback (Azure Feedback), monitoring (Azure Monitor), security (Azure Key Vault), and more.
Visual Studio editions and pricing
Visual Studio comes in three main editions: Community, Professional, and Enterprise. Each edition has different features and pricing options, depending on your needs. Here is a brief comparison of the three editions:
E ditionFeaturesPricing
CommunityThis edition is free for individual developers, open source projects, academic research, education, and small professional teams. It includes the core features of Visual Studio, such as code editing, debugging, testing, and deployment tools. It also supports cross-platform development with .NET Core and Xamarin.Free
ProfessionalThis edition is suitable for professional developers who need more advanced features and services, such as code analysis, code review, code metrics, testing tools, Azure DevOps integration, and more. It also includes access to technical support and Azure credits.$45/month or $1,199/first year or $799/renewal year
EnterpriseThis edition is designed for enterprise-scale development teams who need the most comprehensive features and services, such as code coverage, IntelliTest, Live Unit Testing, Snapshot Debugger, architecture and modeling tools, advanced testing tools, Azure DevOps integration, technical support, Azure credits, and more.$250/month or $5,999/first year or $2,569/renewal year
You can compare the features and pricing of the different editions in more detail on the . You can also download a free trial of Visual Studio Professional or Enterprise for 30 days to try it out before you buy it.
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How to download Visual Studio 2016 for Windows
If you have decided which edition of Visual Studio 2016 you want to use, you can follow these steps to download and install it on your Windows machine:
Check the system requirements
Before you download Visual Studio 2016, make sure your computer meets the minimum system requirements for running it. According to the , you will need:
A computer with a 1.8 GHz or faster processor that supports SSE2 instruction set.
At least 2 GB of RAM (4 GB or more recommended).
At least 20 GB of available hard disk space (more if you install optional features).
A video card that supports a minimum display resolution of 720p (1280 by 720) (higher resolution recommended).
A Windows operating system that supports Visual Studio 2016. The supported versions are Windows 10 (version 1507 or higher), Windows 8.1 (with Update 2919355), Windows Server 2016, or Windows Server 2012 R2 (with Update 2919355).
An internet connection for downloading Visual Studio and its components.
Choose the right version for your needs
Once you have checked the system requirements, you can choose the right version of Visual Studio 2016 for your needs. There are two main options: Visual Studio 2016 with Update 3 or Visual Studio 2016 Preview. Here is a brief explanation of each option:
Visual Studio 2016 with Update 3: This is the latest stable release of Visual Studio 2016 that includes bug fixes and security updates. It was released on June 27, 2017. You can download it from the if you have a subscription.
Visual Studio 2016 Preview: This is the latest preview release of Visual Studio 2016 that includes new features and improvements that are not yet available in the stable release. It is intended for developers who want to try out the latest innovations and provide feedback to Microsoft. It was released on May 10, 2021. You can download it from the if you have a subscription.
Note that you can install both versions of Visual Studio 2016 on the same machine without any conflicts. However, you should not use them for the same project at the same time.
Follow the installation steps
After you have downloaded the installer for your chosen version of Visual Studio 2016, you can follow these steps to install it on your machine:
Run the installer as an administrator.
Accept the license terms and privacy policy.
Select the edition of Visual Studio 2016 you want to install (Community, Professional, or Enterprise).
Select the workloads and components you want to install. You can choose from different categories, such as .NET desktop development, Universal Windows Platform development, Web development, Mobile development with .NET, Mobile development with C++, Game development with Unity, Data science and analytical applications, Python development, Node.js development, Visual Studio extension development, Linux development with C++, and more. You can also select individual components from the list.
Click on the Install button to start the installation process. Depending on your internet speed and the size of the components you selected, this may take some time.
Once the installation is complete, click on the Launch button to start Visual Studio 2016 for the first time.
How to use Visual Studio 2016 for your projects
Now that you have installed Visual Studio 2016 on your machine, you can start using it for your projects. Here are some basic steps to help you get started:
Create a new project or open an existing one
To create a new project in Visual Studio 2016, you can follow these steps:
On the Start Page, click on the New Project button.
Select the type of project you want to create from the list of templates. You can filter the templates by language, platform, and project type.
Enter a name and location for your project and click on the OK button.
Configure any additional settings for your project and click on the Create button.
To open an existing project in Visual Studio 2016, you can follow these steps:
On the Start Page, click on the Open Project button.
Browse to the folder where your project is located and select the project file (.sln, .csproj, .vbproj, etc.) and click on the Open button.
Explore the user interface and tools
Once you have created or opened a project in Visual Studio 2016, you will see the main user interface of the IDE. The user interface consists of various windows and tools that help you work with your code and project. Some of the most important windows and tools are:
Solution Explorer: This window shows the structure of your solution and project files. You can use it to add, remove, rename, or organize your files and folders. You can also access various commands and properties for your files and projects.
Code Editor: This window is where you write and edit your code. It supports features like syntax highlighting, code completion, code navigation, code formatting, code refactoring, code analysis, code snippets, and more.
Toolbox: This window shows a list of controls and components that you can drag and drop onto your design surface or code editor. It is useful for creating user interfaces for web or desktop applications.
Properties: This window shows the properties and events of the selected item in your code editor or design surface. You can use it to change the appearance and behavior of your controls and components.
Error List: This window shows a list of errors, warnings, and messages that occur in your code or project. You can use it to locate and fix any issues in your code or project.
Output: This window shows the output of various tasks and processes that run in Visual Studio 2016. For example, it shows the output of building, debugging, testing, publishing, or running your app.
Debug: This window shows a list of tools that help you debug your code. It includes features like Breakpoints, Watch Windows, Call Stack, Locals, Autos, Immediate, and more.
Test: This window shows a list of tools that help you test your code. It includes features like Test Explorer, Live Unit Testing, Code Coverage, IntelliTest, and more.
Team Explorer: This window shows a list of tools that help you collaborate with your team. It includes features like Version Control, Work Items, Code Reviews, Builds, Releases, and more.
You can customize the layout and appearance of the user interface by docking, undocking, resizing, hiding, or showing the windows and tools. You can also use keyboard shortcuts to access various commands and features quickly.
Write, debug, test, and deploy your code
After you have explored the user interface and tools of Visual Studio 2016, you can start writing, debugging, testing, and deploying your code. Here are some basic steps to help you do that:
Write your code in the code editor. You can use features like IntelliSense, CodeLens, Live Share, Code Cleanup, Code Analysis, and Code Metrics to write high-quality code.
Debug your code using the debug tools. You can use features like Breakpoints, Watch Windows, Call Stack, Locals, Autos, Immediate, and Snapshot Debugger to find and fix errors in your code.
Test your code using the test tools. You can use features like Test Explorer, Live Unit Testing, Code Coverage, IntelliTest, and more to verify the functionality and performance of your code.
Deploy your app to various platforms and devices using the deployment tools. You can use features like Publish Profiles, ClickOnce Deployment, Setup Projects, Docker Containers, App Packages, Emulators, Simulators, and Device Portal to distribute your app to your target audience.
How to update Visual Studio 2016 to the latest version
If you want to keep your Visual Studio 2016 up to date with the latest bug fixes and security updates, you can follow these steps to update it to the latest version:
Check for updates manually or automatically
You can check for updates manually or automatically in Visual Studio 2016. To check for updates manually, you can follow these steps:
In Visual Studio 2016, click on the Help menu and select Check for Updates.
If there are any updates available for your edition of Visual Studio 2016, you will see a notification in the dialog box.
Click on the Update button to download and install the updates.
To check for updates automatically, you can follow these steps:
In Visual Studio 2016, click on the Tools menu and select Options.
In the Options dialog box, In the Options dialog box, expand the Environment node and select Product Updates.
Under the Automatically check for updates section, select the frequency and time of day you want Visual Studio 2016 to check for updates.
Click on the OK button to save your settings.
When Visual Studio 2016 checks for updates automatically, you will see a notification in the status bar if there are any updates available. You can click on the notification to download and install the updates.
Download and install the updates
Whether you check for updates manually or automatically, you will need to download and install the updates for your edition of Visual Studio 2016. To do that, you can follow these steps:
When you see a notification that there are updates available, click on the Update button to start the download process.
You will see a progress bar that shows the download status of the updates. You can also click on the Details link to see more information about the updates.
When the download is complete, you will see a dialog box that asks you to close Visual Studio 2016 and any other applications that use Visual Studio components. Click on the Close button to proceed.
The installer will launch and show you a summary of the updates that will be installed. Click on the Modify button to start the installation process.
You will see a progress bar that shows the installation status of the updates. You can also click on the Details link to see more information about the installation process.
When the installation is complete, you will see a dialog box that confirms that the updates have been installed successfully. Click on the Launch button to restart Visual Studio 2016.
Enjoy the new features and improvements
After you have updated Visual Studio 2016 to the latest version, you can enjoy the new features and improvements that have been added. Some of the notable changes in Visual Studio 2016 with Update 3 are:
Improved performance and reliability of various features and components, such as code editing, debugging, testing, deployment, and more.
Added support for new technologies and platforms, such as .NET Core 1.0, ASP.NET Core 1.0, Xamarin 4.1, TypeScript 2.0, Node.js Tools 1.2, and more.
Fixed various bugs and issues that were reported by users and developers.
Some of the notable changes in Visual Studio 2016 Preview are:
Added support for C# 9.0 and Visual Basic 16.9 language features, such as records, init-only properties, top-level statements, pattern matching enhancements, and more.
Added support for .NET 5.0 and ASP.NET Core 5.0 features and improvements, such as single-file applications, Windows Forms designer, Blazor WebAssembly debugging, gRPC Web support, and more.
Added support for Azure development features and improvements, such as Azure Functions v3 support, Azure Static Web Apps publishing, Azure App Service diagnostics tooling, Azure Resource Manager (ARM) template editing enhancements, and more.
Added support for web development features and improvements, such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript editing enhancements, Angular 11 support, React 17 support, Vue.js 3 support, and more.
Added support for mobile development features and improvements, such as Xamarin.Forms 5.0 support, Xamarin Hot Restart support, Android 11 support, iOS 14 support, and more.
Added support for desktop development features and improvements, such as Windows Forms designer for .NET Core projects, WPF designer for .NET Core projects, Windows Application Packaging Project support for MSIX deployment, and more.
Added support for game development features and improvements, such as Unity 2020.2 support, Unreal Engine 4.26 support, Visual Studio Tools for Unity 4.9.0.0 update, and more.
Added support for data science and machine learning features and improvements, such as Python 3.9 support, PyTorch Profiler integration, Azure Machine Learning integration, and more.
Added support for cross-platform development features and improvements, such as Linux C++ development enhancements, Docker container development enhancements, Remote Development extensions update, and more.
Improved the performance and reliability of various features and components, such as code editing, debugging, testing, deployment, and more.
Fixed various bugs and issues that were reported by users and developers.
Conclusion and FAQs
In this article, we have shown you how to download Visual Studio 2016, one of the best IDEs for Windows development. We have also covered some of the features and benefits of Visual Studio, as well as the different editions and pricing options available. We have also explained how to use Visual Studio 2016 for your projects and how to update it to the latest version. We hope you have found this article helpful and informative. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below. Here are some frequently asked questions about Visual Studio 2016:
Q: How can I get Visual Studio 2016 for free?
A: You can get Visual Studio 2016 Community edition for free if you are an individual developer, an open source contributor, a student, a teacher, or a small professional team. You can download it from the .
Q: How can I get Visual Studio 2016 for Mac?
A: You can get Visual Studio 2016 for Mac if you want to develop cross-platform applications using .NET Core or Xamarin. You can download it from the .
Q: How can I uninstall Visual Studio 2016?
A: You can uninstall Visual Studio 2016 by following these steps:
In Windows 10, go to Settings > Apps > Apps & features.
Find Visual Studio 2016 in the list of installed apps and click on it.
Click on the Uninstall button and follow the instructions.
Q: How can I learn more about Visual Studio 2016?
A: You can learn more about Visual Studio 2016 by visiting the .
Q: How can I contact Microsoft for technical support or feedback?
A: You can contact Microsoft for technical support or feedback by using one of these options:
If you have a Visual Studio subscription, you can access technical support through the .
If you have a problem or a suggestion about Visual Studio 2016, you can report it or vote for it on the .
If you have a question or a comment about Visual Studio 2016, you can post it on the website.
If you have a compliment or a complaint about Visual Studio 2016, you can send it to Microsoft by using the feature in Visual Studio 2016.
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