Once the download is complete, copy the c:\vslayout folder to your target machine (via USB or network share). Open the folder on the offline machine.
However, once you get past the initial friction, this is actually the installer's greatest strength. You aren't forced to download a 40GB monstrosity if you don't need it. You can curate your ISO. If you are a purely C# desktop developer, you can build a layout that contains only the .NET Desktop Development workloads, slimming the download down to a manageable 5-8GB. Conversely, if you want the "Kitchen Sink" approach, you can include every workload, resulting in a massive 50GB+ directory.
Instead of downloading everything, target specific Workload IDs. Here are some of the most common ones: visual studio 2022 offline installer iso
Use --keepDownloadedPayloads to avoid double storage. Alternatively, move the layout to an external drive or network share.
vs_enterprise.exe --noweb
While this is documented, it feels archaic. In an era where JetBrains and other competitors offer direct offline downloads, Microsoft requires users to essentially script their own installer packages.
Move this downloaded file into a dedicated folder on your computer, for example, C:\VS2022\ . Step 2: Download the Offline Installation Files Once the download is complete, copy the c:\vslayout
If you strictly need an ISO file (e.g., for mounting on a VM), use a tool like FreeISOCreator and point it to your C:\VS2022Offline folder. Visual Studio & VS Code Downloads for Windows, Mac, Linux