How do I run the Visual Studio (2017) Installer?

Question

It's probably really obvious once you know the answer, but I can't find it anywhere.

I'm not talking about making an installer, I'm talking about running the installer that lets me modify which features of Visual Studio 2017 are installed.

The main screen looks like this:

the screen I need is this one:

In Visual Studio 2017, there is a menu entry for "Extensions and Updates" under the Tool menu that doesn't take me to this application. There is also a "NuGet Package Manager" which isn't even close.

In my Windows 10 start menu, I see Visual Studio 2017 itself, and a folder named "Visual Studio 2017" that contains a couple of command prompts and a "Debuggable Package Manager".

In the Control Panel - Programs and Features, I see Microsoft Visual Studio 2017 but right-click only gives me "Uninstall".

Answer 1

My version of Visual Studio 2017 Enterprise has a Visual Studio Installer icon in the install folder under Programs. So go to Start --> Visual Studio Installer.

Answer 2

You can get to the installer via

Control Panel --> Programs --> Programs and Features.

Select Microsoft Visual Studio 2017 from the list and click Change at the top. The installer will magically open up.

Answer 3

The screenshots you show are the VS 2017 installer. This allows you to select from the large number of optional components that can be included in the VS install. Run by running the downloaded installed file you started the original install with.

Tools | Extensions and Updates is used to extend and service VS.

• Extensions are (usually third party) components to extend and enhance VS.
• Servicing: just a prompt that there is an update available, this takes you to the Visual Studio installer.

NuGet: is a package manager for projects built with VS. Adding a component that the software you are writing uses. Soemthing like jQuery in a web app. This does not change VS itself.

Answer 4

Under Projects/New in VS there is a link to go to the Installer. That is the easiest way to start the Installer and get to the positions (panels) you want.

Answer 5

You can find Visual Studio Installer on below location

C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\Installer

Then search for vs_installer.

Answer 6

I also found it a bit strange that you cannot modify the installation from Control Panel - Programs and Features. You can however launch the Visual Studio 2017 installer from the following location:

%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Microsoft Visual Studio\Installer\vs_installer.exe