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Let's say that when I installed Visual Studio 2017 I decided to use the "Windows Universal Platform" packages. Later, I realize that I'd like to install the ".Net Desktop packages" (either instead, or in addition).

How can I go back and add those features to Visual Studio 2017? Is there a way to do this within Visual Studio? Do I have to re-run the installer?

Ogglas
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MikeTheTall
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3 Answers3

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You can go to tools from menu bar and then select "Get tools and features" and then you can add or modify your features.

enter image description here

Stephen Rauch
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Sakhawat Hossain
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    Any idea why "Get tools and features" option would be missing from the Tools menu? I have 2 machines running VS 2017 Enterprise and only see the option on one of the computers. – tronman Oct 18 '18 at 19:19
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Re-run the visual studio launcher and click on modify. Make your edits and the launcher install the missing components.

Lord_Curdin
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    It's worth adding (from the comment on the question by Damien_The_Unbeliever) that the Visual Studio Installer is actually added to the Start Menu, and is capable of updating itself as well as VS. – Nick Westgate May 15 '17 at 00:00
  • In my Start menu is only the VS17 installer, with admin rights to install updates direct. – Lord_Curdin May 15 '17 at 05:11
  • Is there a way to launch it directly from visual studio? A little context: when there's suggested updates you can launch the installer right from VS. – Sean McNellis Jun 26 '17 at 19:46
  • I know no way to launch the Installer from VS. It's not possible because if you modify your installation you need to close VS for the installation. But for Updates you could use Tools->Extensions/Updates->Updates – Lord_Curdin Jun 27 '17 at 12:52
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After you have installed Visual Studio 2017 you will have a program called Visual Studio Installer. Launch this application.

enter image description here

From here you can select modify and then add the components that you need.

enter image description here

Ogglas
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