Unlock the Power of Visual Studio 2019: Add Workloads like a Pro!

Visual Studio 2019 is a well-rounded Integrated Development Environment (IDE) that empowers developers to build various applications across different platforms. The bundle comes with a multitude of built-in tools that enhance the entire software development process with professionalism and ease.

However, sometimes workloads that are essential for developing desktop applications, such as the .NET desktop development workload, may not have been installed upon first installation. Are you perplexed? No worries, this article will guide you on how to add workloads to Visual Studio 2019 even after installation!

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Launch Visual Studio 2019

The first step is to launch the Visual Studio 2019 IDE on your system. Don’t get lost in the excitement, you might miss the opportunity for a shortcut by double-clicking into obscurity! You can either double-click on the desktop shortcut or select it from the start menu.

2. Open the Visual Studio Installer

In Visual Studio 2019, workload installation is performed through the Visual Studio Installer. Sounds easy? Hold on to your hats, the journey is just beginning my friend! To open the installer, go to the start menu and type ‘Visual Studio Installer’ in the search bar. Select the installer from the results, if you can find it… and it will open a new window.

Warning: If your system is not up-to-date, you might encounter a maze of errors that would leave you seeing stars. Update your system regularly to avoid any unforeseen issues!

Alternatively, you can launch the installer from the Visual Studio 2019 IDE

Yes, I know I just warned you about this! But, we live and learn! You can also launch the installer from the Visual Studio 2019 IDE by clicking on the ‘Extensions’ menu and selecting ‘Manage Extensions.’ From there, select ‘Installed’ and click on ‘Migrate extensions and settings.’ This will lead you, finally!, to the Visual Studio Installer window.

3. Select the workloads

In the Visual Studio Installer, you will see a list of workloads that can be installed with Visual Studio. But wait, where is your workload? Find the workload you need to add and click on the checkbox next to it.

If the workload is not listed, click on the ‘Individual components’ tab, and you will see a list of components that can be installed separately. So close, yet so far…

4. Modify installation

Once you’ve selected the workloads, click on the ‘Modify’ button at the bottom right corner of the window. What could go wrong now, right? This will initiate the modification process, installing the selected workloads.

5. Wait for installation

The installation process may take some time, and the workload size and speed of your computer will affect the duration. Deep breaths, don’t touch that computer, and don’t try to multitask! It is advisable not to use Visual Studio or any other application while the installation is in progress to avoid any errors or conflicts.

6. Complete the installation

Once the installation is complete, you will see a ‘Complete’ message in the installer. A moment of glory! You can now launch Visual Studio 2019 and use the added workloads like a pro.

Conclusion

In summary, adding workloads to Visual Studio 2019 is a simple process that requires the Visual Studio Installer. Feel the power of new workloads! The installer provides a comprehensive list of workloads and components that can be installed separately, giving developers the flexibility to choose what they need. By following the simple steps above, you can quickly add workloads to your Visual Studio 2019 installation and start building professional applications.