Download Visual Studio 2013 Community Edition
For your convenience, here are the direct paths (as of 2025 – note Microsoft may change URL structures):
Action Step: Bookmark https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/vs/older-downloads/, sign in with your Microsoft account, and save the ISO to an external hard drive. Do not rely on the link working forever.
After installing Visual Studio 2013 Community, you must install Update 5 (KB 2829760). This is the final cumulative update pack that fixes hundreds of compiler bugs and security vulnerabilities.
You can find "Visual Studio 2013 Update 5" on the same Microsoft Download Catalog page. Install this immediately after the base IDE finishes. Download Visual Studio 2013 Community Edition
Description
Enable users to download Visual Studio 2013 Community Edition — a free, fully-featured IDE for individual developers, open-source contributors, and small teams. This version supports C++, C#, VB.NET, ASP.NET, and more, with tools for debugging, Git integration, and Windows desktop, web, and mobile development.
While this article focuses on downloading the 2013 version, consider if you truly need it:
| Feature | VS 2013 Community | VS 2022 Community | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | .NET Support | Up to 4.5.2 | Up to 8.0+ | | Git Integration | Basic (3rd party) | Native & Advanced | | Performance | Good on old hardware | Requires SSD / Fast CPU | | C++ Standards | C++11/14 (partial) | C++20 / C++23 | | 64-bit IDE | No (Out of memory errors) | Yes (Handles huge projects) | For your convenience, here are the direct paths
Verdict: Only install 2013 if you are maintaining a legacy codebase or following an old textbook. For new projects, always install Visual Studio 2022 Community.
Once on the downloads page:
In the fast-paced world of software development, tools come and go. However, some versions leave a lasting legacy. Microsoft Visual Studio 2013 Community Edition is one such product. Released as a game-changer, it was the first time Microsoft offered a fully-featured, integrated development environment (IDE) for free to individual developers, open-source contributors, and small teams. Action Step: Bookmark https://visualstudio
While modern developers might flock to Visual Studio 2022 or 2019, there are thousands of legacy projects, maintenance tasks, and specific university curricula that still require the 2013 version. If you are looking for a reliable, safe, and legal way to download Visual Studio 2013 Community Edition, you have come to the right place.
Important Note: As of this writing, mainstream support for Visual Studio 2013 has ended. Microsoft recommends upgrading to newer versions for security and performance. However, Microsoft still provides the official installers for specific use cases, such as maintaining older applications.
If you are reading this because you thought you need VS2013, consider these modern alternatives first:
Test first: Try opening your legacy solution in Visual Studio 2022. If it loads without errors, you do not need VS2013.