If you’re running a Windows 11 device powered by ARM, you’ll be glad to know that Microsoft now provides a native Visual Studio 2022 Preview for Arm64. This means no more relying on x64 emulation—developers can finally build and debug apps directly on ARM hardware with much better performance.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to download and install Visual Studio 2022 Preview on Windows 11 ARM-powered devices, along with supported workloads and important setup tips.
Why Developers Should Use Visual Studio 2022 Preview on ARM Devices
- Native Arm64 support: Runs directly on ARM chips instead of relying on emulation.
- Better performance: Faster builds and debugging.
- Broader workload support: Includes .NET, C++, web development, MAUI, and more.
- Future-proof: Microsoft is expanding Arm64 support for modern laptops, tablets, and developer boards.
Steps to Download and Install Visual Studio 2022 Preview on Windows 11 ARM
Follow these steps to get Visual Studio 2022 Preview running on your ARM-powered Windows device:
1. Check Your Device
Make sure you’re running Windows 11 on an ARM64-based device (like Surface Pro X or Snapdragon-based laptops).
2. Uninstall Previous Visual Studio Versions
If you already have Visual Studio 2019/2022 (x64 or x86) installed, uninstall them first. The Preview installer requires a clean environment.
3. Download Visual Studio 2022 Preview
- Visit the official Visual Studio 2022 Preview download page.
- Choose your edition: Community, Professional, or Enterprise.
4. Run the Installer
- Launch the downloaded VisualStudioSetup.exe.
- The installer automatically detects ARM64 architecture and installs the right version—no manual selection needed.
5. Select Workloads
During setup, you can pick from supported workloads, including:
- .NET desktop development
- Desktop development with C++
- ASP.NET and web development
- Game development with C++
- Node.js development
- Visual Studio extension development
- .NET MAUI and UWP apps
For more control, go to the Individual components tab to add LLVM, Arm64EC build tools, and extra libraries.
6. Complete the Installation
Click Install, wait for the process to finish, and restart your device if prompted.
Tip: Enabling Virtualization on Your Device
Some workloads—especially those involving Hyper-V, emulators, or virtual machines—require virtualization to be enabled. On most new Windows 11 ARM devices it’s already turned on, but if not, here’s how:
- Restart into BIOS/UEFI:
- Go to Settings > System > Recovery > Advanced startup and restart into UEFI firmware.
- Enable Virtualization:
- Look for settings like Intel VT-x or AMD-V (depending on your hardware).
- Save and Exit to boot back into Windows.
- Enable Windows Features:
- Open Turn Windows features on or off.
- Ensure Hyper-V and Virtual Machine Platform are checked.
For device-specific instructions, Microsoft provides official guides:
- Acer – Enable Virtualization Technology
- Asus – Enable Intel VT-x or AMD-V
- Dell – Enable Virtualization on Dell Systems
- HP – Enable Virtualization in BIOS
- Lenovo – Enable Virtualization on Lenovo PCs
- Microsoft Surface – Virtualization is enabled by default
Important Notes
- Data tools like SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT) are still limited on ARM64, but Microsoft is actively improving support.
- Always use the Preview installer if you want early ARM features—stable builds may not yet include everything.
- Keep your device updated to the latest Windows 11 ARM builds for best compatibility.
See also: How to Install Windows 11 Version 25H2 (Official 2025 Update)
FAQs: Visual Studio 2022 Preview Windows 11 ARM
Q1: Can I install Visual Studio 2022 Preview on ARM without uninstalling older versions?
No. Microsoft recommends uninstalling all existing Visual Studio versions before installing the ARM64 Preview.
Q2: Does Visual Studio Preview run faster on ARM compared to emulated x64?
Yes. The native ARM64 version removes the overhead of emulation, improving performance during builds and debugging.
Q3: What workloads are not yet supported on ARM?
Some advanced SQL data tools and certain legacy workloads are limited. Most mainstream workloads like C++, .NET, and web are supported.
Q4: Can I upgrade from Preview to Stable later?
Yes. Once ARM64 support moves fully to stable releases, you’ll be able to upgrade to the regular Visual Studio 2022 editions.
Installing Visual Studio 2022 Preview on Windows 11 ARM-powered devices opens up new possibilities for developers who want to build apps natively without emulation. The process is straightforward—download, uninstall old versions, run the installer, and choose workloads.
And if you plan on using workloads that rely on virtualization, double-check that it’s enabled in your BIOS/UEFI before starting. This ensures smooth setup and avoids frustrating errors.
