How do I stop Visual Studio background downloads?

To stop Visual Studio background downloads, you can disable the associated task directly within Windows Task Scheduler, though this action is generally not recommended.

Visual Studio utilizes background downloads to keep its components, workloads, and extensions up-to-date, ensuring you always have the latest features and crucial security patches. These processes run quietly in the background to prepare updates for a smoother, faster installation experience when you choose to apply them.

Method: Disabling Through Task Scheduler

While it is generally not recommended to manually disable or alter the settings of the BackgroundDownload.exe task, you can achieve this by using the Windows Task Scheduler. This method directly targets the process responsible for these background operations.

Important Consideration: Disabling this task means Visual Studio will not automatically download updates in the background. You will need to manually check for and initiate downloads and installations via the Visual Studio Installer, potentially missing out on timely updates, including security fixes.

Follow these steps to disable the background download task:

1. Open Task Scheduler:
   • Press Win + R, type taskschd.msc, and press Enter.
   • Alternatively, search for "Task Scheduler" in the Windows Start menu.
2. Navigate to the Visual Studio Updates Library:
   • In the Task Scheduler window, expand the navigation tree on the left pane:
     • Task Scheduler Library
     • Microsoft
     • VisualStudio
     • Updates
3. Locate the BackgroundDownload Task:
   • In the Updates folder, you will see a list of tasks. Look for the task named BackgroundDownload.
4. Disable the Task:
   • Right-click on the BackgroundDownload task.
   • Select Disable from the context menu.

What Happens After Disabling?

Once disabled, the BackgroundDownload.exe task will no longer run automatically, preventing Visual Studio from performing background downloads for updates. You will then need to rely on checking for updates manually through the Visual Studio Installer.

General Update Management in Visual Studio

For most users, managing updates through the standard Visual Studio Installer is the recommended approach. This allows you to:

• Check for Updates: Open the Visual Studio Installer (search for "Visual Studio Installer" in your Start menu), and you will see an "Update" button if new versions are available.
• Configure Update Behavior: While the background download itself isn't extensively configurable through the IDE, the Installer allows you to manage installations and modify components.

For more information on keeping Visual Studio updated, refer to the official Microsoft documentation on Update Visual Studio.