If you are installing Visual Studio 2015 today, do not just install the "RTM" (Release to Manufacturing) version. You want the version that includes .

Before we get to the links, it is worth asking: why stick with 2015?

After installing the base setup, you must run Update 3 (KB3165756) to make the IDE compatible with modern Windows SDKs and Git.

This version heavily integrated Xamarin for mobile apps and tools for Apache Cordova.

: It is compatible with Windows 7 SP1 through Windows 11.

Visual Studio 2015 and its corresponding community editions have reached their end of support (Extended Support ended on October 14, 2025). Microsoft now directs users to newer versions (VS 2019, 2022) for security and stability.