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Step 1: Install the MSVC C++ Build Tools
Rust on Windows requires Microsoft's C++ build tools as a prerequisite. If you already have Visual Studio installed with the Desktop development with C++ workload, you can skip this step.
Otherwise, install the Microsoft C++ Build Tools and select the Desktop development with C++ workload.
Note
Use of the Microsoft C++ Build Tools requires a valid Visual Studio license (Community, Pro, or Enterprise). The Community edition is free for students, open-source contributors, and individuals.
Step 2: Install Rust
The official Rust installer, rustup, handles everything — the compiler, Cargo, and future updates.
After installation, open a new terminal and verify your setup:
cargo --version
rustc --version
Tip
To keep Rust up to date, run rustup update periodically.
Step 3: Install Visual Studio Code and the Rust extension
- Download and install Visual Studio Code.
- Install the rust-analyzer extension from the VS Code Marketplace. This adds code completion, inline errors, go-to-definition, and debugging support.
Next steps
- Rust for Windows, and the windows crate — call Windows APIs directly from Rust
- Rust in Visual Studio Code — detailed VS Code Rust workflow
- The Rust Programming Language book — the official free Rust book
Collaborate with us on GitHub
The source for this content can be found on GitHub, where you can also create and review issues and pull requests. For more information, see our contributor guide.
Windows developer