Visual Studio: Export and import settings

If you work in Visual Studio on multiple computers or if you share Visual Studio with someone else on the same computer, it is very handy to be able to import your personal Visual Studio settings. It is very disconcerting to work without your personal source code markup, custom keyboard shortcuts, and other personal settings. And, it is nice to have a backup, just in case Visual Studio or an update should lose your personal settings.

Contents 1 Export personal settings 2 Import personal settings

Export personal settings

Navigate to the Tools / Import and Export Settings… menus to access the Import and Export Settings Wizard.

Figure 1. Import and Export Settings Wizard

Be sure Export selected environment settings is checked. Then, click the Next button; and, the following screen will be displayed:

Figure 2. Select settings for export

Check off all the settings you wish to export. Then, click the Next button. In the next step, you will provide the name and location for the exported settings.

Figure 3. Enter a name and directory for the exported settings

After entrering the name and location of your settings, click the Finish button. The wizard will export your selected settings. Now, your personal Visual Studio settings are in a file which you can move to another computer and Import.

Import personal settings

Navigate the Tools / Import and Export Settings… menus to the Import and Export Settings Wizard.

Figure 4. Import and Export Settings Wizard

Check Import selected environment settings. Then, click the Next button; and, the following screen will be displayed:

Figure 5. Option to save the current settings

If you wish to save the current Visual Studio settings, check the Yes radio button and enter the name and directory for the settings to be saved. Otherwise, check No. In any case, click the Next button.

Next, you select the settings you wish to import. In this example, the previously exported settings file named Exported-2006-10-23.vssettings is selected.

Figure 6. Select the settings collection to import

Simply, select the individual settings you wish to import from the settings collection on the following screen:

Figure 7. Select indiviudal settings to import

Finally, click the Finish button; and, Visual Studio will import the settings.