Clear Visual Studio licenses
- Multiple actionsThis page belongs to a category, containing some changes with similar goal.
- Windows onlyThis script improves your privacy on Windows
- Impact: HighSystem Functionality Loss Risk: High
This action improves privacy with high impact when you run the recommended script. - Batch (batchfile)These changes use Windows system commands to update your settings.
- 6 scripts
- Fully reversible
You can fully restore this action (revert back to the original behavior) using this website.
The restore/revert methods provided here can help you fix issues.
Overview
This category removes locally stored Visual Studio license information to enhance privacy.
Visual Studio is an integrated development environment (IDE) for writing, editing, debugging, and building code 1. It offers tools like compilers, code completion, and supports various programming languages and platforms 1.
Visual Studio stores a local copy of your license information 2 3 4 5. It remains even after uninstalling the software 2. This applies to both purchased products and free trials 3.
The stored data may include sensitive information such as:
Removing this information improves your privacy by eliminating potentially revealing data about your software usage and licensing status. It may also slightly improve system performance by freeing up storage space used for license data.
Removing the license information may require you to reactivate Visual Studio on the next use. You will need your license key and Microsoft account details for reactivation.
This script should only be used by advanced users.
This script is not recommended for daily use as it breaks important functionality.
Consider creating a system restore point before doing any changes.
Sources
- What is the Visual Studio IDE?. Microsoft Learn. learn.microsoft.com. (2024).
Original: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/visualstudio/get-started/visual-studio-ide
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240731003406/https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/visualstudio/get-started/visual-studio-ide?view=vs-2022 - How to change Visual Studio 2012,2013 or 2015 License Key?. Stack Overflow. (2023).
Original: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/12465361/how-to-change-visual-studio-2012-2013-or-2015-license-key
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20231124133613/https://stackoverflow.com/questions/12465361/how-to-change-visual-studio-2012-2013-or-2015-license-key - How to change Visual Studio 2012,2013 or 2015 License Key?. Stack Overflow. stackoverflow.com. (2023).
Original: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/12465361/how-to-change-visual-studio-2012-2013-or-2015-license-key/14810695
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20231124133613/https://stackoverflow.com/questions/12465361/how-to-change-visual-studio-2012-2013-or-2015-license-key/14810695#14810695 - VSCELicense/VSCELicense.psm1 at master · privacysexy-forks/VSCELicense. github.com. (2024).
Original: https://github.com/privacysexy-forks/VSCELicense/blob/master/VSCELicense.psm1
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240809125330/https://github.com/privacysexy-forks/VSCELicense/blob/master/VSCELicense.psm1 - privacysexy-forks/VSKeyExtractor: A small tool to extract the license key that was used to activate your local installation of Visual Studio. github.com. (2024).
Original: https://github.com/privacysexy-forks/VSKeyExtractor
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240731111715/https://github.com/privacysexy-forks/VSKeyExtractor
Apply Now
Choose one of two ways to apply:
Download script
Download and run the script directly- No app needed
- Offline usage
- Easy-to-apply
- Free
- Open-source
Maximum — Strongest Possible Privacy
- Military-grade privacy protection
- Major system impact
- Consider having system restore point.
Read more about Maximum and other protection levels
Help
How to apply "Clear Visual Studio licenses" using script
- ≈ 2 min to complete
- Tools: Web Browser
- Difficulty: Simple
- ≈ 5 instructions
- 1
Download
Download the script file by clicking on the button above. - 2
Keep the file
If warned by your browser, keep the file. - 3
Open
Open the downloaded file. - 4
Exit
Once it's done, press any key to exit the window. - 5
Restart
Restart your computer for all changes to take effect.
Apply with privacy.sexy
Guided, automated application with safety checks- Recommended for most users
- Includes safety checks
- Shows the code
- Free
- Open-source
- Popular
- Offline/Online usage
Help
How to apply "Clear Visual Studio licenses" using privacy.sexy
- ≈ 3 min to complete
- Tools: privacy.sexy
- Difficulty: Simple
- ≈ 4 instructions
- 2
Choose script
- Search for the category name: Clear Visual Studio licenses
- Check the category by clicking on the checkbox of the category.
- 3
Run
Click on ▶️ Run button at the bottom of the page.This button only appears on desktop version (recommended). On browser, use 💾 Save button.
Explore This Guide
- 6 Privacy settings
Choose what to protect based on your needs:This script already includes these options.
You can review, apply or reverse each option individually.
Click any option to learn more about what it does.
Some settings and commands may require technical knowledge to apply correctly.
Clear Visual Studio 2010 license
This script removes the license information for Visual Studio 2010. Visual Studio 2010 is an integrated development environment (IDE) by Micros...
Clear Visual Studio 2013 license
This script removes the license information for Visual Studio 2013. Visual Studio 2013 is an integrated development environment (IDE) by Micros...
Clear Visual Studio 2015 license
This script removes the license information for Visual Studio 2015. Visual Studio 2015 is an integrated development environment (IDE) by Micros...
Clear Visual Studio 2017 license
This script removes the license information for Visual Studio 2017. Visual Studio 2017 is an integrated development environment (IDE) created b...
Clear Visual Studio 2019 license
This script removes the license information for Visual Studio 2019. Visual Studio 2019 is an integrated development environment (IDE) developed...
Clear Visual Studio 2022 license
This script removes the license information for Visual Studio 2022. Visual Studio 2022 is an integrated development environment (IDE) by Micros...
Similar Guides
Wider Goal
Guides below includes this guide to achieve a wider goal.See other more general settings that includes this one as one of its actions.These plans combine multiple privacy settings, including this one, for stronger protection.
- Clear Visual Studio usage data
- Clear third-party application data
- Privacy cleanup
Visual Studio is an integrated development environment (IDE) from Microsoft that is used to develop software. Visual Studio store data such as your usage...
Same Goal
Another guide in Clear Visual Studio usage data See settings that are in the same category as this guide.Using other actions in the same category may help you achieve your goal better.
About the Creators
These people have authored this documentation and written its scripts:
undergroundwires- Certified security professional
- 7+ years experience securing banks
- Open-source developer since 2005
- EU advisor, Public Speaker, Moderator
- Open-Source Contributors
- Hundreds across the globe
- Testers, reviewers, developers
- Companies, military agencies
- Community since 2017
Reviewed By
This guide has undergone comprehensive auditing and peer review:Expert review by undergroundwires
- Verified technical accuracy and editorial standards
- Assessed system impact and user privacy risks
- Audited and verified using automated security tests
Public review by large community
- Privacy enthusiasts and professionals peer-reviewed
- Millions of end-users tested across different environments
- Audited and verified using third-party security software
History
We continually monitor our guides, their impact and other potential privacy options. We update our guides when new information becomes available. On every update, we publicly store who made the change, what has been changed, why the change was made and when the change was made.