SharePoint Subscription Edition, Offline Prerequisite Installation

Microsoft has simplified the installation of SharePoint Server Subscription Edition (SE) compared to previous versions, a significant improvement for administrators. However, it is important to note a new prerequisite introduced with the March 2023 update (version 23H1, 16.0.16130.20206): because the software was recompiled with the Visual C++ 2022 compiler, the Visual C++ Redistributable Package for Visual Studio 2015-2022 (in lieu of the 2015-2019 version) has since become the new prerequisite for subsequent SE installations. Currently the latest major feature release is 25H2 (Sept. 2025).

Recently I had to install SE offline with the latest cumulative updates, so I pre-downloaded the Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable and the March 2026 CU (KB5002843, 16.0.19725.20076) for slipstreaming. That process exposed a bit of SharePoint pain. Two things:

1. (Minor) The Visual C++ Redistributable file name is the same between the old and new packages - VC_redist.x64.exe - which makes it easy to download or stash the wrong version by accident:

• New (post-23H1): Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable (x64), https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=2224881
• Old (pre-23H1): Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2015-2019, https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=2130438
• Source: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepoint/install/software-requirements-for-sharepoint-servers-for-sharepoint-server-subscription-edition#software-prerequisites

2. (Major) Even after placing and executing the 2015-2022 version, the SharePoint Prerequisite Installer UI (PrerequisiteInstaller.exe) shows the old 2015-2019 package as being installed:

PowerShell used, snippet:

$arguments = "/unattended /DotNet48:$installRoot\Files\Prereqs\ndp48-web.exe /MSVCRT142:$installRoot\Files\Prereqs\VC_redist.x64.exe"
Write-Host "Starting SharePoint prerequisite installation..." -ForegroundColor Cyan
$process = Start-Process -FilePath "D:\SpseInstallMedia\PrerequisiteInstaller.exe" -ArgumentList $arguments -Wait -PassThru

Although the prereq installer displays the wrong version of Visual C++ Redistributable, Programs and Features shows the correct version after installation:

To be fair, the Microsoft doc does state, "This new software prerequisite won't be installed by the prerequisiteinstaller.exe tool but by the SharePoint Server Subscription Edition Version 23H1 feature update if it isn't already installed." Hence, this could explain why the slipstreamed installation won't update the message on the prereq installer. However, what makes this process a bit more confusing is that when I installed the latest CU separately (March 2026, KB5002843) after installing RTM v.16.0.14326.20450, it still didn't install the new prereq (2022 Visual C++). This is unexpected as Feature Updates are supposed to be included in CUs/PUs:

The reboot after the installation made no difference. 

If you’re preparing the latest SE installs offline, double-check which VC_redist.x64.exe you’ve downloaded and don’t be confused by the message on the prerequisite-installation progress GUI. With SharePoint 2016 and 2019 reaching end of life on July 14, 2026, hopefully these issues won’t affect farm administrators migrating to SE as much as they affected me.