Cannot get started with rust and vscode

help
1

Followed the docs to get started, on windows 11.

rustup did download VS community installer and install build tools as part of its rust install process.

rustc --version works

rustc --version
rustc 1.93.1 (01f6ddf75 2026-02-11)

from within the same terminal rustc main.rs fails:

rustc main.rs
error: linker `link.exe` not found
  |
  = note: program not found

note: the msvc targets depend on the msvc linker but `link.exe` was not found

note: please ensure that Visual Studio 2017 or later, or Build Tools for Visual Studio were installed with the Visual C++ option.

note: VS Code is a different product, and is not sufficient.

error: aborting due to 1 previous error

I see the build tools are installed though.

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If I need something else - it hasn't been explained from here: Installation - The Rust Programming Language

I am not the first user to hit this issue but the only "answer" I have seen is to switch to the gnu toolchain - if thats necessary then it should perhaps be highlighted or the windows install experience for rust, changed?

2

At some point in the installation, you’ll be prompted to install Visual Studio. This provides a linker and the native libraries needed to compile programs. If you need more help with this step, see MSVC prerequisites - The rustup book.

Did you follow this step as well?

If so, try to restart your terminal.