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What’s vs_isoshell.exe (Microsoft Visual Studio 2015 Shell (Isolated))? Is it safe or a virus?

vs_isoshell.exe is an executable component of Microsoft Visual Studio 2015 Shell (Isolated), developed by Microsoft Corporation. It is designed to provide a standalone environment for running tools and applications that are built on the Visual Studio isolated shell.

This shell allows developers to create customized IDE-like applications without requiring the full version of Visual Studio. By using vs_isoshell.exe, applications can leverage a subset of Visual Studio features, such as window management and debugging support, in a self-contained manner. It is primarily used to extend the Visual Studio ecosystem and enable tailored development environments for specific use cases.

Researched by Carl @ SpyShelter Labs

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Who makes vs_isoshell.exe (Microsoft Visual Studio 2015 Shell (Isolated))?

We’ve found Microsoft Corporation should be the publisher of vs_isoshell.exe.

How do we know? Our SpyShelter cybersecurity labs focuses on monitoring different types of Windows PC executables and their behaviors for our popular SpyShelter Antispyware software. Learn more about us, and how our cybersecurity team studies Windows PC executables/processes.

What does it mean if someone is the publisher of a PC .exe (executable or process)?

The publisher of an executable is the entity responsible for its distribution and authenticity. Most processes/executables on your PC should be signed. The signature on the executable should have been verified through a third party whose job it is to make sure the entity is who it says it is. Find an unsigned executable? You should consider scanning any completely unsigned .exe on your PC.

Last updated: August 26, 2025

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Our team at SpyShelter has been studying Windows PC executables for over 15 years, to help fight against spyware, malware, and other threats. SpyShelter has been featured in publications like The Register, PC Magazine, and many others. Now we’re working to share free, actionable, and easy to understand information about Windows executables (processes) with the world, to help as many people as possible keep their devices safe. Learn more about us on our "About SpyShelter” page.

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