How To Enable .NET Framework 2.0 and 3.5 in Windows 10 and Later
Have you tried to install apps on Windows 10 or 11 and you get an error saying it needs .NET Framework 2.0? Here’s how to enable previous version of .NET so you can install and use those programs.
While using later version of Microsoft Windows (Windows 8, Windows 10 and later), I’ve found that many older programs won’t install or run correctly because they require previous versions of the .NET Framework. Here’s how to enable support for those versions of the .NET Framework.
Some programs will want to download an older version of the .NET Framework, but this doesn’t work. You still need to enable it.
From the Windows 8 desktop, open the power user menu and select Control Panel. For
On Windows 10 and later (Windows 11 included), hit the Windows key, type: control panel, and choose the top result, Control Panel.
From the Control Panel, click Programs and Features.
When the Programs and Features window comes up, click Turn Windows Features On or Off.
Then check .NET Framework 3.5 (includes .NET 2.0 and 3.0) and click OK.
Next, you’ll need to Download files from Windows Update.
Wait while the previous versions of the .NET Framework are downloaded and installed.
A restart might be required. I enabled previous versions of .NET on three different Windows 8 systems, and my 32-bit version needed to be restarted.
Now, you can start using the programs that require the old versions of the .NET Framework.
56 Comments
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超 洪
August 1, 2012 at 10:02 pm
Why I install .net3.5 manual failed ? I download the .netframework 3.5 and copy to windows 8. I run the .net3.5 installation package. it also popup notice. But I want to install .net3.5 not require the network. any body gives some suggest?
Brian Burgess
August 2, 2012 at 3:04 am
Some programs will want to download an older version of .NET Framework, but this doesn’t work. You still need to enable it. So, you need to go through the process shown in this article to enable support for previous versions of .NET
Genius little boy
February 9, 2017 at 8:39 am
U should Enable windows update , try it it ll fix it propably
Luriflax
January 9, 2013 at 4:42 pm
Thanks, but… an application I’m trying to install requires .NET 2.0, and it won’t recognize the 3.5 with 2.0 included, it must have the standalone .NET 2.0 and nothing else. Now, when trying to install 2.0 standalone, it fails…. guess I’m outta luck.
Brian Burgess
January 9, 2013 at 11:59 pm
Have you tried to run it in Compatibility Mode? http://goo.gl/A3qQ
kaybabs
February 21, 2013 at 10:11 am
you too much. kudos
MUBEEN
March 3, 2013 at 6:30 am
i have downloaded .netframe work 3.5 but it was not installing even i enabled it in control panel
do u have any suggesstions please mail me
Brian Burgess
March 3, 2013 at 4:04 pm
@MUBEEN If you enable it with the instructions in this article, you don’t need to download and install it separately. Is that what you’re trying to do?
Belel
April 3, 2013 at 4:54 am
@Brain i tried the above procedures but its not working and its given me error code, am confused.
Belel
April 3, 2013 at 4:57 am
@Brain i tried the above procedures but its not working and its gives me error code, am confused.
Genius little boy
February 9, 2017 at 8:40 am
Bro , Listen u gotta turn on windows update , then it ll install for u
AlphaLion
February 12, 2017 at 8:55 pm
Yes Little Boy … You r a Genius.. I mean Excatly… you have to turn on Windows Update service to get an update out of it… For .Net 2.0 and 3.5….
UNIX
May 7, 2013 at 10:41 am
thnx dude….it worked just fine :)
yaqob
November 24, 2013 at 11:00 am
thank you for your guid
leri
January 17, 2014 at 1:16 pm
thnx
Bogdan
September 23, 2014 at 12:22 am
Thank you very much for this guide.
Clement
January 17, 2015 at 8:34 pm
how to upgrade window8 any one help
Ranjeet
February 15, 2015 at 11:10 am
hey
thanks for sharing
Chand
February 15, 2015 at 11:11 am
It’s really very nice post!
Billy
March 20, 2015 at 9:06 am
Thanks Mate,
Very helpful!
Mir Qasim
April 15, 2015 at 6:20 am
Thnx Dude It Workx Thnx Again & Again
Bittas
February 5, 2016 at 5:42 pm
I download a 198mb installer from Windows site, but still I can’t install it
SirTimbit
March 15, 2016 at 10:03 am
Sometimes this method doesn’t work with Windows 10. You may get an error that it can’t download the files. “Error 0x800F081F”
In that case you can still install .Net 2.x/3.x from your Win10 CD/ISO.
Go to a command prompt (with admin privs) and type the following:
Dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:NetFX3 /All /Source:D:\sources\sxs /LimitAccess
where source:D refers to the drive letter of your Windows source media/CD.
pierre
August 4, 2016 at 9:26 am
that worked for me on a Surface pro 4.
Thank you for the post.
dlatson
December 1, 2016 at 7:29 pm
Yes sir, thank you! worked great for me as I have been trying to install certain programs but the .net frame down load would always fail and error.
satyajit
February 11, 2017 at 10:32 pm
thank you so much.it worked,
i just mounted a windows 10 iso. then pasted this above command and it woked. :)
mk
August 23, 2016 at 6:09 am
how big is this this files
Alfred
August 27, 2016 at 5:58 am
my network frame 3.5 is not working on my computer and it always gives me errors Error code: 0x800F081F
Oka bRionZ
August 27, 2016 at 9:31 am
download the files. “Error 0x800F081F”
In that case you can still install .Net 2.x/3.x from your Win10 CD/ISO.
Go to a command prompt (with admin privs) and type the following:
Dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:NetFX3 /All /Source:D:\sources\sxs /LimitAccess
I used these methods to fix, it still not installing on my laptop
Don Schiff
October 7, 2016 at 8:15 am
This worked. Thank you.
MIke
October 14, 2016 at 9:57 am
And what if you don’t have a source CD/ISO? I get the same error code as the process above goes out to the internet to get some files. It says it has no internet access, but that is not true.
Danny
November 21, 2016 at 9:59 am
i am running windows 10..a program requires netframework 3.5..i have the latest version..if i dowmload and install 3.5 will it mess up myh computer? Thanks
John
September 4, 2017 at 11:08 am
Thanks, worked great!
musharaf
October 20, 2017 at 11:43 pm
sir net framework 2.0 is not working and not installing
Kenneth John Esada
November 2, 2017 at 8:01 pm
Thanks a lot! It helps. :) Cheers!
Antwi Frimpong Derrick
February 26, 2018 at 3:47 pm
Much appreciated.You have really helped me a lot
Ketim
August 23, 2018 at 9:19 am
Awesome! Thank you!
AP
November 27, 2018 at 6:14 pm
Thank you very much Brian. It worked
zeeshan
February 19, 2019 at 3:47 am
when i apply this method at my computer i get the error 0x80072ee6 and this is not install.
Yovs
February 26, 2019 at 12:28 am
I took advice with .NET 2.0 on Windows 10 – SUCCESFULLY
Alyssa
March 15, 2019 at 1:01 am
Just want to tell you, THANK YOU! It worked.
Nicolas
April 29, 2019 at 10:52 am
thank you!
greetings from Chile
Tolulope Stephen
May 21, 2019 at 9:48 am
please, the progressing bar doesn’t progress after i have click on download features required, what should be the problem
Ridha Aloina
October 4, 2019 at 11:59 pm
Thank you admin :* I’ve been crying a lot before it..
tim
November 28, 2019 at 4:14 am
worked fine on win 10 no problems, Thanks
Steve Krause
March 2, 2024 at 12:37 pm
Article updated. Thanks Tim for the feedback.
Steve
groovyPost
E
April 12, 2020 at 2:17 pm
Thanks Dude
Cs
April 25, 2020 at 6:18 am
Thank you. I wish all instructions were this clear.
Douglas
May 11, 2020 at 10:33 am
I was trying to load Sound Forge 10.0 into my Windows 10 Pro and the SF software kept telling me it needed MS Framework 2.0 to install and then abort.
So I followed your procedure and low and behold it installed without a hitch, works fine. Thanks for helping those who aren’t computer savvy.
tony Bhai
August 15, 2020 at 12:27 am
Thanks brother
Dr Murthy Remilla
December 11, 2021 at 11:31 am
excellent and simple solution.it solved my problem
Mrs. Hilloah Driskill
December 16, 2021 at 10:57 am
tHANK YOU VERY MUCH. OOPS CAPS ON.
Steve Krause
March 2, 2024 at 12:37 pm
No worries. Thanks for the feedback.
Jabez Rodarte
June 17, 2023 at 10:36 pm
UGH THANK YOU!!
Alan Keen
March 2, 2024 at 3:05 am
Thanks for this. Thought you and anybody else who comes here might like to know that this process still works for windows 11. I used it to re-install Bitmeter (from Codebox), which I find far superior to the more recent alternative programs available from the Microsoft Store. Thanks again for the clear instructions. I could not have done it without you!
Steve Krause
March 2, 2024 at 12:36 pm
Excellent! Thank you for the update Alan. I’ve gone ahead and updated the article after testing it myself.
Steve
groovyPost