How-To

Windows 10 Tip: Install and Troubleshoot .NET Framework

By Andre Da Costa

Updated June 24, 2021

While using Windows 10, some programs won’t install or run correctly because they require older versions of .NET Framework. Here’s how to fix the problem.

The Microsoft .NET Framework is a software environment for building a variety of applications for Windows. Many popular applications use it to function, and some apps require a specific version of the .NET Framework runtime to work. Windows 10 includes support for version 2 .0 and later above. Here we’ll take a look at how to enable and troubleshoot the installation.

Sometimes older applications won’t install or run correctly because they require the older .NET runtime versions. However, Windows 10 doesn’t have them enabled by default, which is a problem you might have. Here we’ll take a look at how to enable and troubleshoot the installation.

Enable the .NET Framework in Windows 10

If the .NET Framework version a program needs is not installed, you’ll get an error message like the one shown below. The application error message will usually detail the version that’s required. The .NET 3.5 included with Windows 10 includes the full installation package, which includes the full runtime installation packages for .NET 2.0 and 3.0 for previous versions of Windows. So there is no need to download an older version if your application requires it.

First, press Windows key + R and type: optionalfeatures.exe and hit Enter. The Turn Windows Features On or Off dialog will come up. Expand .NET Framework 3.5 (includes .NET 2.0 and 3.0). Check off both Windows Communication Foundation HTTP Activation and Windows Communication Foundation Non-HTTP Activation. Click OK to begin the installation.

Next, click Download files from Windows Update and wait while the files are downloaded and installed.

When the install is complete, close out of the installation and restart your PC. That’s it. Now you can start using the programs that require the old versions of the .NET Framework.

Troubleshooting .NET Framework Installation

Sometimes installing .NET Framework can prove difficult because of various factors such as damaged system files or no active Internet connection. So let’s start with the first option, which is to repair the appropriate files used to facilitate the installation of the .NET Framework.

The first thing you’ll need is access to your Windows 10 install media. If you don’t have it, check out our article on how to download the ISO file. Then, proceed to insert your Windows 10 disc or mount the Windows ISO file. For more on using ISO files in Windows 10, please read our article: How to Mount and Burn ISO Files in Windows 10.

Press Windows key + X to bring up the hidden power user menu and select Command Prompt (Admin).

Now you need to enter the following command:

DISM /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:NetFx3 /Source:d:\sources\sxs /All /LimitAccess

Restart your computer, then try enabling .NET Framework again. If the problem persists, the next option you can attempt is a PC repair upgrade using Advanced startup. Using the Windows 10 ISO or install disc, launch setup and follow the on-screen instructions. A repair upgrade is similar to an in-place upgrade; you are replacing damaged system files with fresh ones from the install media.