Have you tried to install certain programs on Windows 8 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 Windows 8 or Windows 10, 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.
On Windows 10, hit the Windows key, type: control panel, and choose the top result.
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.
Take an in-depth look at the best solutions created by our experts
by Ivan Jenic
Passionate about all elements related to Windows and combined with his innate curiosity, Ivan has delved deep into understanding this operating system, with a specialization in drivers and... read more
Updated on August 4, 2022
Fact checked by Alex Serban
After moving away from the corporate work-style, Alex has found rewards in a lifestyle of constant analysis, team coordination and pestering his colleagues. Holding an MCSA Windows Server... read more
- Do you have problems installing .NET Framework 3.5 or turning this feature on?
- It is a crucial part of many Windows apps, so learn how to do that from our guide below.
- Dive deep into the best solutions created by our experts to resolve this issue once and for all.
The .NET Framework 3.5 is an essential feature for running many Windows applications, but some users reported that it isn’t turned on in Windows 10 or is missing.
The .NET Framework is a crucial part of many applications running on Windows platforms. This feature provides the necessary functionality for these apps to run normally.
Logically, before installing these apps, we need to enable .NET Framework on our computer.
Dot NET Framework 3.5 is an essential component of Windows, and if the Dot NET Framework is missing, you might experience specific issues.
Speaking of .NET Framework, users reported the following problems:
- Microsoft Dot NET Framework 3.5 offline installer – To install Dot NET Framework 3.5, you need an active Internet connection, but you can also install this framework using the offline installer.
- NET Framework 3.5 error 0x800f0906, 0x800f0922, 0x800f081f – Sometimes you might not be able to install .NET Framework due to various errors. We already covered common .NET Framework 3.5 errors in one of our older articles, so check it out.
- Dot NET Framework 3.5 The following feature couldn’t be installed, The source files could not be found – Sometimes, you won’t be able to install .NET Framework due to these messages. However, you might be able to solve that problem by using one of our solutions.
- .NET Framework 3.5 unable to install – In some cases, you might not be able to install NET Framework at all. Your settings or corrupted files likely cause this, but you can quickly fix that.
What can I do if .NET Framework 3.5 is missing on Windows 10?
1. Install .NET Framework 3.5 as a Windows feature
- Press the Windows + R to open the Run command. Type appwiz.cpl and then press
Enter.
- In the Programs and Features window, click on the link Turn Windows features on or
off.
- Check if the .NET Framework 3.5 (includes .NET 2.0 and
3.0) option is available in it. If yes, then enable it and then click on
OK.
- Follow the on-screen instructions, complete the installation and restart the computer if the process requests that from you.
After that, the .NET Framework should start working again without any problems.
You can also get .NET Framework 3.5 from Microsoft.
2. Install .NET Framework 3.5 on-demand
Besides installing .NET Framework 3.5 through the Control Panel, you can also install it on-demand.
If a particular app requires the .NET Framework 3.5, but this feature isn’t enabled on your computer, the installation wizard will display the prompt for installing .NET Framework 3.5 on demand.
To install .NET Framework 3.5, choose the Install this feature option in the prompt, and .NET Framework 3.5 will be automatically installed on your computer.
3. Use the DISM command to install .NET Framework 3.5
- Press Windows + R to open the Run command, type cmd in the text field, and click
OK.
- Paste the following command and hit Enter to execute it:
DISM /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:NetFx3 /All /LimitAccess /Source:X:sourcessxs
To run this command, you’ll need to replace X with the letter representing the drive with installation media.
After running this command, you should be able to install .NET Framework 3.5 on your PC without any problems.
Remember that you might get a message saying you need administrative privileges to run this command. You must start Command Prompt as administrator and rerun this command if that happens.
Some users have reported that they get a specific error message after they try to install .NET Framework 3.5 through the Control Panel or on-demand.
To avoid this error, try to install .NET Framework 3.5 with the Command Prompt. Before you can do that, you might need a Windows 10 installation media.
4. Install the missing updates and try again
- Press Windows + I to open the Settings app
and navigate to the Update & Security
section.
- Next, click on Check for updates button.
- Windows 10 will now check for available updates and download them in the background.
After downloading and installing the latest updates, you should try to install .NET Framework 3.5 again.
Some PC issues are hard to tackle, especially when it comes to corrupted repositories or missing Windows files. If you are having troubles fixing an error, your system may be partially broken.
We recommend installing Restoro, a
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Click here to download and start repairing.
If .NET Framework 3.5 is missing in Windows 10 and you can’t install it, you might be able to fix the problem by downloading the latest Windows Updates.
Sometimes bugs can prevent specific components from installing, but you should be able to fix them by updating Windows 10.
If you’re having trouble opening Settings, the solutions are quite simple.
- 7 Easy Ways to Fix Machine Check Exception in Windows 10
- DLLRegisterserver Wasn’t Found on Windows 10: 4 Fixes to Try
5. Perform an SFC scan to fix .NET Framework 3.5 missing
- Press
Windows + X to open the Power User menu and choose Command Prompt (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin) from the list of
options.
- When Command Prompt
starts, enter the following command and hit Enter:
sfc /scannow
- Remember that an SFC scan can take about 15 minutes to finish, so don’t interrupt it.
Once the SFC scan is finished, try to install .NET Framework 3.5 again. You might also have to perform a DISM scan if it doesn’t work.
6. Perform a DISM scan
- Type Command Prompt in the Search bar, and click on Run as
administrator.
- Now paste the following command and hit Enter:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
- DISM scan will now start. The scan can take more than 15 minutes to complete, so be sure not to interrupt it.
Once you complete the DISM scan, try to install .NET Framework 3.5 again. Users reported that the DISM scan worked for them, but if you still can’t install .NET Framework, repeat the SFC scan and check if that solves the problem.
7. Use the lodctr command
- Press Windows + R to open Run, type cmd, and then hit
Ctrl + Shift +
Enter.
- Now, enter the following command and hit Enter:
lodctr /r
After the command is executed, the problem should be fixed, and you’ll be able to install .NET Framework 3.5 without any issues.
Many users reported that this solution worked for them, so if you have any problems installing .NET Framework, be sure to try this solution.
8. Change your Group Policy
- Press Windows + R, and enter gpedit.msc in the text field. Now press Enter or click OK. Keep in mind that this tool is available only on Pro versions of Windows 10, but there’s a way to
run Group Policy Editor on Windows Home
edition.
- When Group Policy Editor starts, navigate through Computer Configuration>
Administrative Templates >System in the left pane. Then, in the right pane, double-click on Specify settings for optional component installation and component
repair.
- Next, select Enabled and click on Apply and OK.
- Optional: Check Download repair content and optional features directly from Windows Update instead of Windows Server Update Services.
- After making these changes, you need to start Command Prompt as administrator and run the following command to apply the changes: gpupdate /force
Once done, you should be able to install the .NET Framework without issues.
9. Check your Action Center
- Press Window + S, type Control Panel in the Search bar and
click on the relevant search result.
- Here, make
sure that Category is selected in View by dropdown menu. Now navigate to System and Security
section.
- Now click on Review your computer’s status and resolve issues under Security and Maintenance.
- If you see any warnings, be sure to resolve them.
Once all issues are resolved, try to install .NET Framework once again.
If you still experience issues with .NET Framework on Windows 10, these should be easy to fix, given you follow a systematic and informed approach.
An app on your PC needs the following feature: .NET Framework 3.5
This error occurs whenever your PC can not identify your .NET Framework’s update and install it.
Fortunately, Windows has a built-in tool that allows you to check, download, and install the .NET Framework, so make sure to check out the available options.
Clicking the Download and install this feature will automatically complete the process, and the installation will require you only to accept the process and wait for a few minutes. This applies only if the installer works.
Here are some actions you can take to identify which App is requiring the .NET Framework:
- Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
- Run the following command by pressing Enter: Dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:NetFX3 /All /Source:X:\sources\sxs /LimitAccess
- Replace the X found in the Source element of the command above with the drive letter you installed Windows 10 from.
- The process will take a few minutes to run and present you with the message, The operation was completed successfully.
One of these steps should solve your problem with .NET Framework 3.5 in Windows 10.
Also, find out how to speed up your Windows 10 device and get better performance.
If something doesn’t work for you, or you have some additional questions, please leave your comment in the section below.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get .NET Framework 3.5 on Windows 10?
Can not install .NET Framework 3.5 Windows 10?
.NET Framework 3.5 can be installed just like any executable. You don’t even need Administrator rights in order to do so, as long as you have this dedicated tool.
Do I have .NET Framework 3.5 installed?