4 Ways to Install NET Framework 3.5 on Windows 10 Offline and Online

 Sometimes we need to go back to some .NET version like 3.5 for something to work. But how do you install Net Framework 3.5 on Windows 10?

As a Windows user, you probably have at least come across the word “.NET Framework.” It is a software framework developed by Microsoft that allows users to build and run C#, C++, F#, and Visual Basic programs.

The latest .NET version is 4.8, but your computer may need an older .NET version (like .NET 3.5, .Net 4.5) to run some applications. Fortunately, installing .NET version 3.5 is pretty easy. So, let's explore how to install Net Framework 3.5 on Windows 10.

Is .NET Framework 3.5 Already Installed On PC?

Before we start installing .NET 3.5, it's a good idea to check if you have it installed before:

Is the .NET Framework 3.5 already installed on the PC

1. Press Win + R , type control, and press Enter to launch Control Panel.

2. Click Programs > Programs and Features.

3. From the left pane, select Turn Windows features on or off.

4. You will see . NET 3.5 at the top of the Windows features list. If the box next to .NET 3.5 is shaded in black, it's already installed.

Notice how the brackets say this version includes .NET 2.0 and 3.0. This means when you install .NET Framework 3.5, you can also run any application that requires .NET 2.0 and 3.0.

If the box next to .NET Framework 3.5 is not shaded in black, that means it is not installed on your computer. Thus, you can use any of the following three methods to install Net Framework 3.5 on your Windows 10.

How to Install .NET Framework 3.5

1. Install .NET 3.5 From Windows Features

If you follow the steps above to find out if your PC already has .NET 3.5. Just follow the steps in the previous section to enter Windows Features.

All you need to do is select the box next to .NET Framework 3.5 and press OK to exit the window. Windows will immediately start installing the .NET Framework 3.5, but you will need to restart your PC to complete the installation.

2. Install .NET 3.5 Using Windows Installation Media

If you don't have an internet connection on your PC, you can use a Windows DVD or a bootable flash drive to install .NET 3.5. It's pretty simple and doesn't take much time, provided you have Windows installation media handy.

Install .NET 3.5 Using Windows Installation Media

1. Insert the installation media into the PC and look at the drive letter assigned to it.

2. Press Win + R, type cmd, and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to run Command Prompt with admin privileges.

3. Run the command Dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:NetFX3 /All /Source:G:sourcessxs /LimitAccess.

4. In this example we assume that the installation media is assigned the drive letter G. Replace the letter G with the letter assigned to the drive in your system.

5. The installation will take a few minutes. When finished, restart your PC.

3. Install .NET Framework 3.5 Using Offline Installer

If you want to download right away, Microsoft has an offline installer for previous versions of the .NET framework on its dotnet website. However, before you browse and download any of the files, make sure you download a supported version of .NET.

Fortunately, Microsoft makes it very easy to download a supported version. When you access the download page, the website will automatically expand the list of supported versions and hide the unsupported ones. And you will find .NET 3.5 listed as a supported version, as shown below.

Install .NET Framework 3.5 Using Offline Installer

It's important to download a supported version, because Microsoft sets an “end of support” date for the software, after which it stops releasing updates for the software. Fortunately, at the time of writing, the .NET 3.5 expiration date was set for October 10, 2028, so you have plenty of time to put it to use.

After downloading the offline installer of the .Net Framework version of your choice, now all you have to do is install it. In most cases, the installation should go smoothly. However, sometimes, it can also cause errors.

4. Install .NET Framework 3.5 Using Command Prompt or PowerShell

If you want to get things done quickly, you can use the Command Prompt or PowerShell to download and install the .NET Framework 3.5 with a single command. Here's how to do it:

Install .NET Framework 3.5 Using Command Prompt Or PowerShell

1. Press Win + R, type cmd, and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to launch Command Prompt with admin privileges. If you want to use PowerShell, type powershell.

2. Run the command Dism /online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:”NetFx3" if you are using Command Prompt and run the command Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName “NetFx3” if you are using PowerShell.

3. This will trigger the installation. After the installation process ends, you can exit Command Prompt or PowerShell.

Confirmation Whether Installing .NET Framework 3.5 Was Successful

Once you have installed the .NET Framework, you can verify the successful installation by running the command in the Command Prompt.

Confirmation Whether Installing .NET Framework 3.5 Was Successful

1. Press Win + R, type cmd, and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to launch Command Prompt with admin privileges.

2. Run the command reg query “HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Net Framework Setup\NDP” /s.

3. You will see all versions of .NET Framework installed on your system.

.NET Framework 3.5 Installation Problem

There are several reasons why you may encounter problems installing the .NET Framework 3.5. For example, if your copy of Windows is not licensed, the .NET Framework will not be installed on your system. The only way out is to activate your current copy or get a new Windows 10 license.

The installation process also sometimes requires you to download some Windows updates, although this is more of an issue with newer versions of the .NET Framework.

If you have bought a PC at any time during the last 10 years, it is unlikely that it will support .NET Framework version 3.5. Regardless, you can always go ahead and check what version of .NET Framework will work on your OS.

The .NET Framework works on all Windows operating systems from Windows Vista onwards (i.e. Windows 7, 8, 8.1, and 10).

Checking Version of .NET Framework Working On OS

Conclusion

So that's how to install Net Framework 3.5 on Windows 10. Hopefully, you guys managed to install .NET 3.5 without any problems. You should now be able to run all programs that require 3.5. But don't forget, you also have to make sure that you have installed the latest version of the .NET Framework too.