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How to enable or install .NET Framework 3.5 on Windows 11/10

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In my recent post, I’ve touched upon the .NET Framework in Windows OS. Every Windows version has a .NET Framework version installed and enabled by default. In Windows 11/10, .NET Framework 3.5 is disabled by default. But many programs still require .NET 3.5 to run. If you try to require some software or app which requires .NET Framework 3.5, you might face the following message:

An app on your PC needs the following Windows features. .NET Framework 3.5 (Includes .NET 2.0 and 3.0)

.NET Framework 3.5 missing? Enable it

Now to enable it, you have to move to Windows Feature. This can be accessed via Control Panel >  Programs and Features.

If you don’t have a strong internet connection on your system, the download of required files may take a bit long time, and thus the overall process becomes lengthy.

If you try to download the full setup of .NET, it is 291 MB in size, and you will obviously need a fast connection to do it quickly.

Install .NET Framework 3.5.1 on Windows 11/10

1. Open the .iso file of Windows OS with a compression/decompression software like 7-Zip. Open the Sources folder and find sxs folder. Now copy this folder to the following location:

C:\Temp

2. Next, run the Command Prompt as administrator, and type the following command:

dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:NetFX3 /All /Source:c:\temp\sxs /LimitAccess

That’s it!

Now reboot and check the Windows Feature window again. You’ll see the first option is automatically checked.

You will now also be able to run software or app which requires .NET (like AutoCAD. etc.), without any problems.

KapilArya@TWC

An Electrical Engineer by profession, Kapil is a Microsoft MVP and a Windows Insider MVP. Please read the entire post & the comments first & create a system restore point before making any changes to your system.

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Comments

  2. Saeed Kheiree says

    i log into windows 8 with built-in administrator account but i can’t run metro apps. can you help me?

  4. Phrozencrew2020 says

    Thanks Kapil!!! Now I My old programs works… Great tutorial… any way this problem has already been solved in developer preview version. Thanks… :)

  6. Saeed Kheiree says

    Yes, UAC are adjusted to always notify level… but when click on metro-tiles show message that “you must sign-in with another account and try again.”

  7. Saeed Kheiree says

    When i login with a standard user, i can access to metro apps. but when login with administrator built-in account i can’t use metro apps.

  8. Ramki Chowdary says

    But i got an error like this………….

    C:Windowssystem32>dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:NetFX3 /All /Source:c:tempsxs/LimitAccess

    Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
    Version: 6.2.8250.0

    Image Version: 6.2.8250.0

    Enabling feature(s)
    [===========================65.8%====== ]

    Error: 0x800f0906

    The source files could not be downloaded.
    Use the /source option to specify the location of the files that are required to restore the feature. The file location should be either the root dire
    ctory of a mounted image or a component store that has the Windows Side-by-Side directory as an immediate subfolder.

    The DISM log file can be found at C:WindowsLogsDISMdism.log

  10. Ramki Chowdary says

    But this procedure works for me……….

    ”

    Update: Here is how to enable .Net 3.5.1 on offline systems.

    All you need is windows 8 CP installation media,

    First of all create “net35? folder in C drive.

    Now open command prompt using Win +R, type and execute the following

    command line

    xcopy H:sourcessxs*.* c:net35 /s

    where H is DVD drive, it takes sometime for all files to copied you need to be

    patient.

    After all files are copied open command prompt with admin privileges and

    type and execute following command line

    Dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:NetFX3 /All /Source:c:net35

    /LimitAccess ”

    But, i want to know is, What is the difference between these two?

  11. Help says

    it says…..”Error 14028
    A component’s file does not match the verification information present in the component manifest”

    Can u help me?

  15. guest says

    for 64-bit system? I installed by Setup so I don’t have the iso file with Windows 8.

  22. SD says

    i download the offline installer of .net framework 3.5 231 Mb but when i run it, windows says:-

    an app on your pc needs following window feature

    net framework 3.5

    install this feature

    skip the instalation

    help me

  23. Virus says

    C:Windowssystem32>dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:NetFX3 /All /Source:c:tempsxs/LimitAccess

    this code is work when you have already downloaded the netfx3 from net..

  24. Superstar192009 says

    I have followed these steps a 100 times referring to almost every site but still unable to use this feature. Every time I get an error “Source file could not be downloaded, error 0x800f0906” help me out with this as i want to change FIFA 13 settings which require dotnet 3.5.

  29. Martin Söderlund says

    This helped me. Nothing else worked! I had to copy to hard drive and then use that source to make it work.

    Thanks a lot!

  35. Brutal says

    Thank you soooo much for this been trying to do this for 2 days using dism but direct from the installation media witch failed so again thanks

  39. somen says

    hey it perfectly worked for me after scouring the net for this problem for two days and spending around 500mb data trying to download the .netfx redistributables. thank you for sharing !!

  40. Aakash Agnihotri says

    Hi Kapil,
    I have installed .NET 3.5 Framework cause I couldn’t use Nitro PDF or IDM. I don’t have iso of Windows 8 or 8.1 (I’m running on 8.1) Is there anyway I can use the abovementioned programs without any hassle?
    Please help me

  41. OmaJohn says

    Reviving a dead thread because it’s still an issue today.

    I think Udiee is saying all three are causing errors.

    My spacing is correct, and I’m getting the following:
    ———————————————————————————————
    C:WINDOWSsystem32>Dism /enable-feature /featurename:NetFx3 /All /Source:G:sou
    rcessxs /LimitAccess

    Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
    Version: 6.3.9600.17031

    Error: 87

    The enable-feature option is unknown.
    For more information, refer to the help by running DISM.exe /?.

    The DISM log file can be found at C:WINDOWSLogsDISMdism.log

    C:WINDOWSsystem32>DISM /Online /FeatureName:NetFx3 /All /LimitAccess /Source:g
    :sourcessxs

    Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
    Version: 6.3.9600.17031

    Image Version: 6.3.9600.17031

    Error: 87

    The featurename option is unknown.
    For more information, refer to the help by running DISM.exe /?.

    The DISM log file can be found at C:WINDOWSLogsDISMdism.log
    ———————————————————————————————

    I haven’t found a solution yet, but since the original author is probably offering that they’re getting all three errors, I believe your response about checking whitespace is misplaced.

    In my case, it certainly is. Machine is recently reinstalled on a new SSD, I don’t have any recollection of how I originally got it to work. No useful information on what’s actually broken, either.

    I did remove my WSUS configuration so Windows Update runs from the Microsoft servers, to no avail. Something to try, though.

  44. regis says

    please help me d ont work for me say it error 87 and the log file can t be found at windowslogdismdism.log

  46. DardaniaLion says

    The question here is this. Why on earth would stupid giant company like Microsoft create a Windows without this software enabled?

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