How to Install the .NET Framework 3.5 on Windows 10

Windows 10 comes with the .NET Framework 4.6 pre-installed. However, if you need support for previous generation applications, the .NET Framework 3.5 (which also includes .NET 2.0 and 3.0) must be installed manually.

This article describes how to perform an offline installation of the .NET Framework 3.5 from your Windows 10 installation media.

While you can install the .NET Framework 3.5 through the Turn Windows features on or off screen, Windows 10 will download all the required source files from Microsoft via the Internet. There is no option to specify the use of local installation media to copy the required source files from.

Thankfully there are two almost identical command-line methods for performing an offline installation of the .NET Framework 3.5 on Windows 10:

• DISM
• Windows PowerShell

Both of these methods allow you to specify a local path to the required Source files, rather than needing to download them via the Internet.

The following examples refer to a Source path of D:\sources\sxs. This path is specific to the location of your Windows 10 DVD or USB installation media, and if your drive letter or path is different then you will need to adjust it accordingly.

For example, if your DVD or USB device is G: drive, then the Source path would be G:\sources\sxs

DISM

1. Press Windows key + S. The Search window will be displayed.
2. Type Command Prompt. Search results for Command Prompt will be displayed.
3. Right-click on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator from the context menu. A User Account Control window will be displayed.
4. Click Yes. A Command Prompt window will be displayed.
5. Install the .NET Framework 3.5 using the following command:

   DISM /Online /Add-Capability /CapabilityName:NetFx3~~~~ /Source:D:\sources\sxs

   Remember to change the Source path as required.

   The command will produce output similar to the following:

   Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
   Version: 10.0.14393.0
   
   Image Version: 10.0.14393
   
   [==========================100.0%==========================]
   The operation completed successfully.

   The .NET Framework 3.5 is now installed!

Windows PowerShell

1. Press Windows key + S. The Search window will be displayed.
2. Type PowerShell. Search results for Windows PowerShell will be displayed.
3. Right-click on Windows PowerShell and select Run as administrator from the context menu. A User Account Control window will be displayed.
4. Click Yes. A Windows PowerShell window will be displayed.
5. Install the .NET Framework 3.5 using the following command:

   Add-WindowsCapability –Online -Name NetFx3~~~~ –Source D:\sources\sxs

   Remember to change the Source path as required.

   The command will produce output similar to the following:

    Operation
       Running
       [oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo]

   Path          :
   Online        : True
   RestartNeeded : False

   The .NET Framework 3.5 is now installed!