.NET Framework Compatibility Overview

Understand the compatibility and lifecycle status of different .NET Framework versions to make informed decisions for your applications.

Understanding .NET Framework Versions

The .NET Framework has evolved over many years, with significant architectural and feature changes. Understanding which version your application uses and its current support status is crucial for maintenance, security, and migration planning.

.NET Framework 4.8

The latest major version of .NET Framework. It receives security and reliability updates and is supported on Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server 2019/2022.

Supported

Resources:

.NET Framework 4.7.x

This version is still part of the supported lifecycle on supported Windows versions, receiving security and critical updates. It's recommended to move to 4.8 where possible.

Supported

Resources:

.NET Framework 4.6.x

Security and critical updates are still provided for .NET Framework 4.6.2 and later on supported Windows versions. Older 4.6 versions are closer to end-of-life.

Maintenance

Resources:

.NET Framework 4.5.x

These versions have reached or are approaching their end-of-life support dates. For critical applications, migration to a supported version is strongly recommended.

End of Life

Resources:

.NET Framework 4.0, 3.5, 3.0, 2.0

Older versions of .NET Framework that are no longer actively supported with security updates. Running applications on these versions poses significant security risks.

End of Life

Resources:

Migration Strategies

For applications running on older or unsupported .NET Framework versions, consider migrating to modern .NET (.NET 6, 7, 8+). Modern .NET offers significant performance improvements, cross-platform support, and a continuous release cycle.

Refer to the official Microsoft documentation for detailed migration guides and best practices.

Key Considerations