.NET Framework (and .NET Standard) Compatibility List with Operating Systems

dotnet-framework-and-dotnet-standard-compatibility-list-with-operating-systems.md

.NET Framework (and .NET Standard) Compatibility List with Operating Systems

This summary/conclusion will not be updated anymore. I have switched to .NET 5 completely, which runs on Windows 7 SP1 and newer.

For class libraries, I will use the targets .NET Standard 1.1, 2.0 and 2.1 at the same time, together with .NET Framework 2.0 and 4.0. Applications on the other hand will always targeted to .NET 5.0 only.

Recommended minimum system requirements

Operating System

• Windows 7 with Service Pack 1 installed,
• Windows 8.1 (Windows 8.0 is not supported),
• Windows 10 (starting with Update Anniversary 2016 (build 1607) installed or newer),
• Windows Server 2008 R2 with Service Pack 1 installed,
• Windows Server 2012 (64-bit edition only)
• Windows Server 2012 R2
• Windows Server 2016
• Windows Server (starting with build 1709 or newer)
• Windows Server 2019

Hardware

• Processor: 1 GHz
• Random-Access Memory (RAM): 512 MB
• Hard Disk Storage: 4.5 GB

Windows Version Market Share (Desktop)

December, 2020. Raw data from GlobalStats: Desktop Windows Version Market Share Worldwide.

Windows Version	Market Share	Trend
10*	75.68%	⏬ Decreasing
8.1	3.95%	⏫ Increasing
8.0	1.10%	⏫ Increasing
Vista	0.41%	⏫ Increasing
7*	18.03%	⏫ Increasing
XP	0.80%	⏫ Increasing
Other	0,03%	⏬ Decreasing

_{*: Relevant (>= 5%) operating system version.}

Supported .NET Framework Operating Systems

Desktop Operating Systems

Operating System	Preinstalled	Installable	.NET Standard	Download
Windows XP SP3	none	4.0.0	none - none	highest installable
Windows Vista SP2	none	4.6.0	none - 1.3	highest installable
Windows 7 SP1	none	4.8.0	none - 2.0	highest installable
Windows 8	4.5	4.6.1	1.1 - 1.4	highest installable
Windows 8.1	4.5.1	4.8.0	1.2 - 2.0	highest installable
Windows 10, build 1507	4.6	4.6.2	1.3 - 1.4	highest installable
Windows 10 November 2015, build 1511	4.6.1	4.6.2	1.4 - 1.4	highest installable
Windows 10 Anniversary 2016, build 1607	4.6.2	4.8	1.4 - 2.0	highest installable
Windows 10 Creators 2017, build 1703	4.7	4.8	1.4 - 2.0	highest installable
Windows 10 Fall Creators 2017, build 1709	4.7.1	4.8	1.4 - 2.0	highest installable
Windows 10 April 2018, build 1803	4.7.2	4.8	2.0 - 2.0	highest installable
Windows 10 October 2018, build 1809	4.7.2	4.8	2.0 - 2.0	highest installable
Windows 10 May 2019, build 1903	4.8	4.8	2.0 - 2.0	highest installable

Server Operating Systems

Operating System	Preinstalled	Installable	.NET Standard	Download
Windows Server 2008 SP2	none	4.6	none - 1.3	highest installable
Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1	none	4.8.0	none - 2.0	highest installable
Windows Server 2012 (64-bit edition)	4.5	4.8.0	1.1 - 2.0	highest installable
Windows Server 2012 R2	4.5.1	4.8.0	1.2 - 2.0	highest installable
Windows Server 2016	4.6.2	4.8.0	1.4 - 2.0	highest installable
Windows Server, version 1709	4.7.1	4.7.2	2.0 - 2.0	highest installable
Windows Server, version 1803	4.7.2	4.8.0	2.0 - 2.0	highest installable
Windows Server, version 1809	4.7.2	4.8.0	2.0 - 2.0	highest installable
Windows Server 2019	4.7.2	4.8.0	2.0 - 2.0	highest installable

References

• .NET Standard Versions
• Supported client operating systems
• .NET Framework deployment guide for developers