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On Windows 11, .NET Framework 2.0, 3.0, and 3.5 are normally installed together as one feature named .NET Framework 3.5 (includes .NET 2.0 and 3.0). You do not install three separate packages.
The installation method depends on your Windows 11 release. On Windows 11 25H2 and earlier, .NET Framework 3.5 is a built-in optional Windows component. On Windows 11 26H1, build 28000, and later, Microsoft removed it from the Windows component store, so you must use the standalone installer for that specific Windows release.
Check your version before following the steps. Using the older Windows Features or DISM method on Windows 11 26H1 will not work.
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- Open Settings.
- Go to System > About.
- Scroll to Windows specifications.
- Note the Version and OS build values.
| Windows 11 release | Correct installation method |
|---|---|
| 25H2 and earlier | Windows Features, DISM, or Windows installation media |
| 26H1, build 28000, and later | Version-specific standalone .NET Framework 3.5 installer |
Microsoft’s current guidance is available in its .NET Framework 3.5 installation guide for Windows 11.
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Install .NET Framework 3.5 on Windows 11 25H2 and earlier
This feature includes .NET Framework 2.0 and 3.0, so enabling it provides all three framework versions required by many older applications.
Method 1: Use Windows Features
- Open Start.
- Type Turn Windows features on or off.
- Open the matching Control Panel result.
- Select .NET Framework 3.5 (includes .NET 2.0 and 3.0).
- Click OK.
- If Windows asks to download files from Windows Update, select Let Windows Update download the files for you or the equivalent confirmation.
- Wait for the installation to finish, then select Close.
The parent checkbox is the important one. You do not need to select separate entries for .NET Framework 2.0 and 3.0 because they are included under the .NET Framework 3.5 feature.
Method 2: Install it with DISM
DISM is useful when the graphical feature dialog fails or when you are configuring several computers. Open an elevated Command Prompt:
- Open Start and type Command Prompt.
- Right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
- Run this command:
DISM /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:NetFx3 /AllIn this command:
/Onlinetargets the Windows installation currently running./Enable-Featuretells DISM to enable a Windows component./FeatureName:NetFx3identifies .NET Framework 3.5./Allenables required parent features as well.
When DISM reports that the operation completed successfully, restart Windows if prompted and retry the application that required .NET Framework.
Method 3: Install from Windows installation media
If Windows Update cannot provide the feature files, use a mounted Windows 11 ISO or compatible installation USB. The media must match the installed Windows version and must contain the required payload in its sourcessxs folder.
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- Connect the Windows 11 installation USB or mount the ISO.
- Open This PC and note the drive letter assigned to the media. The example below uses
X:. - Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
- Run:
DISM /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:NetFx3 /All /Source:X:sourcessxs /LimitAccessReplace X: with the actual drive letter. For example, if the media appears as drive D:, use:
DISM /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:NetFx3 /All /Source:D:sourcessxs /LimitAccess/Source tells DISM where to find the .NET Framework payload. /LimitAccess prevents DISM from contacting Windows Update or configured update services. A path to the wrong folder, incomplete media, or media from a different Windows release can produce a source-missing error.
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Beginning with Windows 11 26H1, build 28000, .NET Framework 3.5 is no longer included as a Windows component. It cannot be enabled through Turn Windows features on or off, DISM, or another Windows component-management command.
- Confirm that Settings > System > About shows Windows 11 26H1 or a later supported release.
- Open Microsoft’s Windows 11 .NET Framework 3.5 installation page.
- Find the download specifically labeled .NET Framework 3.5 for Windows 11 26H1.
- Download the standalone installer.
- Run the downloaded installer and approve the User Account Control prompt.
- Follow the installation wizard and restart Windows if requested.
Do not substitute the older Windows Features procedure or a generic Windows 11 installation-media workaround. Microsoft states that the standalone installers are version-specific and work only with the Windows version for which they were provided.
Microsoft also provides a separate .NET Framework 3.5 Language Pack for Windows 11 26H1. Install a language pack only when your deployment or language requirements call for it; it is not a replacement for the main .NET Framework installer.
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Important IIS change in Windows 11 26H1
Installing .NET Framework 3.5 on Windows 11 26H1 does not restore every older IIS-related optional component. Microsoft removed these components from Features on Demand:
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- WCF non-HTTP Activation
If a legacy IIS application requires ASP.NET 3.5, Microsoft provides an Enable-ASPNet35.ps1 PowerShell script to restore ASP.NET 3.5 and .NET Extensibility 3.5 functionality. The underlying optional components remain absent, and DISM will not report them as installed.
Use the script from Microsoft’s Windows 11 .NET Framework 3.5 documentation rather than downloading a similarly named script from an unofficial website. Review the script and run it according to Microsoft’s instructions in an elevated PowerShell session.
Troubleshoot installation errors
| Error | What it usually means | What to check |
|---|---|---|
0x800F0906 |
CBS_E_DOWNLOAD_FAILURE: Windows could not download the required files. |
Check Windows Update access, proxy settings, firewall rules, network restrictions, and organizational update policies. |
0x800F081F |
CBS_E_SOURCE_MISSING: the required source files were not found. |
Verify the sourcessxs path, the media contents, read access, and that the media matches the installed Windows version. |
0x800F0907 |
CBS_E_GROUPPOLICY_DISALLOWED: policy prevents Windows from obtaining optional-component files. |
Review the Group Policy setting Specify settings for optional component installation and component repair. |
0x800F0922 |
A documented .NET Framework 3.5 installation failure. | Check source availability, permissions, Windows Update connectivity, and policy configuration. |
On a managed work or school computer, you may not be able to change the relevant policy. Contact the administrator instead of bypassing organizational update controls.
Repair a damaged Windows component store
If you are using Windows 11 25H2 or earlier and 0x800F081F persists even with a correct source, the Windows component store itself may be damaged. Open an elevated Command Prompt and run:
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- Transfer to drive up to 15 times faster than standard USB 2.0 drives(1)
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- Easy-to-use password protection for your private files(3) [(3)Password protection uses 128-bit AES encryption and is supported by Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, and Mac OS X v10.9+; Software download required for Mac, visit the SanDisk SecureAccess support page]
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
SFC.exe /ScannowRestart Windows after both commands finish, then try the appropriate .NET Framework installation method again. DISM records diagnostic information in:
C:WindowsLogsDISMdism.logDo not use component-store repair as a substitute for the standalone installer on Windows 11 26H1 and later. Those releases use a different .NET Framework delivery model.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Confirm that .NET Framework 3.5 is installed
On Windows 11 25H2 and earlier, reopen Turn Windows features on or off and check whether .NET Framework 3.5 (includes .NET 2.0 and 3.0) is selected. You can also use an elevated Command Prompt to query the Windows component:
DISM /Online /Get-FeatureInfo /FeatureName:NetFx3A successful result should show the feature state as enabled. This query applies to the Windows-component implementation used by 25H2 and earlier; it is not the correct confirmation method for the standalone-installer implementation on Windows 11 26H1 and later.
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Do I need to install .NET Framework 2.0, 3.0, and 3.5 separately?
No. On Windows 11 25H2 and earlier, enable the single feature named .NET Framework 3.5 (includes .NET 2.0 and 3.0). Windows 11 26H1 and later use the version-specific .NET Framework 3.5 standalone installer.
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Why can’t I find .NET Framework 3.5 in Windows Features?
If you are running Windows 11 26H1, build 28000, or later, Microsoft removed .NET Framework 3.5 from Windows component management. Download and run the standalone installer for that Windows release instead.
Can I use DISM to install .NET Framework 3.5 on Windows 11 26H1?
No. DISM can enable the feature on Windows 11 25H2 and earlier, but .NET Framework 3.5 is not a Windows component on 26H1 and later.
What does error 0x800F081F mean?
It means Windows could not find the required source files. On 25H2 and earlier, check that your installation media contains a readable, version-compatible sourcessxs folder. The error can also result from component-store corruption.
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Does installing .NET Framework 3.5 enable ASP.NET 3.5 in IIS?
On Windows 11 26H1 and later, not automatically. Microsoft removed several legacy IIS optional components, and ASP.NET 3.5 functionality requires the Microsoft-provided Enable-ASPNet35.ps1 script.
The Bottom Line
Use Windows Features or DISM for Windows 11 25H2 and earlier, with installation media as an offline fallback. If the computer is running Windows 11 26H1, build 28000, or later, skip those methods and install the version-specific standalone .NET Framework 3.5 package from Microsoft. The 3.5 feature/package includes the .NET Framework 2.0 and 3.0 components.
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