Information UPDATE: Windows 11 users can check this guide to enable .NET Framework 3.5.

.NET Framework 3.5 is the basic need for some apps you’ll use on your Windows 10 machine. Since these apps are written/coded with .NET language, hence you additionally need to enable .NET framework to run them. This framework is not enabled by default in Windows since the OS uses C, C++, C#, V# etc. language packages. So when you run any app requiring .NET Framework, you’ll receive this window:

An app on your PC needs the following Windows feature:

.NET Framework 3.5 (includes .NET 2.0 and 3.0)

How To Enable .NET Framework 3.0 On Windows 10

Thus to enable .NET framework, you click or tap Download and install this feature in above shown window. But if you notice this window carefully, there is a message at top that you’re on Metered Connection and will require additional charges for download. Also, enabling .NET framework is better processed by Deployment Image Servicing and Management Tool aka DISM tool. If you have Windows 10 ISO file with you, which you used for installation of the OS, you can use it to enable .NET framework in few seconds.

Here is the how-to part:

How To Enable .NET Framework 3.5 On Windows 10

1. Create a temporary folder under system root drive directory (i.e. if Windows is installed on C: drive, then create Temp folder such that its can be located at C:\Temp).

2. Locate the Windows 10 ISO file in File Explorer, right click on it and select Mount. Reboot the machine, you’ll find that ISO file is mounted to DVD drive with temporary drive letter. You can also or alternatively plug Windows 10 installation bootable USB like the way I did. Open this drive and open Sources folder. Copy the sxs folder now to temporary folder you’ve create in step 1.

How To Enable .NET Framework 3.0 On Windows 10

3. Now search for powershell in Windows and spot Windows PowerShell from search results. Right click on it and select Run as administrator.

How To Enable .NET Framework 3.0 On Windows 10

4. Finally, in the administrative or elevated Windows PowerShell, type following command and press Enter key:

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

* Substitute c:\temp with the temporary folder location we created in step 1.

How To Enable .NET Framework 3.0 On Windows 10

In few seconds, you’ll get The operation completed successfully message, which indicates the .NET Framework has been enabled on your system.

Check this video to illustrate above steps:

Run .NET Framework Repair Tool in case if you’ve any issue with .NET Framework.

That’s it! See this fix if you receive “The referenced assembly is not installed on your system” error while enabling .NET Framework.

To install .NET Framework 4.8 offline in Windows 10, see this guide.

Also check: .NET Framework 3.5 error 0x800F0954 in Windows 10.

101 Comments

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  • Luigi

    Another easyer method:Control Panel classic—-Programs&Features—-Turn Windows Features on or off(on the left side);on the right side a list will appear—tick the box,which refer to Net Framework 3.5.Windows will download&install the requested features

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Yeah, its also a good alternative if you have fast web connectivity :)

  • Luigi

    Yes,a decent internet connection is needed,because windows need via windows updates to download requested installer whose size is something like between 200 MB-250 MB.
    P.S.: I like your site

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ :)

  • Yaser

    very helpful
    Thanks

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Glad you find it helpful 😊

  • suhail azam

    Bro I am getting error 0x800f0907

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ What is the error message you got with this code?

  • suhail azam

    The source files could not be found

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ It seems you’ve not followed step 1 & 2. Try those steps, because they are for locating source files.

  • suhail azam

    Believe me bro I am following these steps

  • suhail azam

    microsoft-windows-netfx3-ondemand-package

    This is the file inside sxs

  • abdullah

    I just need to enable dotnet 3.5 for a software. i have windows 8.1 installed and my windows is not updating.tried your power shell solution but after each command i just get get the next command line .

  • Javiera Antonia

    Hello i know this is from like 2 years ago but i’m having this problem and i don’t know what to do, i did everything like it is in this guide, but it keeps apearing “Error :2 The source files could not be found” and i don’t know what to do, i know this guide it’s super old, but i really need help

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Try: https://www.kapilarya.com/download-microsoft-net-framework-repair-tool-for-windows-10

  • Ali

    Thank You So Much

  • iamxCPx

    Hi Kapil,
    I followed your guide and it was able to install it to 100% but then Error: 17.
    “The system cannot move the file to a different disk drive.”

    I have no clue why that is.
    Please advise and help.
    Appreciate it very much.

    Thank you.

  • iamxCPx

    Please disregard my comment above.
    User error on my part. Everything is working now because of your guide.
    Thank you so much!! Keep up the good work.
    Cheers.

  • Glenntikowp

    I don’t understand step 1 and step 2 , where I can found my iso file ? my windows 10 is installed when I buy this laptop, and I don’t have any cd or anything..

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ You can download latest ISO files here: https://www.kapilarya.com/download-latest-windows-10-iso-files

  • Amin Shirvani Far

    Thanks a lot Kapil

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Glad we could help 😎

  • paul

    Thanks to this!

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ 👍

  • Jessica

    Kapil, I know this article is quite old. but, im hoping for some help. I am trying to enable .net frameworks on my hp pavilion that comes with windows 10. when i go to enable .net frameworks, I get error 0x800703f1 “the configuration registry database is corrupt”. Im lost, and dont know what to do! just trying to start a new small business and need to get this on here asap! hope to hear from you. Thanks a bunch.

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Try in-place upgrade to deal registry database issue: https://www.kapilarya.com/how-to-repair-windows-10-using-in-place-upgrade

  • Alejandro

    I’m getting the” source files could not be found error” even thought I mounted the Windows ISO, and placed the sxs folder in the C:/temp folder. Any further suggestions?

  • Dale lloyd

    I got error 50 operation complete but netfx3 not enabled

  • Rajesh kale

    Error 87 shows

  • Chris H

    Thank you for providing this. Worked perfectly.

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Glad it worked 😊

  • Ginny

    Thanks you for this wonderful information. I spent a day looking for information while trying to sort this. This has worked perfectly. :-)

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Glad you find it useful 😊

  • Dave

    Great job, bro, finally got it to work! Thanks alot!

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Happy to help Dave 😎

  • ahmed

    thanks kapil bro

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ You’re most welcome!

  • ahsan

    I have windows 8.1

  • Eric Morgan

    Many many thanks. After trying other suggestions, some mentioned in the comments, this worked for me.

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Glad to help Eric 😊

  • Johnny

    I get Error code: 0x800736B3. Any ideas?

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Try .NET Framework Repair Tool: https://www.kapilarya.com/download-microsoft-net-framework-repair-tool-for-windows-10

  • ayman

    why this headache just to enable one feature. I hate MS and their solution.

  • Joe Feser

    Dead on dude, thanks for the info. Worked perfectly

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Glad to help Joe 😊

  • Andrew

    Every time I run the dsim powers he’ll command I get an error saying the files could not be found. I followed all the steps including making the temp folder and copying the files from the ads folder to it into my :C: drive.

  • Jon

    I couldn’t get this to work until applying the ‘dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:NetFX3 /All /Source:c:\temp\sxs /LimitAccess’ command.
    All working fine now, thanks!

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Glad you sorted the issue 😊

  • Greg

    Hi Kapil,
    practically my last chance is, when I call you with the issue regarding my system and ask your help.
    My system is W10Pro(1834) with two uncommon ‘features’:
    – it is installed (and boots from) a VHD
    – I use directory junctions for the followings:
    ‘%systemroot%\Windows10Upgrade’
    ‘%systemroot%\Windows\Installer’
    ‘%systemroot%\Windows\SoftwareDistribution’
    ‘%systemroot%\Windows\WinSxS’
    ‘%userprofile%\AppData\Local’
    because of theirs extremely aggressive demand for storage capacity. Linked directories are placed to a separate physical drive (not just into a different partition).
    Well, I know, that MS does not support (why?) update to VHDs. And it seems that the situation is the same for enabling .net feature, because I tried all methods, what I found for installing .net3.5, but the latest achievable result was a 0x80070011 error: “the installer cannot relocate the directory”. I was not able to repair this error with any of different ways usually suggested to repair the widows update error issue.

    So I ask for your kind opinion, whether am I right, and enabling windows feature is neither supported on VHDs. BUT I hope, I’m wrong and you can suggest a solution. Thanks!

  • Jordan S

    This did not work for me. I got Error: 2 (The system cannot find the file specified). This is a pretty old post, so I don’t expect much response.

  • satrohan

    Took about 50 mins from start to finish –did not need to reboot after mounting folder .
    Bit following the rest of instructions worked great –Thank you

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Glad it helped you!

  • Meth

    Tried lots of tut to fix my problem. so glad it worked with my win 8.1. thanks a lot!

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Glad to help Meth 😎

  • Hector Condori

    me funcionó a la perfección, para quienes les salia error al activar por el panel de control en el momento de descargar de internet, éste sitio es recomendado.

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Happy to help Hector 😊

  • NoBad

    PS C:\Windows\system32> dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:NetFX3 /All /Source:c:\temp\sxs /LimitAccess

    Strumento Gestione e manutenzione immagini distribuzione
    Versione: 10.0.17763.1

    Versione immagine: 10.0.17763.292

    Attivazione funzionalità
    [==========================100.0%==========================]

    Errore: 0x800f081f

    Bad bad o.s.
    Unfortunately the only commercial …

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Refer: https://www.kapilarya.com/dism-error-0x800f081f-the-source-files-could-not-be-found-windows-10

  • Akash Mak

    This is great, thanks Kapil

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Glad to help Akash!

  • Brian

    So, even this is taking forever to do. Any suggestions? I need the .NET 3.5 for a game I play. I don’t recall it being an issue like this for my last computer. (P.S. – Using Windows 10 Pro)

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Have you tried steps mentioned in article? Let me know if any step didn’t worked for you.

  • Jamie

    All the advice on the net, nothing worked, that finally did the trick. Hate when Microsoft knows a problem exists and does nothing to provide the average user an ability to correct.

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Glad we could help Jamie 😊

  • UNCOS

    Thank you!

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ You’re most welcome 😎

  • RasKim

    Thank a lot, I had issue installing Autocad Civil 2014 though the tips above helped me install netframe 3.5 in windows 10

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Glad to help RasKim!

  • Cafer Karagoz

    Thank you for your help.

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Glad we could help Cafer!

  • sadathali

    how can we install offline without internet connection
    and where can i get the ISO file ( it is missing )

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ This DISM method can also be used offline. You can download ISO file using links provided here: https://www.kapilarya.com/download-latest-windows-10-iso-files.

  • John Cena

    for those who are getting the source cannot be found error try removing the /limitaccess from the command. this worked for me.

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Thanks for adding this!

  • karl

    02 October 2019: Bravo! This procedure worked.

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Thanks Karl, glad it worked for you!

  • g

    Thank you this worked perfectly!

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Thanks for your comment.

  • Joe M Martinez

    Hey Kapil, I’ve done all the steps but I keep getting stuck on “Enabling feature(s)” with no progress at all. What should I do?

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Which version you’re on? Make sure you download the ISO file from official Microsoft page.

  • mrbd

    I,m getting the error 87 while running the command on PowerShell
    Error: 87

    The all/source option is not recognized in this context.
    For more information, refer to the help.

    The DISM log file can be found at C:\Windows\Logs\DISM\dism.log

  • Zaghrah

    Salaam Kapil Arya

    Im still struggling. Can you please asssit?
    Error: 740

    Elevated permissions are required to run DISM.
    Use an elevated command prompt to complete these tasks.

  • svs

    In some website isnt mention about the non meter connection is required to download the download the update.

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Thanks for adding it!

  • tom quentin

    I continue to get DISM failed error:0x800f0922. Been working on this for 3 days. I even went to MS and downloaded the ISO to my hard drive. Any thoughts?

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Open administrative Command Prompt and type following commands one-by-one followed by Enter key.
    net stop wuauserv
    net stop cryptSvc
    net stop bits
    net stop msiserver
    Ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
    Ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 Catroot2.old
    net start wuauserv
    net start cryptSvc
    net start bits
    net start msiserver
    Close Command Prompt and retry enabling .NET Framework.

  • Diego

    I follow all the steps, and all these steeps: superuser.com/questions/1086646/failure-to-install-net-3-5-on-windows-10-error-800f0922. Finally I tried with Microsoft .NET Framework Repair Tool too. Nothing works, the propmt still say files not found (0x800f081f error)

  • Beckie Whiting

    I followed the steps and when it finished enabling the features it says that the configuration registry database is corrupt.

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Run Windows Update troubleshooter. If it doesn’t works, reset update components using Method 2 here: https://www.kapilarya.com/windows-updates-troubleshooting.

  • Edward Salcedo

    Hello Kapil,

    I am stuck at enabling feature for hours. any thoughts?

    PS C:\Windows\system32> dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:NetFX3 /All /Source:c:\temp\sxs /LimitAccess

    Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
    Version: 10.0.17763.771

    Image Version: 10.0.17763.805

    Enabling feature(s)

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Make sure you’ve followed steps 1 & 2 exactly.

  • ChoK

    High Five!!!

    Thank you!

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Glad to help!

  • John

    help my power shell is stuck at “Enabling feature(s)”

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Wait, or retry the command. Make sure you use the correct source location and source files remain present on system.

  • DdbanerjE

    Kapil please help . Error code 0x8000ffff.. tried every possible way

  • COURAGE

    Great. Your remedy worked on mine. Thanks so much.

  • Kapil Arya

    Glad to help!

  • Brad

    gets stuck at 93.4% when enabling features. any suggestions?

  • Brad

    Nevermind i got it! Thank you!

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Glad to help!

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