How to Enable .NET Framework 3.5 and 4 Using PowerShell and DISM (2026)

Many older applications and Windows features require .NET Framework 3.5, which is not installed by default on Windows 10, Windows 11 and Windows Server. This guide covers how to install and enable .NET Framework 3.5 and 4 using PowerShell, DISM and SCCM in 2026.

Check Which .NET Versions Are Installed

Get-ChildItem "HKLM:SOFTWAREMicrosoftNET Framework SetupNDP" -Recurse |
    Get-ItemProperty -Name Version, Release -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue |
    Where-Object { $_.PSChildName -match "^(?!S)p{L}" } |
    Select-Object PSChildName, Version, Release |
    Format-Table -AutoSize

Install .NET 3.5 Online (Internet Required)

# Windows Server
Install-WindowsFeature -Name NET-Framework-Core

# Windows 10/11
DISM /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:NetFx3 /All

Install .NET 3.5 Offline Using Windows ISO (Recommended for Enterprise)

1. Mount your Windows ISO or insert installation media
2. Note the drive letter — for example D:
3. Run as Administrator:

# Install .NET 3.5 from Windows media - replace D: with your drive letter
DISM /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:NetFx3 /All /LimitAccess /Source:D:\sources\sxs

# Via PowerShell
Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName NetFx3 -All -LimitAccess -Source "D:\sources\sxs"

Install .NET 3.5 on Windows Server

Install-WindowsFeature -Name NET-Framework-Core -Source "D:sourcessxs"

# Verify
Get-WindowsFeature -Name NET-Framework-Core

Deploy via SCCM Task Sequence

To deploy .NET 3.5 via SCCM OSD, add a Run Command Line step in your task sequence after the Apply Operating System step:

DISM.exe /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:NetFx3 /All /LimitAccess /Source:\%DeployRoot%\sources\sxs

Install .NET Framework 4.8

# Check current .NET 4 version
(Get-ItemProperty "HKLM:SOFTWARE\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDPv4\Full").Version

# Install .NET 4.8 silently
ndp48-x86-x64-allos-enu.exe /q /norestart

# Enable .NET 4 features on Windows Server
Install-WindowsFeature -Name NET-Framework-45-Features -IncludeAllSubFeature

About The Author

Andrew Armstrong

Andrew Armstrong is a UK-based IT professional with 26+ years of hands-on experience in Windows, Windows Server, SCCM/ConfigMgr, Active Directory, PowerShell, and enterprise infrastructure. He founded TechyGeeksHome in 2010 and has published over 1,500 practical guides covering real-world IT problems and solutions. When not solving IT problems, Andrew develops free Windows utilities including Ultimate Settings Panel, which has been downloaded over 850,000 times.

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