How to quickly check the .NET Framework version on Windows 10

On Windows 10. .NET Framework ("dot net") is a development platform made up of programming languages, libraries, and tools that allow developers to build different types of applications for desktop, laptops, and tablets as well as web apps, games, and much more.

The .NET platform is also open-source and cross-platform, which means it's supported on Windows, Linux, and macOS.

Although, for the most part, you don't need to worry about the version of .NET installed on Windows 10, some applications require a specific release to run. Programmers usually need to run multiple versions of the platform to develop and deploy apps, and this is when understanding the versions of .NET available on your device can come in handy.

Whatever the reason it might be, you can use at least three ways to determine the .NET Framework version using Command Prompt, PowerShell, and Registry.

In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you through the steps to determine the version of the .NET Framework installed on your computer.

• How to check .NET version using Command Prompt
• How to check .NET version using Registry
• How to check .NET version using PowerShell

How to check .NET version using Command Prompt

To check the version of the .NET Framework installed on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.

3. Type the following command to determine the version of .NET installed and press Enter:

   reg query "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Net Framework Setup\NDP" /s

   If you want to make sure that version 4.x is installed, then use this variant of the command:

   reg query "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Net Framework Setup\NDP\v4" /s

   Source: Windows Central

4. Check the "Version" field to confirm the releases of the .NET Framework available on Windows 10.

Once you complete the steps, you'll know the versions of .NET running on your device.

How to check .NET version using Registry

To determine the .NET version with the Registry, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for regedit and click the top result to open the Registry.

3. Browse the following path:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDP

   Quick tip: On Windows 10, you can now copy and paste the path in the Registry's address bar to quickly jump to the key destination.

4. Select the main version key – for example, v4 or v4.0.

5. Select the Client key.

   Source: Windows Central

   Quick tip: In releases older than version 4, the key will be a number or "Setup." For example, .NET version 3.5 includes the version number under the 1033 key.

6. On the right, check the "Version" string to confirm the release of .NET Framework.

After you complete the steps, you'll have an understanding of the release of the Microsoft framework available on Windows 10.

How to check .NET version using PowerShell

If you use PowerShell, you have multiple methods to determine the versions of .NET Framework installed on Windows 10, including crafting a command or installing a command-line tool.

Check version custom command

To use PowerShell to check the .NET version, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for PowerShell, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.

3. Type the following command to determine the version of .NET installed and press Enter:

   Get-ChildItem 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDP' -Recurse | Get-ItemProperty -Name version -EA 0 | Where { $_.PSChildName -Match '^(?!S)\p{L}'} | Select PSChildName, version

   Source: Windows Central

4. Confirm the releases of the .NET Framework installed on Windows 10.

Once you complete the steps, the output should reveal the information for both client and full version of .NET installed on your device (if applicable).

Check version DotNetVersionLister

Alternatively, there's a community tool at GitHub that makes it easy to query a list of installed .NET versions on your computer.

To find out the list of .NET versions installed on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for PowerShell, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.

3. Type the following command to install the required module and press Enter:

   Install-Module -Name DotNetVersionLister -Scope CurrentUser #-Force

   Source: Windows Central

4. Type Y and press Enter.
5. Type Y and press Enter again.

6. Type the following command to determine the version of .NET installed and press Enter:

   Get-STDotNetVersion

   Source: Windows Central

After you complete the steps, you'll end up with an output letting you know the versions of .NET installed on Windows 10.

We're focusing this guide on Windows 10, but you can refer to these steps if you're running an older version of the OS, including Windows 8.1 or Windows 7.

More Windows 10 resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources:

• Windows 10 on Windows Central – All you need to know
• Windows 10 help, tips, and tricks
• Windows 10 forums on Windows Central