This tutorial will teach us how to download and install .NET (or .NET Core or Dot Net Core). The downloads consist of three parts the SDK, runtime & Hosting bundle. Learn the difference between the SDK, Runtime & Hosting bundle. We have also listed dependencies that you must install before. Also the list of supported OS. ASP.NET Core is not a separate download. It is installed as part of the .NET core.
Table of Contents
.NET Vs .NET Core
 .NET Framework, is a development platform for creating Windows apps. It was released in 2002. The current version is 4.8 and it will be its last version.
.NET Core is a successor .NET Framework. It was called .NET Core until the version 3.1.
The .NET Core was renamed as .NET from the version 5.0.
Download .NET
You can download NET Core from the link https://dotnet.microsoft.com/download/dotnet-core
As of the writing of this article .NET Core 7.0.4 is the latest stable version. Choose the recommended version from the list. Also, make sure to check whether your OS supports the version by scrolling down to the Supported OS Section
The section contains 4 downloads underlined in red.
Difference Between SDK Vs Runtime Vs Hosting Bundle
The dot not core download page contains three download options. They are
- SDK
- Runtime. There are three options here. .NET Runtime, .NET Desktop Runtime & ASP.NET Core Runtime.
- ASP.NET Core Hosting Bundle for Windows. This is listed under ASP.NET Core Runtime.
SDK
The SDK stands for Software Development Kit contains the everything you need to build and run .NET Core Applications. You can build app either using command-line tools or using any editor like Visual Studio/Visual Studio Code.
SDK also includes the runtime.
Runtime
The Run time includes everything you need to run a .NET core Application. The SDK is to build the App. The Runtime is to run the App.
There are three run times available.
- .NET Runtime
- .NET Desktop Runtime
- ASP.NET Core Runtime
NET Runtime: Contains just the components needed to run a console app.
ASP.NET Core Runtime: Contains the components needed to run a existing web/server applications. This Runtime also includes the .NET Runtime
NET Desktop Runtime: Contains the components needed to run a existing Windows desktop applications. This Runtime also includes the .NET Runtime
ASP.NET Core Hosting Bundle
Under ASP.NET Core Runtime, we have a download option for Hosting Bundle.
The Hosting bundle contains the files required to run existing web/server applications on the IIS Server in Windows OS. It also includes the .NET Core run time & ASP.NET Core Runtime.
Supported OS
Windows
| Version | Supported OS | Version | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7.0 | Windows 7 | Not Supported | |
| Windows 8.1 | Not Supported | ||
| Windows 10 | 1607+ | ||
| Windows 11 | 22000+ | ||
| Windows Server | 2012+ | ||
| Nano Server | 1809+ | ||
| 6.0 | Windows 7 | SP1 | Supported with Extended Security Updates |
| Windows 8.1 | |||
| Windows 10 | 1607+ | ||
| Windows 11 | 22000+ | ||
| Windows Server | 2012+ | ||
| Nano Server | 1809+ | ||
| 5.0 | Windows 7 | SP1 | Supported with Extended Security Updates |
| Windows 8.1 | |||
| Windows 10 | 1607 | ||
| Windows 11 | 22000+ | ||
| Windows Server | 2012+ | ||
| Nano Server | 1809+ | ||
| 3.0 | Windows 7 | SP1 | |
| Windows 8.1 | |||
| Windows 10 | 1607+ | ||
| Nano Server | 1803+ | ||
| Windows Server | 2012 R2 |
macOS
| Dot Net Version | Mac Version | |
|---|---|---|
| 7.0 | 10.15+ | |
| 6.0 | 10.15+ | |
| 5.0 | 10.15+ | |
| 3.0 | 10.13+ | Apple Support Sitemap Apple Security Updates |
Linux
| Dot Net Version | OS | Version | Architecture |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7.0 | Alpine Linux | 3.15+ | x64, Arm64, Arm32 |
| CentOS | 7+ | x64 | |
| Debian | 10+ | x64, Arm64, Arm32 | |
| Fedora | 33+ | x64 | |
| openSUSE | 15+ | x64 | |
| Oracle Linux | 7+ | x64 | |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux | 7+ | x64, Arm64 | |
| SUSE Enterprise Linux (SLES) | 12 SP2+ | x64 | |
| Ubuntu | 18.04+ | x64, Arm64, Arm32 | |
| 6.0 | Alpine Linux | 3.13+ | x64, Arm64, Arm32 |
| CentOS | 7+ | x64 | |
| Debian | 10+ | x64, Arm64, Arm32 | |
| Fedora | 33+ | x64 | |
| openSUSE | 15+ | x64 | |
| Oracle Linux | 7+ | x64 | |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux | 7+ | x64, Arm64 | |
| SUSE Enterprise Linux (SLES) | 12 SP2+ | x64 | |
| Ubuntu | 16.04, 18.04, 20.04+ | x64, Arm64, Arm32 | |
| 5.0 | Alpine Linux | 3.12+ 3.13+(Arm64 only) | x64, Arm64 |
| CentOS | 7+ | x64 | |
| Debian | 9+ | x64, Arm32, Arm64 | |
| Fedora | 33+ | x64 | |
| Linux Mint | 18+ | x64 | |
| openSUSE | 15+ | x64 | |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux | 7+ | x64 | |
| SUSE Enterprise Linux (SLES) | 12 SP2+ | x64 | |
| Ubuntu | 21.04, 20.04, 18.04, 16.04 | x64, Arm32, Arm64 | |
| 3.0 | Red Hat Enterprise Linux | 6+, 7, 8 | x64 |
| CentOS | 7, 8 | x64 | |
| Oracle Linux | 7, 8 | x64 | |
| Fedora | 30+ | x64 | |
| Debian | 9+ | x64, ARM32, ARM64 | |
| Ubuntu | 16.04+ | x64, ARM32, ARM64 | |
| Linux Mint | 18+ | x64 | |
| openSUSE | 15+ | x64 | |
| SUSE Enterprise Linux (SLES) | 12 SP2+ | x64 | |
| Alpine Linux | 3.8+ | x64, ARM64 |
NET SDK Dependencies
The .NET SDK has a dependency on the following Packages. Hence you need to install them
Windows 7
Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2019 Redistributable 64-bit / 32-bit.
KB3063858 64-bit / 32-bit on Windows 7 SP1 ESU.
 Microsoft Root Certificate Authority 2011 (.NET Core 2.1 offline installer only) Windows 7 SP1 ESU.
Microsoft Visual C++ 2015 Redistributable Update 3.
Universal C Runtime https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/2999226/update-for-universal-c-runtime-in-windows
Security Advisory https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/2533623/microsoft-security-advisory-insecure-library-loading-could-allow-remot
Window 8.1
Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2019 Redistributable 64-bit / 32-bit.
Microsoft Visual C++ 2015 Redistributable Update 3.
Universal C Runtime https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/2999226/update-for-universal-c-runtime-in-windows
Security Advisory https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/2533623/microsoft-security-advisory-insecure-library-loading-could-allow-remot
Windows Server 2012
Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2019 Redistributable 64-bit / 32-bit
Universal C Runtime https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/2999226/update-for-universal-c-runtime-in-windows
Security Advisory https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/2533623/microsoft-security-advisory-insecure-library-loading-could-allow-remot
Windows Server 2012 R2
Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2019 Redistributable 64-bit / 32-bit
Universal C Runtime https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/2999226/update-for-universal-c-runtime-in-windows
Security Advisory https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/2533623/microsoft-security-advisory-insecure-library-loading-could-allow-remot
Installing .NET SDK
Installing .NET SDK is quite straight forward. Double click on the Downloaded Installer
Click on Install to begin the installation.
It will take some time.
In the end, you will see the installation successful window. It will give you the details of the component installed.
How to find out which .Net version is installed on your PC
Open the folder C:\Program Files\dotnet\sdk or C:\Program Files (x86)\dotnet\sdk. You should be able to see all the Dot net Core versions installed in your PC
You can check the version of the Dot net core runtime from the folder C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App
Path to dotnet.exe using where
dotnet --info will give you more information is about the .Net core installation as shown below
