Even in an era dominated by .NET 5, 6, 7, and beyond, the .NET Framework 3.5 remains a .NET framework that is still widely needed, especially by Developers. Sometimes, to make an application support older operating systems like Windows 7, we inevitably still need the .NET Framework 3.5 when running applications on newer Windows versions like Windows 11.
In Windows 10 and Windows 11 operating systems, to install .NET Framework 3.5, we must enable it via the Control Panel, and it requires an internet connection to download it. If we do not have an internet connection, the solution is to use an offline installer.
Below, we will provide a download link for the .NET Framework 3.5 offline installer that you can use to install it on Windows 10 and 11 operating systems. In addition, we will provide you with a guide on how to install the .NET Framework 3.5 offline installer.
Table of Contents
- Is .NET 3.5 Still Relevant Today?
- System Requirements
- How to Install .NET 3.5 Offline Installer
- Download .NET 3.5 Offline Installer Here
Is .NET 3.5 Still Relevant Today?
This is a critical question with a two-part answer. For new development, the answer is a clear no. Modern .NET (e.g., .NET 7 or 8) offers superior performance, cross-platform support, and a more agile release cycle. However, for maintenance and support, .NET 3.5 remains highly relevant. A vast number of legacy enterprise applications, particularly those running on older versions of Windows Server, still depend on it. This is why it remains a component that can be enabled on modern Windows operating systems, including Windows 11 and Windows Server 2022, specifically for application compatibility.
System Requirements
Since .NET Framework 3.5 is already installed automatically on Windows 7, this offline .NET 3.5 installer can still be installed on next-generation operating systems such as:
OS Supported
- Windows 8/8.1
- Windows 10
- Windows 11
- Windows Server (newest version)
How to Install .NET 3.5 Offline Installer
1. To install the .NET Framework 3.5 offline installer, please download the file first via the link below this article.
2. After you download the .NET 3.5 file, please run the file by double-clicking on it.
3. After it opens, select the ‘Download & Install this feature‘ option. Don’t worry, the download process will be skipped here, and wait until the installation is complete.
4. After that, you need to restart your computer once the installation is complete.
Download .NET 3.5 Offline Installer Here
The .NET Framework 3.5 requires Windows XP SP2 or later operating systems. The framework installation package includes all components from .NET Framework 2.0 and 3.0, ensuring that applications targeting earlier framework versions remain compatible. The full installation requires approximately 231 megabytes of disk space.
For those of you who still need the offline installer version of .NET Framework 3.5, you can download it through the following links.
File Size: 231MB
File Type: .EXE
OS Support: Windows 7 above
Maybe you would like other interesting articles?