How do I detect what .NET Framework versions and service packs are installed?

Question

A similar question was asked here, but it was specific to .NET 3.5. Specifically, I\'m looking for the following:

1. What is the correct way to determine which .N

Answer 1

Update for .NET 4.5.1

Now that .NET 4.5.1 is available the actual value of the key named Release in the registry needs to be checked, not just its existence. A value of 378758 means that .NET Framework 4.5.1 is installed. However, as described here this value is 378675 on Windows 8.1.

Answer 2

I wanted to detect for the presence of .NET version 4.5.2 installed on my system, and I found no better solution than ASoft .NET Version Detector.

Snapshot of this tool showing different .NET versions:

Answer 3

In Windows 7 (it should work for Windows 8 also, but I haven't tested it):

Go to a command prompt

Steps to go to a command prompt:

1. Click Start Menu
2. In Search Box, type "cmd" (without quotes)
3. Open cmd.exe

In cmd, type this command

wmic /namespace:\\root\cimv2 path win32_product where "name like '%%.NET%%'" get version

This gives the latest version of NET Framework installed.

One can also try Raymond.cc Utilties for the same.

Answer 4

The Framework 4 beta installs to a differing registry key.

using System;
using System.Collections.ObjectModel;
using Microsoft.Win32;

class Program
{
    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        foreach(Version ver in InstalledDotNetVersions())
            Console.WriteLine(ver);

        Console.ReadKey();
    }


    public static Collection<Version> InstalledDotNetVersions()
    {
        Collection<Version> versions = new Collection<Version>();
        RegistryKey NDPKey = Registry.LocalMachine.OpenSubKey(@"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDP");
        if (NDPKey != null)
        {
            string[] subkeys = NDPKey.GetSubKeyNames();
            foreach (string subkey in subkeys)
            {
                GetDotNetVersion(NDPKey.OpenSubKey(subkey), subkey, versions);
                GetDotNetVersion(NDPKey.OpenSubKey(subkey).OpenSubKey("Client"), subkey, versions);
                GetDotNetVersion(NDPKey.OpenSubKey(subkey).OpenSubKey("Full"), subkey, versions);
            }
        }
        return versions;
    }

    private static void GetDotNetVersion(RegistryKey parentKey, string subVersionName, Collection<Version> versions)
    {
        if (parentKey != null)
        {
            string installed = Convert.ToString(parentKey.GetValue("Install"));
            if (installed == "1")
            {
                string version = Convert.ToString(parentKey.GetValue("Version"));
                if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(version))
                {
                    if (subVersionName.StartsWith("v"))
                        version = subVersionName.Substring(1);
                    else
                        version = subVersionName;
                }

                Version ver = new Version(version);

                if (!versions.Contains(ver))
                    versions.Add(ver);
            }
        }
    }
}

Answer 5

I was needing to find out just which version of .NET framework I had on my computer, and all I did was go to the control panel and select the "Uninstall a Program" option. After that, I sorted the programs by name, and found Microsoft .NET Framework 4 Client Profile.

Answer 6

See How to: Determine Which .NET Framework Versions Are Installed (MSDN).

MSDN proposes one function example that seems to do the job for version 1-4. According to the article, the method output is:

v2.0.50727  2.0.50727.4016  SP2
v3.0  3.0.30729.4037  SP2
v3.5  3.5.30729.01  SP1
v4
  Client  4.0.30319
  Full  4.0.30319

Note that for "versions 4.5 and later" there is another function.