How to Install Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 Offline in Windows 8 and Later without Internet Connection?

UPDATE: The method and software tool mentioned in this tutorial will also work in Windows 8.1, Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Now-a-days almost all 3rd party software require Microsoft .NET Framework installed in your system. The required .NET Framework version might be different for different software and the most required .NET Framework version is 3.5 which comes preinstalled in Windows 7.

If you are using Windows 8 or later Windows versions, you might face a problem while trying to run a program which requires .NET Framework 3.5 version. Windows 8 and later don’t come with .NET Framework 3.5 version. All new Windows versions come with the latest .NET Framework 4.5 version preinstalled. Most of the existing software require version 3.5 of .NET Framework installed to be able to run. When you try to install .NET Framework 3.5 in Windows 8 and later, it asks you to connect to Internet to download required installation files.

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Whenever you try to open a program requiring .NET Framework 3.5, you get following message:

An app on your PC needs the following Windows feature:

.NET Framework 3.5 (includes .NET 2.0 and 3.0)

NET_Framework_Error_Message_Windows_8.png

There are 2 buttons given to install the .NET Framework version or to skip the installation. If you decide to install it, Windows tries to connect to Internet to download the setup files of .NET Framework 3.5.

That’s strange because Windows 8 setup contains .NET Framework 3.5 setup files but still Windows tries to connect to Internet. It would have been better and easier if Windows 8 installed the .NET Framework 3.5 without Internet connection just like it does for other Windows components such as Media Center, Internet Explorer, etc which can be installed or uninstalled using “Programs and Features” applet in Control Panel.

If you don’t have an Internet connection or if you don’t want to waste time and bandwidth in downloading the setup files, here is a way to install .NET Framework 3.5 offline in Windows 8.

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Today in this tutorial, we’ll tell you how to install .NET Framework 3.5 in Windows 8 without any need of Internet connection. You can install it offline with the help of a single command or automatic tool.

How to Manually Install Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 Offline in Windows 8 and Later

This method requires Windows 8 setup disc or ISO file so make sure you have Windows 8 setup files with you.

1. First you’ll need to copy Windows 8 setup files to your hard disk. If you have Windows 8 setup ISO copied in your system, you can mount it by right-click on it and select “Mount” option or you can extract its content using 7-Zip.

If you have Windows 8 setup disc and don’t want to copy its content, its ok. Just insert the disc in your CD/DVD drive so that Windows can access its content.

2. Now open Command Prompt as Administrator as mentioned here and then provide following command:

Dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:NetFx3 /All /Source:F:\sources\sxs /LimitAccess

Here “F:” represents the CD/DVD drive letter in your system which contains Windows 8 setup disc. Replace it with the correct drive letter according to your system.

If you extracted Windows 8 setup files in a directory, replace F:\sources\sxs with the correct path.

3. As soon as you execute the above mentioned command, Windows will start installing .NET Framework 3.5 in your system and it’ll not require Internet connection.

Install_NET_Framework_Offline_Windows_8.png

It’ll take a few minutes and you’ll get a message that the operation completed successfully.

4. That’s it. Now you have installed .NET Framework 3.5 in Windows 8 without using Internet connection.

Portable Tool to Install Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 Offline in Windows 8 and Later

If you face any problem while using above mentioned manual method, you can take help of following exclusive AskVG app to automatically install .NET Framework 3.5 offline in Windows 8 and later.

This small utility has been developed by AskVG reader “Cedric Poottaren“, so big thanks goes to him.

Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 Offline Installer” is a freeware created for Windows 8 and later which helps you in installing .NET Framework 3.5 in your system without any need of Internet connection.

Microsoft_Dot_Net_Framework_Offline_Installer_Windows_8.png

You just need to insert your Windows setup disc in your CD/DVD drive and then select the correct drive letter in the freeware and then click on “Start Installation” button. That’s it. It’ll automatically execute the required command and will install .NET Framework 3.5 in Windows 8 or later Windows versions.

If you don’t have Windows setup disc or if you don’t want to install .NET Framework 3.5 from setup disc, you can use the setup folder of Windows present on your hard drive. For example, if you copied Windows setup files in E:\ drive of your hard disk, you can click on “Browse” button given in the freeware and then go to the Windows setup folder. Select “sxs” folder present under “sources” folder and then click on “Install” button to install .NET Framework 3.5 in your system.

This small piece of software also provides debugging options for advanced users. You can go to “Configuration” tab and enable the option to show installation process. It’ll help you in finding the culprit in case you face any problem while installing .NET Framework 3.5 in Windows.

This software will work in both 32-bit (x86) and 64-bit (x64) editions of Windows 8 and later. You’ll need to run the software with Administrator privileges by right-click on the program icon and select “Run as Administrator” option. Its required because the method only works if the user has Administrator privileges.

You can download the software using following link:

Download Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 Offline Installer for Windows 8 and later

Feel free to share your feedback and suggestions in your comment…

Also Check:

[Fix] 0x800F0906 and 0x800F081F Errors While Installing .NET Framework 3.5

Published in: Software, Troubleshooting Guides, Windows 10, Windows 11, Windows 8

About the author: Vishal Gupta (also known as VG) has been awarded with Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) award. He holds Masters degree in Computer Applications (MCA). He has written several tech articles for popular newspapers and magazines and has also appeared in tech shows on various TV channels.

Comments

NOTE: Older comments have been removed to reduce database overhead.

  1. Hello,

    Always remember to do away with the spacing after sxs, otherwise you may find it frustrating.

  2. I can’t browse “source folder” under Setup. only “state folder”

    help me

  3. Wow. Worked like a Boss..
    Impressive trick. struggled a lot on this.

    Date :Jul 2019

  4. When I run this program is show an error saying “Installation source directory not found. Make sure that you have found the appropriate Drive Letter” Even When I choose the right drive. Help me out with that.

  5. Error: 0x800f081f

    The source files could not be found.
    Use the “Source” option to specify the location of the files that are required to restore the feature. For more information on specifying a source location, see go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=243077

    I get this note every time i use this method. I’ve done everything properly. I have run as admin, copied the files from win 10 to my hard disk and changed the source F: to the correct location and still it shows me this error. Pls help me VG.

  6. THANKS A LOT VG!
    I had tried the DISM command but it didnt work. But now i used this software and worked. It took a few minutes and then it was installed succesfully.

  7. Thank you so much guys.
    I wasted so much time trying to find a solution to this problem nothing worked execpt this.
    It worked!

  8. the cmd is best way(very fast)
    command:
    DISM /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:NetFx3 /All /LimitAccess /Source:X:sourcessxs

  9. Used the software and it only took a couple a minutes to successfully install the framework 🤙 thanks

  10. I can’t get it to work. “Invalid source path”. What am I suppose to do? I have Windows 8.1 Professional. I put the disc in. But it won’t run. What is this “virtual drive” it keeps asking for?

  11. When I run this program is show an error saying “Installation source directory not found. please verify the disk and installation source path. pls helpppp!!! Even I create afolder /sources/sxs/ and select it. Help me out with that

  12. Yea, I should inlude a full windows 10 iso file and a dam protable iso mounter to install a f* .net3.5 for a simple person, who want to play with my game.

  13. wooow yeah!!! Thanks so much for your support I managed to install .Netframework just with my win 8 media. no internet involved. God bless you

  14. Dear Vishal,

    Thank you for writing this article, for this process. I would guess that this is a need which affects many users of Windows 8/10. I actually found this article of yours about 6 years ago, and I have used it many times over the years since then.

    (I work, self-employed, as a computer technician in Victoria, Australia, where I live. My work involves me in working on computers belonging to various people I work for, and I have quite often found the need to install .NET Framework 3.5 on computers running Windows 8 or Windows 10.)

    So, I thought I should thank you for this! Your efforts in helping other computer users is much appreciated.

    Kind regards,
    Peter Selig

  15. I don’t know why it just goes on showing installation started, for hours together. Tried different iso’s , no luck.

  16. Thank you, but MOST COMPUTERS DON’T COME W/MEDIA…even OLD ones!

    So all links to Microsoft’s OWN website where they apparently used to have the offline installer now host the WEB one (as you find out when you download).

    I actually have a RESALE computer so I have Windows 10 Home but it’s not the original OS (may have been Win7).

    Unfortunately I have older software that needs .NET 3.5
    Is there any COMPLETELY OFFLINE installer hosted anywhere that people know to be safe?

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