Reference
.NET Versions and End of Support Dates (2026)
Every current .NET version, its release type and its end of support date, plus .NET Framework support. Use it to choose a version for a new project or to plan an upgrade before support ends.
Dates checked against Microsoft’s official support policy on October 25, 2026 · By Bijay Kumar, 13-time Microsoft MVP
Supported .NET Versions
Microsoft supports three .NET versions right now. Both .NET 8 and .NET 9 reach end of support on the same day, November 10, 2026.
| Version | Release type | C# version | Released | End of support | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| .NET 10 | LTS | C# 14 | November 11, 2025 | November 14, 2028 | Supported |
| .NET 9 | STS | C# 13 | November 12, 2024 | November 10, 2026 | Ends soon |
| .NET 8 | LTS | C# 12 | November 14, 2023 | November 10, 2026 | Ends soon |
Running .NET 8 or .NET 9 in production? Plan your move to .NET 10 now. After November 10, 2026, those versions stop getting security fixes.
LTS vs STS: What’s the Difference?
Microsoft ships a new major .NET version every November. Even-numbered versions are Long Term Support (LTS) releases, and odd-numbered versions are Standard Term Support (STS) releases.
- LTS (for example, .NET 8 and .NET 10): free support and patches for three years.
- STS (for example, .NET 9): free support and patches for two years.
- Both get the same quality and the same monthly patches. The only difference is how long they’re supported.
Which .NET Version Should You Use in 2026?
- New apps: use .NET 10. It’s the current LTS release and is supported until November 2028.
- Apps on .NET 8 or 9: upgrade to .NET 10 before November 10, 2026. Moving between modern .NET versions is usually a change to the target framework plus package updates.
- Apps on .NET Framework 4.8: they’re still supported, so there’s no deadline. Migrate when you need cross-platform hosting, containers or newer C# features.
- Apps on .NET 7 or older: they no longer get security updates. Upgrade them first.
Learning C#? Our newer C# tutorials are tested on .NET 10, and web development is covered in the ASP.NET Core tutorials.
Out-of-Support .NET Versions
These versions no longer receive security patches. Apps still running on them should be upgraded.
| Version | Released | End of support |
|---|---|---|
| .NET 7 | November 8, 2022 | May 14, 2024 |
| .NET 6 | November 8, 2021 | November 12, 2024 |
| .NET 5 | November 10, 2020 | May 10, 2022 |
| .NET Core 3.1 | December 3, 2019 | December 13, 2022 |
| .NET Core 2.1 | May 30, 2018 | August 21, 2021 |
.NET Framework Support Dates
.NET Framework 4.x is Windows-only and isn’t getting new features, but its latest versions are still supported. Versions 4.7 to 4.8.1 have no announced end date and are supported as part of the Windows version they’re installed on.
| Version | Released | End of support | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| .NET Framework 4.8.1 | August 9, 2022 | No end date announced (supported with Windows) | Supported |
| .NET Framework 4.8 | April 18, 2019 | No end date announced (supported with Windows) | Supported |
| .NET Framework 4.7 to 4.7.2 | 2017 to 2018 | No end date announced (supported with Windows) | Supported |
| .NET Framework 4.6.2 | August 2, 2016 | January 12, 2027 | Ends soon |
| .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 | November 19, 2007 | January 9, 2029 | Supported |
| .NET Framework 4.5.2, 4.6 and 4.6.1 | 2014 to 2015 | April 26, 2022 | Out of support |
How to Check Which .NET Version You Have
Open a terminal or Command Prompt and run these commands. The first shows the SDK in use, and the next two list every SDK and runtime installed on your computer.
dotnet --version
dotnet --list-sdks
dotnet --list-runtimesTo see which version a project targets, open its .csproj file and look at the TargetFramework value, such as net10.0. New to the .NET CLI? Follow our guide to creating a console app in VS Code.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the latest version of .NET?
.NET 10 is the latest version. It was released on November 11, 2025, and it’s a Long Term Support (LTS) release supported until November 14, 2028.
Is .NET 8 still supported?
.NET 8 is supported until November 10, 2026. After that date it won’t receive security updates, so plan to move .NET 8 apps to .NET 10.
When does .NET 9 support end?
.NET 9 is a Standard Term Support (STS) release, and its support ends on November 10, 2026, the same day as .NET 8.
Is .NET Framework 4.8 end of life?
No. .NET Framework 4.8 and 4.8.1 have no announced end date. They’re supported as a component of the Windows version they’re installed on, but they don’t get new features.
What is the difference between LTS and STS in .NET?
LTS (Long Term Support) releases get three years of free support and patches. STS (Standard Term Support) releases get two years. Even-numbered versions are LTS and odd-numbered versions are STS.