- .NET Framework system requirements
- Hardware requirements
- Installation requirements
- Supported client operating systems
- Supported server operating systems
- System Requirements for Windows Server Essentials
- Table 1. System requirements for Windows Server Essentials
- Table 2. Additional hardware and software requirements for Windows Server Essentials
- Windows 7 system requirements
- If you want to run Windows 7 on your PC, here’s what it takes:
- Additional requirements to use certain features:
- PCs with multi-core processors:
- PCs with multiple processors (CPUs):
- System Requirements
- Review system requirements
- Processor
- Storage controller and disk space requirements
- Network adapter requirements
- Other requirements
- Installation of Nano Server
.NET Framework system requirements
The tables in this article provide the hardware, operating system, and software requirements for the following .NET Framework versions:
- .NET Framework 4.5 and its point releases (4.5.1 and 4.5.2).
- .NET Framework 4.6 and its point releases (4.6.1 and 4.6.2).
- .NET Framework 4.7 and its point releases (4.7.1 and 4.7.2).
- .NET Framework 4.8
For information on .NET Framework versions earlier than .NET Framework 4.5, see .NET Framework versions and dependencies.
Development environments that enable you to develop apps for .NET Framework have a separate set of requirements.
All .NET Framework versions since .NET Framework 4 are in-place updates, so only a single 4.x version can be present on a system. In addition, particular versions of .NET Framework are pre-installed on some versions of the Windows operating system. This means that:
- If there’s a later 4.x version installed on the machine already, you can’t install a previous 4.x version.
- If the OS comes pre-installed with a particular .NET Framework version, you can’t install a previous 4.x version on the same machine.
- If you install a later version, you don’t have to first uninstall the previous version.
For information on the support lifecycle of .NET Framework versions, see Microsoft Support Lifecycle.
Hardware requirements
| Processor | 1 GHz |
| RAM | 512 MB |
| Disk space (minimum) | |
| 32-bit | 4.5 GB |
| 64-bit | 4.5 GB |
Installation requirements
.NET Framework requires administrator privileges for installation. If you don’t have administrator rights to the computer where you’d like to install .NET Framework, contact your network administrator.
Supported client operating systems
| Operating system | Supported editions | Preinstalled with the OS | Installable separately |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows 10 May 2020 Update (version 2004) | 32-bit and 64-bit | .NET Framework 4.8 | — |
| Windows 10 November 2019 Update (version 1909) | 32-bit and 64-bit | .NET Framework 4.8 | — |
| Windows 10 May 2019 Update (version 1903) | 32-bit and 64-bit | .NET Framework 4.8 | — |
| Windows 10 October 2018 Update (version 1809) | 32-bit and 64-bit | .NET Framework 4.7.2 | .NET Framework 4.8 |
| Windows 10 April 2018 Update (version 1803) | 32-bit and 64-bit | .NET Framework 4.7.2 | .NET Framework 4.8 |
| Windows 10 Fall Creators Update (version 1709) | 32-bit and 64-bit | .NET Framework 4.7.1 | .NET Framework 4.7.2 |
.NET Framework 4.8
(version 1703)
.NET Framework 4.7.2
.NET Framework 4.8
(version 1607)
.NET Framework 4.7.1
.NET Framework 4.7.2
.NET Framework 4.8
(version 1511)
(version 1507)
.NET Framework 4.6.2
.NET Framework 4.6
.NET Framework 4.6.1
.NET Framework 4.6.2
.NET Framework 4.7
.NET Framework 4.7.1
.NET Framework 4.7.2
.NET Framework 4.8
.NET Framework 4.5.2
.NET Framework 4.6
.NET Framework 4.6.1
.NET Framework 4.5
.NET Framework 4.5.1
.NET Framework 4.5.2
.NET Framework 4.6
.NET Framework 4.6.1
.NET Framework 4.6.2
.NET Framework 4.7
.NET Framework 4.7.1
.NET Framework 4.7.2
.NET Framework 4.8
.NET Framework 4.5
.NET Framework 4.5.1
.NET Framework 4.5.2
.NET Framework 4.6
Notes:
On Windows 7 systems, .NET Framework requires Windows 7 SP1. If you’re on Windows 7 and haven’t yet installed Service Pack 1, you need to do so before installing the .NET Framework.
.NET Framework 4.5 is supported on the Windows Preinstallation Environment (Windows PE). Not all features are supported on Windows PE.
.NET Framework 4 also supports the IA64 platform.
For all platforms, we recommend that you upgrade to the latest Windows Service Pack and install critical updates available from Windows Update to ensure the best compatibility and security.
On 64-bit operating systems, .NET Framework supports both WOW64 (32-bit processing on a 64-bit machine) and native 64-bit processing.
Supported server operating systems
| Operating system | Supported editions | Preinstalled with the OS | Installable separately |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows Server 2019 | 64-bit | .NET Framework 4.7.2 | .NET Framework 4.8 |
| Windows Server, version 1809 | 64-bit | .NET Framework 4.7.2 | .NET Framework 4.8 |
| Windows Server, version 1803 | 64-bit | .NET Framework 4.7.2 | .NET Framework 4.8 |
| Windows Server, version 1709 | 64-bit | .NET Framework 4.7.1 | .NET Framework 4.7.2 |
| Windows Server 2016 | 64-bit | .NET Framework 4.6.2 | .NET Framework 4.7 |
.NET Framework 4.7.1
.NET Framework 4.7.2
.NET Framework 4.8
.NET Framework 4.6
.NET Framework 4.6.1
.NET Framework 4.6.2
.NET Framework 4.7
.NET Framework 4.7.1
.NET Framework 4.7.2
.NET Framework 4.8
.NET Framework 4.5.2
.NET Framework 4.6
.NET Framework 4.6.1
.NET Framework 4.6.2
.NET Framework 4.7
.NET Framework 4.7.1
.NET Framework 4.7.2
.NET Framework 4.8
.NET Framework 4.5
.NET Framework 4.5.1
.NET Framework 4.5.2
.NET Framework 4.6
.NET Framework 4.6.1
.NET Framework 4.6.2
.NET Framework 4.7
.NET Framework 4.7.1
.NET Framework 4.7.2
.NET Framework 4.8
.NET Framework 4.5
.NET Framework 4.5.1
.NET Framework 4.5.2
.NET Framework 4.6
Notes:
Windows Server 2012 includes .NET Framework 4.5, so you don’t have to install it separately. Similarly, Windows Server 2012 R2 includes .NET Framework 4.5.1.
.NET Framework has limited support for the Server Core Role with Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 or later. See Server Core .NET Functionality for a list of unsupported APIs.
.NET Framework isn’t supported on Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-Based Systems.
On Windows Server 2008 SP2, .NET Framework is not supported in the Server Core Role.
For all platforms, we recommend that you upgrade to the latest Windows Service Pack and critical updates available from Windows Update to ensure the best compatibility and security. Installation of the latest Windows Service Pack may be required on some operating systems.
On 64-bit operating systems, .NET Framework supports both WOW64 (32-bit processing on a 64-bit machine) and native 64-bit processing.
System Requirements for Windows Server Essentials
Applies To: Windows Server 2019 Essentials, Windows Server 2016 Essentials, Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials, Windows Server 2012 Essentials
Windows Server Essentials server software is a 64-bit only operating system. Table 1 defines the recommended minimum hardware requirements for Windows Server Essentials. Table 2 defines additional hardware and software requirements for the server.
Table 1. System requirements for Windows Server Essentials
| Component | Minimum | Recommended* | Maximum |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPU socket | 1.4 GHz (64-bit processor) or faster for single core |
1.3 GHz (64-bit processor) or faster for multi-core
4 GB if you deploy Windows Server Essentials as a virtual machine
*The recommended hardware requirements support maximum user and device limits.
Table 2. Additional hardware and software requirements for Windows Server Essentials
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Network adapter | Gigabit Ethernet adapter (10/100/1000baseT PHY/MAC) |
| Internet | Some functionality may require Internet access (fees may apply) or a Microsoft account |
| Supported Client operating systems | Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7, Macintosh OS X versions 10.5 to 10.8. |
Note: Some features require professional or higher editions.
1 GB of available hard drive space (a portion of this disk will be freed after installation)
Actual requirements will vary based on your system configuration and the applications and features you choose to install. Processor performance depends not only on the clock frequency of the processor, but also on the number of cores and the size of the processor cache. Storage space requirements for the system partition are approximate. Additional available storage space may be required if you are installing over a network.
For more information about the hardware requirements, see the Windows Server Catalog.
All server hardware should meet the requirements established for the Windows Server 2012 R2 Logo Program for Systems. For more information, see Windows Logo Program.
Dynamic disks are not supported on Windows Server Essentials.
Windows 7 system requirements
Support for Windows 7 ended on January 14, 2020
We recommend you move to a Windows 10 PC to continue to receive security updates from Microsoft.
If you want to run Windows 7 on your PC, here’s what it takes:
1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor*
1 gigabyte (GB) RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit)
16 GB available hard disk space (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)
DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver
Additional requirements to use certain features:
Internet access (fees may apply)
Depending on resolution, video playback may require additional memory and advanced graphics hardware
Some games and programs might require a graphics card compatible with DirectX 10 or higher for optimal performance
For some Windows Media Center functionality a TV tuner and additional hardware may be required
Windows Touch and Tablet PCs require specific hardware
HomeGroup requires a network and PCs running Windows 7
DVD/CD authoring requires a compatible optical drive
BitLocker requires Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 1.2
BitLocker To Go requires a USB flash drive
Windows XP Mode requires an additional 1 GB of RAM and an additional 15 GB of available hard disk space.
Music and sound require audio output
Product functionality and graphics may vary based on your system configuration. Some features may require advanced or additional hardware.
PCs with multi-core processors:
Windows 7 was designed to work with today’s multi-core processors. All 32-bit versions of Windows 7 can support up to 32 processor cores, while 64‑bit versions can support up to 256 processor cores.
PCs with multiple processors (CPUs):
Commercial servers, workstations, and other high-end PCs may have more than one physical processor. Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate allow for two physical processors, providing the best performance on these computers. Windows 7 Starter, Home Basic, and Home Premium will recognize only one physical processor.
* Prior versions of Windows, including Windows 7 and Windows 8.1, have limited support when running on new processors and chipsets from manufacturers like Intel, AMD, NVidia, and Qualcomm. For more information, please see the Support Lifecycle FAQ. A device may not be able to run prior versions of Windows if the device hardware is incompatible, lacking current drivers, or otherwise outside of the Original Equipment Manufacturer’s (“OEM”) support period.
System Requirements
Applies To: Windows Server (Semi-Annual Channel), Windows Server 2016
This topic addresses the minimum system requirements to run Windows ServerВ® 2016 or Windows Server, version 1709.
In this release, clean installations are recommended.
If at the time of installation, you choose to install with the Server Core option, you should be aware that no GUI components are installed at all and you will not be able to install or uninstall them with Server Manager. If you need GUI features, be sure to choose the Server with Desktop Experience option when you install Windows Server 2016. For more information, see Install Nano Server
Review system requirements
The following are estimated system requirements Windows Server 2016. If your computer has less than the minimum requirements, you will not be able to install this product correctly. Actual requirements will vary based on your system configuration and the applications and features you install.
Unless otherwise specified, these minimum system requirements apply to all installation options (Server Core, Server with Desktop Experience, and Nano Server) and both Standard and Datacenter editions.
The highly diverse scope of potential deployments makes it unrealistic to state recommended system requirements that would be generally applicable. Consult documentation for each of the server roles you intend to deploy for more details about the resource needs of particular server roles. For the best results, conduct test deployments to determine appropriate system requirements for your particular deployment scenarios.
Processor
Processor performance depends not only on the clock frequency of the processor, but also on the number of processor cores and the size of the processor cache. The following are the processor requirements for this product:
Minimum:
- 1.4 GHz 64-bit processor
- Compatible with x64 instruction set
- Supports NX and DEP
- Supports CMPXCHG16b, LAHF/SAHF, and PrefetchW
- Supports Second Level Address Translation (EPT or NPT)
Coreinfo is a tool you can use to confirm which of these capabilities your CPU has.
The following are the estimated RAM requirements for this product:
Minimum:
- 512 MB (2 GB for Server with Desktop Experience installation option)
- ECC (Error Correcting Code) type or similar technology
If you create a virtual machine with the minimum supported hardware parameters (1 processor core and 512 MB RAM) and then attempt to install this release on the virtual machine, Setup will fail.
To avoid this, do one of the following:
- Allocate more than 800 MB RAM to the virtual machine you intend to install this release on. Once Setup has completed, you can change the allocation to as little as 512 MB RAM, depending on the actual server configuration.
- Interrupt the boot process of this release on the virtual machine with SHIFT+F10. In the command prompt that opens, use Diskpart.exe to create and format an installation partition. Run Wpeutil createpagefile /path=C:\pf.sys (assuming the installation partition you created was C:). Close the command prompt and proceed with Setup.
Storage controller and disk space requirements
Computers that run Windows Server 2016 must include a storage adapter that is compliant with the PCI Express architecture specification. Persistent storage devices on servers classified as hard disk drives must not be PATA. Windows Server 2016 does not allow ATA/PATA/IDE/EIDE for boot, page, or data drives.
The following are the estimated minimum disk space requirements for the system partition.
Minimum: 32 GB
Be aware that 32 GB should be considered an absolute minimum value for successful installation. This minimum should allow you to install Windows Server 2016 in Server Core mode, with the Web Services (IIS) server role. A server in Server Core mode is about 4 GB smaller than the same server in Server with a GUI mode.
The system partition will need extra space for any of the following circumstances:
- If you install the system over a network.
- Computers with more than 16 GB of RAM will require more disk space for paging, hibernation, and dump files.
Network adapter requirements
Network adapters used with this release should include these features:
Minimum:
- An Ethernet adapter capable of at least gigabit throughput
- Compliant with the PCI Express architecture specification.
- Supports Pre-boot Execution Environment (PXE).
A network adapter that supports network debugging (KDNet) is useful, but not a minimum requirement.
Other requirements
Computers running this release also must have the following:
- DVD drive (if you intend to install the operating system from DVD media)
The following items are not strictly required, but are necessary for certain features:
UEFI 2.3.1c-based system and firmware that supports secure boot
Trusted Platform Module
Graphics device and monitor capable of Super VGA (1024 x 768) or higher-resolution
Keyboard and MicrosoftВ® mouse (or other compatible pointing device)
Internet access (fees may apply)
A Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chip is not strictly required to install this release, though it is necessary in order to use certain features such as BitLocker Drive Encryption. If your computer uses TPM, it must meet these requirements:
- Hardware-based TPMs must implement version 2.0 of the TPM specification.
- TPMs that implement version 2.0 must have an EK certificate that is either pre-provisioned to the TPM by the hardware vendor or be capable of being retrieved by the device during the first boot.
- TPMs that implement version 2.0 must ship with SHA-256 PCR banks and implement PCRs 0 through 23 for SHA-256. It is acceptable to ship TPMs with a single switchable PCR bank that can be used for both SHA-1 and SHA-256 measurements.
- A UEFI option to turn off the TPM is not a requirement.
Installation of Nano Server
For detailed steps to install Windows Server 2016 as a Nano Server, see Install Nano Server.
