Could not load file or assembly Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.Abstractions, Version=1.1.0.0

After update to the new package Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.SqlServer 1.1.2 I got error when try to create DBContext:

System.IO.FileLoadException occurred HResult=0x80131040
Message=Could not load file or assembly 'Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.Abstractions, Version=1.1.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=adb9793829ddae60' or one of its dependencies. The located assembly's manifest definition does not match the assembly reference. (Exception from HRESULT: 0x80131040) Source=Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore StackTrace: at Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.DbContext..ctor(DbContextOptions options) at Services.Infrastructure.Data.SqlServerDbContext..ctor(DatabaseOptions databaseOptions) in C:\src\backend\Packages\Services.Infrastructure\Data\SqlServerDbContext.cs:line 16 at Translations.Api.Data.TranslationsDbContext..ctor(DatabaseOptions databaseOptions) in C:\src\backend\Modules\Translations\Translations.Api\Data\TranslationsDbContext.cs:line 16

My base DbContext

public class SqlServerDbContext : DbContext
{
    private readonly DatabaseOptions _databaseOptions;

    protected SqlServerDbContext(DatabaseOptions databaseOptions)
    {
        if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(databaseOptions.ConnectionString))
            throw new Exception("Database connection string is missed.");

        _databaseOptions = databaseOptions;
    }

    protected override void OnConfiguring(DbContextOptionsBuilder optionsBuilder)
    {
        optionsBuilder.UseSqlServer(_databaseOptions.ConnectionString);
    }
}

Database options that I use

public class DatabaseOptions
{
    public string ConnectionString { get; set; }
}

Place where I create instance of context

 var dbOptions = new DatabaseOptions { ConnectionString = _connectionString };
 DbContext = (TContext) Activator.CreateInstance(typeof(TContext), dbOptions);
// where TContext is derived class from SqlServerDbContext

All my packages are updated. Visual Studio 2017 15.2 (26430.6). Before upgrade to 1.1.2 everything works fine. Please help to solve the problem.


Since you're using the project in a .net framework library, there's an issue with auto-generated binding redirects (might be resolved in the upcoming 15.3 update / 2.0 .net core CLI). To work around it, add this in your cpsroj file (preferably before any <Import> element for a .targets file if present):

<PropertyGroup>
  <AutoGenerateBindingRedirects>true</AutoGenerateBindingRedirects>
  <GenerateBindingRedirectsOutputType>true</GenerateBindingRedirectsOutputType>
</PropertyGroup>

This should force MSBuild to create / update a YourProject.dll.config file containing the necessary binding redirects.


I Googled my exception below, and it brought me to this stakoverflow post.

System.IO.FileNotFoundException: 'Could not load file or assembly 'Microsoft.Extensions.OptionsModel, Version=1.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=adb9793829ddae60' or one of its dependencies. The system cannot find the file specified.'

I had the relevant Binding Redirects but if I Delete all bin/obj folders it worked fine afterwards.


If you're working with Azure Functions in .NET Core this will work

If you're not using the .net framework library, but the .net core library, the accepted solution will not work because "you shouldn't be setting the property AutoGenerateBindingRedirects on a netcoreapp project as binding redirects aren't even a thing in netcoreapp, they are only a concept in .NET Framework" (source: https://github.com/microsoft/ApplicationInsights-dotnet/issues/1699#issuecomment-592693436).

Try this:

  1. Uninstall Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.Abstractions
  2. Uninstall Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection

Although this seems like a radical solution, it works because the library is already indirectly installed through Microsoft.Azure.Functions.Extensions:

enter image description here

Important: Do not try to solve this issue by upgrading .NET Core from 3.1 to 5.0. Azure functions are still not supported in .NET 5.0. A patch is coming in early 2021: https://github.com/Azure/azure-functions-host/issues/6674#issuecomment-712596112

EDIT: Azure functions are now supported in .NET Core (unless you're using durable entities, in that case you'll have to wait for .NET 6.0):

Today (10/3/2021), we announced support for running production .NET 5 apps on Azure Functions. https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/apps-on-azure/net-on-azure-functions-roadmap/ba-p/2197916


This is an old thread but I had a similar same issue after I updated my Azure function from dotnet core version 3 to 3.1.

Error message: Could not load file or assembly 'Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.Abstractions, Version=3.1.9.0

In this case you need to update the Azure function version to 'v3' in .proj file.

enter image description here