Is there an easy way to check the .NET Framework version?
Solution 1:
Something like this should do it. Just grab the value from the registry
For .NET 1-4:
Framework is the highest installed version, SP is the service pack for that version.
RegistryKey installed_versions = Registry.LocalMachine.OpenSubKey(@"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDP");
string[] version_names = installed_versions.GetSubKeyNames();
//version names start with 'v', eg, 'v3.5' which needs to be trimmed off before conversion
double Framework = Convert.ToDouble(version_names[version_names.Length - 1].Remove(0, 1), CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
int SP = Convert.ToInt32(installed_versions.OpenSubKey(version_names[version_names.Length - 1]).GetValue("SP", 0));
For .NET 4.5+ (from official documentation):
using System;
using Microsoft.Win32;
...
private static void Get45or451FromRegistry()
{
using (RegistryKey ndpKey = RegistryKey.OpenBaseKey(RegistryHive.LocalMachine, RegistryView.Registry32).OpenSubKey("SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\NET Framework Setup\\NDP\\v4\\Full\\")) {
int releaseKey = Convert.ToInt32(ndpKey.GetValue("Release"));
if (true) {
Console.WriteLine("Version: " + CheckFor45DotVersion(releaseKey));
}
}
}
...
// Checking the version using >= will enable forward compatibility,
// however you should always compile your code on newer versions of
// the framework to ensure your app works the same.
private static string CheckFor45DotVersion(int releaseKey)
{
if (releaseKey >= 528040) {
return "4.8 or later";
}
if (releaseKey >= 461808) {
return "4.7.2 or later";
}
if (releaseKey >= 461308) {
return "4.7.1 or later";
}
if (releaseKey >= 460798) {
return "4.7 or later";
}
if (releaseKey >= 394802) {
return "4.6.2 or later";
}
if (releaseKey >= 394254) {
return "4.6.1 or later";
}
if (releaseKey >= 393295) {
return "4.6 or later";
}
if (releaseKey >= 393273) {
return "4.6 RC or later";
}
if ((releaseKey >= 379893)) {
return "4.5.2 or later";
}
if ((releaseKey >= 378675)) {
return "4.5.1 or later";
}
if ((releaseKey >= 378389)) {
return "4.5 or later";
}
// This line should never execute. A non-null release key should mean
// that 4.5 or later is installed.
return "No 4.5 or later version detected";
}
Solution 2:
Not sure why nobody suggested following the official advice from Microsoft right here.
This is the code they recommend. Sure it's ugly, but it works.
For .NET 1-4
private static void GetVersionFromRegistry()
{
// Opens the registry key for the .NET Framework entry.
using (RegistryKey ndpKey =
RegistryKey.OpenRemoteBaseKey(RegistryHive.LocalMachine, "").
OpenSubKey(@"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDP\"))
{
// As an alternative, if you know the computers you will query are running .NET Framework 4.5
// or later, you can use:
// using (RegistryKey ndpKey = RegistryKey.OpenBaseKey(RegistryHive.LocalMachine,
// RegistryView.Registry32).OpenSubKey(@"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDP\"))
foreach (string versionKeyName in ndpKey.GetSubKeyNames())
{
if (versionKeyName.StartsWith("v"))
{
RegistryKey versionKey = ndpKey.OpenSubKey(versionKeyName);
string name = (string)versionKey.GetValue("Version", "");
string sp = versionKey.GetValue("SP", "").ToString();
string install = versionKey.GetValue("Install", "").ToString();
if (install == "") //no install info, must be later.
Console.WriteLine(versionKeyName + " " + name);
else
{
if (sp != "" && install == "1")
{
Console.WriteLine(versionKeyName + " " + name + " SP" + sp);
}
}
if (name != "")
{
continue;
}
foreach (string subKeyName in versionKey.GetSubKeyNames())
{
RegistryKey subKey = versionKey.OpenSubKey(subKeyName);
name = (string)subKey.GetValue("Version", "");
if (name != "")
sp = subKey.GetValue("SP", "").ToString();
install = subKey.GetValue("Install", "").ToString();
if (install == "") //no install info, must be later.
Console.WriteLine(versionKeyName + " " + name);
else
{
if (sp != "" && install == "1")
{
Console.WriteLine(" " + subKeyName + " " + name + " SP" + sp);
}
else if (install == "1")
{
Console.WriteLine(" " + subKeyName + " " + name);
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
For .NET 4.5 and later
// Checking the version using >= will enable forward compatibility,
// however you should always compile your code on newer versions of
// the framework to ensure your app works the same.
private static string CheckFor45DotVersion(int releaseKey)
{
if (releaseKey >= 393295) {
return "4.6 or later";
}
if ((releaseKey >= 379893)) {
return "4.5.2 or later";
}
if ((releaseKey >= 378675)) {
return "4.5.1 or later";
}
if ((releaseKey >= 378389)) {
return "4.5 or later";
}
// This line should never execute. A non-null release key should mean
// that 4.5 or later is installed.
return "No 4.5 or later version detected";
}
private static void Get45or451FromRegistry()
{
using (RegistryKey ndpKey = RegistryKey.OpenBaseKey(RegistryHive.LocalMachine, RegistryView.Registry32).OpenSubKey("SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\NET Framework Setup\\NDP\\v4\\Full\\")) {
if (ndpKey != null && ndpKey.GetValue("Release") != null) {
Console.WriteLine("Version: " + CheckFor45DotVersion((int) ndpKey.GetValue("Release")));
}
else {
Console.WriteLine("Version 4.5 or later is not detected.");
}
}
}
Solution 3:
An alternative method where no right to access the registry are needed, is to check for the existence of classes that are introduced in specific framework updates.
private static bool Is46Installed()
{
// API changes in 4.6: https://github.com/Microsoft/dotnet/blob/master/releases/net46/dotnet46-api-changes.md
return Type.GetType("System.AppContext, mscorlib, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089", false) != null;
}
private static bool Is461Installed()
{
// API changes in 4.6.1: https://github.com/Microsoft/dotnet/blob/master/releases/net461/dotnet461-api-changes.md
return Type.GetType("System.Data.SqlClient.SqlColumnEncryptionCngProvider, System.Data, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089", false) != null;
}
private static bool Is462Installed()
{
// API changes in 4.6.2: https://github.com/Microsoft/dotnet/blob/master/releases/net462/dotnet462-api-changes.md
return Type.GetType("System.Security.Cryptography.AesCng, System.Core, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089", false) != null;
}
private static bool Is47Installed()
{
// API changes in 4.7: https://github.com/Microsoft/dotnet/blob/master/releases/net47/dotnet47-api-changes.md
return Type.GetType("System.Web.Caching.CacheInsertOptions, System.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a", false) != null;
}