How to Quickly Check Installed NET Framework Version via CMD Command Line in Windows

Discover how to check your NET version using CMD. Follow our easy steps to find the .NET Framework version quickly through the command line on Windows.

If you’re a developer, IT professional, or even a casual user, chances are you’ve encountered a situation where you needed to check the .NET Framework version installed on your system. Perhaps you’re troubleshooting a software issue, ensuring compatibility with a specific application, or simply verifying whether a required .NET version is present. In such cases, knowing how to check the installed .NET version becomes critical, but you may be wondering if it’s possible to do so using just Command Prompt (CMD).

Is It Possible to Check .NET Version Using CMD?

Good news—checking your .NET version using CMD is entirely possible! In this post, we will show you exactly how to do that. We’ll cover two methods: one using the Registry and another using simple Command Prompt queries. Whether you’re looking to find out which version of .NET Framework is running on your system or ensure that your setup meets specific application requirements, this guide will provide you with quick, reliable solutions.

What is the .NET Framework?

The .NET Framework is a powerful software development platform created by Microsoft, designed to build and run applications on Windows. It includes a vast class library and supports various programming languages, which developers can leverage to create robust applications. The .NET Framework simplifies many complex development tasks, from memory management to thread management, by providing a common execution environment known as the Common Language Runtime (CLR).

Whether you’re building desktop applications, web services, or even mobile apps, the .NET Framework serves as the backbone for much of today’s software development. For more detailed information on what the .NET Framework is and how it works, you can visit the official Microsoft .NET Framework documentation.

How to Run Command Prompt (CMD) as Administrator

Before we dive into the methods of checking your .NET version CMD. So, it’s crucial to ensure you’re running Command Prompt with administrative privileges.

Because running the CMD as an Admin gives you the necessary permissions to access system-level data. Such as the Registry, which stores the version information for .NET Framework.

Steps to Run CMD as Administrator:

Press the Windows Key + S and type “Command Prompt” in the search bar.
Right-click on the Command Prompt result and select Run as administrator.
You will now have an elevated Command Prompt window with full access to system data.

Once you’ve got Command Prompt running as an administrator, we can proceed to the next step—checking your .NET version.

How to Check Installed .NET Version Using Command Line on Windows

Now that you have Command Prompt open with administrative rights, let’s explore how to check the installed .NET Framework versions using the command line.

We’ll go over two effective methods: one using the Registry and the other using Command Prompt directly. These methods will help you identify which version is currently running on your system.

Method 1: Using the Windows Registry to Check .NET Version

The Windows Registry stores crucial system information, including details about installed .NET Framework versions. This method is highly recommended for CMD users, as it allows direct access to version data stored in the Registry. By querying the Registry, we can easily determine which version of the .NET Framework is installed on the machine.

Steps to Check .NET Version Using the Registry:

Type the following command onto your CMD prompt to perform the query on Registry for installed .NET Framework versions:

reg query "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Net Framework Setup\NDP\v4\Full" /v Release

After running this command, you will see a Release DWORD value in the output.

How to Interpret the Release Value

Once you run the Command Prompt query to check the Release value, it’s time to interpret what this value means. The Release DWORD corresponds to a specific version of the .NET Framework. Microsoft provides a detailed table that links each Release value to its corresponding .NET Framework version.

For example:

378389 → .NET Framework 4.5
379893 → .NET Framework 4.5.2
393295 → .NET Framework 4.6
460798 → .NET Framework 4.7
528040 → .NET Framework 4.8

If you’re unsure about the version corresponding to a particular Release value, you can refer to the official Microsoft guide on how to determine which .NET versions are installed, where the full list of Release values and their respective .NET Framework versions is provided.

We’ve personally tested this method and can confirm its effectiveness. For example, we obtained the Release value 379893, which, according to the official guide, corresponds to .NET Framework 4.5.2.

Method 2: How to Check .NET Version Using Command Prompt (CMD)

In this method, we directly use Command Prompt to query for .NET Framework version information without needing the Registry. This is a straightforward way for most users to get an overview of which version is installed, especially when you’re looking for quick insights.

Steps to Check .NET Version Using Command Prompt:

In your Command Prompt in as Administrator. Type the following command and press Enter:

reg query "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Net Framework Setup\NDP" /s

The command will output detailed information, including version numbers for all .NET Framework installations on the system.

By executing this command, you’ll be able to view both full and client versions of .NET Framework, including whether they are installed, and other related details like Version and Install values.

How To Find .NET Version

For instance, when running the command mentioned earlier, you may encounter a response similar to the one below—this is exactly what we received. You might see the same output, and we’ve highlighted the relevant version for your convenience:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Net Framework Setup\NDP\CDF

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Net Framework Setup\NDP\CDF\v4.0
    HttpNamespaceReservationInstalled    REG_DWORD    0x1
    NetTcpPortSharingInstalled    REG_DWORD    0x1
    NonHttpActivationInstalled    REG_DWORD    0x1
    SMSvcHostPath    REG_SZ    C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v4.0.30319\
    WMIInstalled    REG_DWORD    0x1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Net Framework Setup\NDP\v4

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Net Framework Setup\NDP\v4\Client
    CBS    REG_DWORD    0x1
    Install    REG_DWORD    0x1
    InstallPath    REG_SZ    C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v4.0.30319\
    Release    REG_DWORD    0x82348
    Servicing    REG_DWORD    0x0
    TargetVersion    REG_SZ    4.0.0
    Version    REG_SZ    4.8.09032

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Net Framework Setup\NDP\v4\Client\1033
    CBS    REG_DWORD    0x1
    Install    REG_DWORD    0x1
    Release    REG_DWORD    0x82348
    Servicing    REG_DWORD    0x0
    TargetVersion    REG_SZ    4.0.0
    Version    REG_SZ    4.8.09032

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Net Framework Setup\NDP\v4\Full
    CBS    REG_DWORD    0x1
    Install    REG_DWORD    0x1
    InstallPath    REG_SZ    C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v4.0.30319\
    Release    REG_DWORD    0x82348
    Servicing    REG_DWORD    0x0
    TargetVersion    REG_SZ    4.0.0
    Version    REG_SZ    4.8.09032

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Net Framework Setup\NDP\v4\Full\1033
    CBS    REG_DWORD    0x1
    Install    REG_DWORD    0x1
    Release    REG_DWORD    0x82348
    Servicing    REG_DWORD    0x0
    TargetVersion    REG_SZ    4.0.0
    Version    REG_SZ    4.8.09032

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Net Framework Setup\NDP\v4.0
    (Default)    REG_SZ    deprecated

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Net Framework Setup\NDP\v4.0\Client
    Install    REG_DWORD    0x1
    Version    REG_SZ    4.0.0.0

As you can see, the Release value highlighted here (0x82348) indicates that .NET Framework 4.8.09032 is installed on our system, which is consistent with what you may find on your machine as well.

This is an efficient method when you simply want to know if a certain version of the .NET Framework is installed or if your system requires an update. It also helps to check if your applications are compatible with the currently installed version of .NET.

Final Thoughts

In this guide, we’ve shown you how to quickly check the .NET Framework version using Command Prompt (CMD). Whether you’re troubleshooting, ensuring software compatibility, or verifying the required version for your applications, knowing how to identify the installed .NET version is essential for maintaining a smooth workflow.

By using Registry queries or Command Prompt, you can easily determine the version running on your system—saving time and preventing potential software conflicts. We’ve tested these methods ourselves, and they are both effective and reliable.

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Vanshika Vampire

I’m Vanshika Vampire, the Admin and Author of Izoate Tech, where I break down complex tech trends into actionable insights. With expertise in Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Computing, Digital Entrepreneurship, and emerging technologies, I help readers stay ahead in the digital revolution. My content is designed to inform, empower, and inspire innovation. Stay connected for expert strategies, industry updates, and cutting-edge tech insights.