Microsoft .NET Framework

Framework

Microsoft .NET Framework 4.8.1 is the newest actively maintained release. 7 of 13 tracked cycles remain supported. The next cycle scheduled to reach end-of-life is 4.6.2, on January 12, 2027.

Latest version

4.8.1

—

Actively maintained cycles

of 13 tracked

Total cycles tracked

since Nov 19, 2007

Support pattern

How Microsoft .NET Framework has behaved across the cycles tracked here, rather than what its policy documents state. Useful for judging how much runway a version is likely to have before you commit to it.

Typical support window

79 mo (~6.6 years)

median of 8 completed cycles

New cycle roughly every

10 months

median gap between releases

Compared with framework

+60 mo

longer than the framework median

Next end of life

125 days

Microsoft .NET Framework 4.6.2

Support windows are getting longer: the most recent cycles run about 33 months longer than the earlier ones.

Computed from release and end-of-life dates tracked for Microsoft .NET Framework. Medians are used rather than averages so one unusually short or long release does not skew the figure. Cycles with no recorded end-of-life date are excluded from the support window.

Release lifecycle

Actively maintainedSecurity support onlyEnd of life

Today

4.8.1Latest

4.8.1 · —

4.8

4.8 · —

4.7.2

4.7.2 · —

4.7.1

4.7.1 · —

4.7

4.7 · —

4.6.2

4.6.2 · —

4.6.1

EOL Apr 26, 2022

4.6

EOL Apr 26, 2022

4.5.2

EOL Apr 26, 2022

4.5.1

EOL Jan 12, 2016

4.5

EOL Jan 12, 2016

4.0

EOL Jan 12, 2016

3.5-sp1

3.5-sp1 · —

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