However, it may be possible that you encounter an error with the .NET version, which results in the app being unable to install on your Windows PC. In that case, you may see either of the following error messages:
The .NET Framework 4.7 is not supported on this operating system.Cannot install .NET Framework 4.7.Error: Setup has detected that this computer does not meet the requirements to complete this operation. The following blocking issues must be resolved before you can proceed.
Even though your operating system may fully support the .NET version, it will still tell you that it doesn’t due to another reason as well. There are a few workarounds you can perform to resolve these issues and successfully install .NET as well as the accompanying software.
Why .NET Framework is Unable to Install
There can be several reasons why the .NET version may not be able to install on your operating system.
Why .NET Framework is Unable to Install Fix “The .NET Framework 4.7 Is Not Supported On This Operating System” Uninstall Later .NET Version Check Installed .NET Version Uninstall Newer .NET Change CSDVersion Value Update Windows 10 OS Closing Words
One of the reasons is because your OS genuinely doesn’t support .NET Framework, especially version 4.7. The list below highlights the versions it does support: Windows Server 2016 (x64)Windows Server 2012 R2 (x64)Windows Server 2012 (x64)Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 (x64)Windows 10 Version 1607 (x86 and x64)Windows 8.1 (x86 and x64)Windows 7 SP1 (x86 and x64) Of course, the OS versions released after these are also supported. You can check your OS version by typing in winver in the Run Command box. Another very common reason for .NET being unable to install is because a later version is already installed. When a later version is installed, you cannot install an older version of .NET. In that case, you must first uninstall the later version of .NET, and then install the version that you want to. Once it is installed, you can then reinstall the later version of .NET if it is still required.
Now that we understand the causes, let us discuss the potential solutions for these problems.
Windows Server 2016 (x64)Windows Server 2012 R2 (x64)Windows Server 2012 (x64)Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 (x64)Windows 10 Version 1607 (x86 and x64)Windows 8.1 (x86 and x64)Windows 7 SP1 (x86 and x64)
Of course, the OS versions released after these are also supported. You can check your OS version by typing in winver in the Run Command box. Once it is installed, you can then reinstall the later version of .NET if it is still required.
Fix “The .NET Framework 4.7 Is Not Supported On This Operating System”
Uninstall Later .NET Version
As we already mentioned, the common cause for .NET not being able to install is that a later version is already installed. In that case, you must first uninstall the later version, then attempt to reinstall the version which initially gave the error. But first, you must confirm that a later version is installed. That said, we have distributed this portion in 2 parts:
How to check the current version of .NET installedUninstall newer .NET and then reinstall .NET 4.7
Check Installed .NET Version
This step includes navigating through the Windows Registry. To avoid any fatal errors to your OS, we suggest that you create a system restore point just in case.
Uninstall Newer .NET
To uninstall .NET, perform these steps: Note: If you are unable to open the Full Key, then you do not have .NET 4.5 or later installed. Compare this number to the associated .NET version in the table below to confirm which version is installed. Since we need to install .NET 4.7, if you have a decimal value higher than 460798, you must uninstall the later .NET version and then attempt to reinstall .NET 4.7. This takes us to the second phase of the solution. This solution resolves the issue of .NET not installing if a later version is already installed on your computer. However, if this still does not work, there are some other workarounds.
Change CSDVersion Value
CSDVersion is a Windows Registry value that specifies which service pack is installed. If none is installed, its value by default will be “0.” However, in this guide, we will change it to “100” to make the OS think that a service pack is installed, allowing us to install .NET 4.7 successfully. The table below lists the values of the DWORD “CSDVersion” and which service pack they represent: Perform the following steps to get the job done: Note: Misconfiguration of critical values in the system’s registry could be fatal for your operating system. Therefore, we insist that you create a system restore point before proceeding forward with the process. These solutions usually work for users having the said issues with .NET 4.7. However, if you are using an older version of Windows 10 and are still unable to install .NET 4.7, then you may want to upgrade.
Update Windows 10 OS
As we highlighted at the beginning of this post, there are a few Windows 10 versions that are not supported with .NET 4.7. In that case, you must install the pending updates through Windows Update to achieve a higher release of the OS. To confirm your OS version, type in winver in the Run Command box and see your current operating system build. If you find that your OS is older than version 1607, we suggest you immediately update it through Windows Update.
Closing Words
Installing apps and programs is very common for a computer user. However, there is no use for them if the software they run on, i.e. .NET, is absent from the PC. Therefore, before installing the app, you must resolve the installation issue for .NET. You can try out the workarounds provided in this post to successfully install .NET on your PC and bypass any error prompts.