.NET Framework 4.8 is available on Windows Update, WSUS and MU Catalog

Namrata Karnam

01/14/2020: This post has been updated with information about the Microsoft .NET Framework 4.8 for Windows Updates released on January 14, 2020 via Windows Update/WSUS/Catalog to include the servicing fixes since the .NET Framework 4.8 August 2019 Windows Update. Apart from the servicing fixes, there is no change in the .NET Framework 4.8 product from the August 13th, 2019 Windows update. Please see the FAQ section below for additional information about this refresh and the Cumulative update blogposts for details on the servicing fixes.

We are happy to announce that Microsoft .NET Framework 4.8 has been refreshed and is now available on Windows Update, Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) and Microsoft Update (MU) Catalog. This release includes all quality and reliability fixes since the .NET Framework 4.8 initial release.

.NET Framework 4.8 is available for the following client and server platforms:

  • Windows Client versions: Windows 10 version 1903, Windows 10 version 1809, Windows 10 version 1803, Windows 10 version 1709, Windows 10 version 1703, Windows 10 version 1607, Windows 8.1, Windows 7 SP1

  • Windows Server versions: Windows Server 2019, Windows Server version 1809, Windows Server version 1803, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1

Note: Windows 10 May 2019 Update ships with .NET Framework 4.8 already included.

The updated .NET Framework 4.8 installers (which include the additional quality and reliability fixes) are available for download. * Web Installer * Offline Installer * Developer Pack Installer * All Packages

The updated .NET Framework 4.8 can be installed on top of the initial release of .NET Framework 4.8 from April 2019. All download links are provided at .NET Framework downloads.

Quality and Reliability Fixes

The following fixes were included in the August 2019 Windows update for .NET Framework 4.8. Please see the Cumulative update blogposts for details on the servicing fixes since the August update.

ASP.NET: * Fixed System.Web.Caching initialization bug when using ASP.NET cache on machines without IIS. [889110, System.Web.dll, Bug]

 Windows Forms: * Fixed the ability to select ComboBox edit field text using mouse down+move [853381, System.Windows.Forms.dll, Bug] * Fixed the issue with interaction between WPF user control and hosting WinForms app when processing keyboard input. [899206, WindowsFormsIntegration.dll, Bug] * Fixed the issue with Narrator/NVDA announcing of PropertyGrid’s ComboBox expanding and collapsing action. [792617, System.Windows.Forms.dll, Bug] * Fixed the issue with rendering “…” button of PropertyGrid control in HC mode to draw button background and dots contrasted. [792780, System.Windows.Forms.dll, Bug]

WPF: * Fixed a handle leak during creation of a Window in WPF applications that are manifested for Per Monitor DPI V2 Awareness.  This leak may lead to extraneous GC.Collect calls that can impact performance in Window creation scenarios.  [845699, PresentationFramework.dll, Bug] * Fixed a regression caused by the bug fix involving bindings with DataContext explicitly on the binding path. [850536, PresentationFramework.dll, Bug] * Fixed crash due to ArgumentNullException when loading a DataGrid containing a ComboBox while automation is active.  For example, when navigating Visual Studio to the Text Editor\C#\Code Style\Naming page in Tools\Options. [801039, PresentationFramework.dll, Bug] You can see the complete list of improvements for .NET Framework 4.8 in the .NET Framework 4.8 release notes.

Knowledge Base Articles

You can reference the following Knowledge Base Articles for the WU/WSUS/Catalog release:

OS Platform .NET Framework 4.8 Redistributable .NET Framework 4.8 Language Pack
Windows 7 SP1/Windows Server 2008 R2 KB4503548 KB4497410
Windows Server 2012 KB4486081 KB4087513
Windows 8.1/Windows Server 2012 R2 KB4486105 KB4087514
Windows 10 Version 1607 KB4486129 (Catalog Only) KB4087515 (Catalog Only)
Windows 10 Version 1703 KB4486129 KB4087515
Windows Server 2016 KB4486129 (Catalog Only) KB4087515 (Catalog Only)
Windows 10 Version 1709 KB4486153 KB4087642
Windows 10 Version 1803 KB4486153 KB4087642
Windows Server, version 1803 KB4486153 KB4087642
Windows 10 Version 1809 KB4486153 KB4087642
Windows Server, version 1809 KB4486153 (Catalog Only) KB4087642 (Catalog Only)
Windows Server 2019 KB4486153 (Catalog Only) KB4087642 (Catalog Only)

 

How is this release available?

Automatic Updates .NET Framework 4.8 is being offered as a Recommended update. The reliability fixes for .NET Framework 4.8 will be co-installed with .NET Framework 4.8. At this time, we’re not throttling the January release as we have done with previous .NET Framework releases.

Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) and Catalog

WSUS administrators will see this update in their WSUS admin console. The update is also available in the MU Catalog for download and deployment. When you synchronize your WSUS server with Microsoft Update server (or use the Microsoft Update Catalog site for importing updates), you will see the updates for .NET Framework 4.8 published for each platform.

More Information

Language Packs

In addition to the language neutral package, the .NET Framework 4.8 Language Packs are also available on Windows Update. These can be used if you have a previous language pack for .NET Framework installed as well as if you don’t, but instead have a localized version of the base operating system or have one or more Multilingual User Interface (MUI) pack installed.

Blocking the automatic deployment of .NET 4.8

Enterprises may have client machines that connect directly to the public Windows Update servers rather than to an internal WSUS server. In such cases, an administrator may have a need to prevent the .NET Framework 4.8 from being deployed to these client machines to allow testing of internal applications to be completed before deployment.

In such scenarios, administrators can deploy a registry key to machines and prevent the .NET Framework 4.8 from being offered to those machines. More information about how to use this blocker registry key can be found in the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article KB4516563: How to temporarily block the installation of the .NET Framework 4.8.

FAQ

What do I need to do if I already have .NET Framework 4.8 product installed and want the reliability fixes?

If you installed .NET Framework 4.8 via Download site earlier, then you need to reinstall the product using the links at the top of the blog.

Do I still need to install updated .NET Framework 4.8 if I am getting .NET 4.8 from Windows Update/WSUS?

No, .NET Framework 4.8 via Windows Update and WSUS will install the product and the included reliability fixes.

Will the detection key (Release Key) for the product change after I install the updated .NET Framework 4.8?

No, the Release key value in the registry will remain the same. See here for guidance on product detection and release key value for .NET 4.8.

I am an IT Administrator managing updates for my organization. I see a new version of “Microsoft .NET Framework 4.8 for Windows” Updates and the ones from August 2019 (with same title) are expired. Should I deploy the new changes?

If you had not deployed .NET Framework 4.8 product from August 2019 or now wish to deploy the .NET Framework 4.8 product in your organization then please continue to approve the new update and let the old update expire. The January 2020 update just replaces the older update and has been refreshed with the latest servicing fixes as of January 14th, 2020. Apart from the servicing fixes, there is no change in the .NET Framework 4.8 product from the August 13th, 2019 Windows update.

Q: I have already installed/deployed the “Microsoft .NET Framework 4.8 for Windows” update from August 2019. Do I still need the January update (with the same title and KB number)?

If you have already installed the Windows update from August, you do not need to install the January product update for .NET Framework 4.8.

I download updates from the Microsoft Update Catalog to support my organization’s internet-disconnected scenarios. Do I need to install the “Microsoft .NET Framework 4.8 for Windows” updates from January 2020?

If you have installed the Microsoft .NET Framework 4.8 for Windows updates from August 2019, you do not need to install these updates from January 2020 otherwise please download and install the latest from the catalog. The Update titles and KB numbers remain the same as in August.    

38 comments

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  • Shane Sullivan 0

    Can I ask why this took four months to arrive?

    • Namrata KarnamMicrosoft employee 0

      Windows Update is the next ship vehicle avaiable after the initial release and its typically around this timeframe. 

  • Robert 0

    I’ve already installed the RTM Developer Pack on my machine. Windows Updates offers me to update .NET Framework 4.8 – do I have to re-install the Developer Pack from the links above? Or is this not necessary if I let Windows Update do its job? Just asking, because Windows Update says .NET Framework and nothing about the Developers Pack.

    • Wil Wilder Apaza Bustamante 0

      This comment has been deleted.

    • Namrata KarnamMicrosoft employee 0

      You do not need to install the dev pack if you go with the Windows update. 

      • Jim Auman 0

        Namrata.  I have a similar question. We have a computer that has both the .NET Framework 4.7.2 Runtime AND the .NET Framework 4.7.2 Developer Pack installed on it.  If i install the .NET Framework 4.8 Runtime on that computer, do i still need to install the .NET Framework 4.8 Developer Pack as well?  Or does the runtime installer upgrade both?  I would guess that i need to install both the Runtime and the Developer Pack for version 4.8.  Because the runtime would not have components that are only in the Developer Pack.  Right?

  • Zoltan Erszenyi 0

    Have you guys thought of how many Exchange servers you are bound to break? There are many installations which, while are still supported (a.k.a. running on latest CU -1), aren’t supporting .Net 4.8 – see https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/exchange/plan-and-deploy/supportability-matrix?view=exchserver-2019#microsoft-net-framework.
    You’ve broken one of my Exchange servers last year with .Net 4.7.2. Why not do it again?
    Second, you’re saying that “.NET Framework 4.8 is being offered as a Recommended update.” Utter lie. .Net 4.8 comes up in the “Important” list in Windows Update.
    When will you start communicating with other product teams and publish accurate information?
    I warned my fellow Exchange administrators, just to stay on the safe side – http://ezoltan.blogspot.com/2019/08/important-update-bound-to-break-your.html

  • Zoltan Erszenyi 0

    Have you guys thought of how many Exchange servers you are bound to break? There are many installations which, while are still supported (a.k.a. running on latest CU -1), aren’t supporting .Net 4.8 – see https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/exchange/plan-and-deploy/supportability-matrix?view=exchserver-2019#microsoft-net-framework.
    You’ve broken one of my Exchange servers last year with .Net 4.7.2. Why not do it again?
    Second, you’re saying that “.NET Framework 4.8 is being offered as a Recommended update.” Please don’t make “recommendations” when you don’t know the consequences. .Net 4.8 comes up in the “Important” list in Windows Update, will likely be installed by many Exchange admins by default (it is “important” after all), only to find that they’ve just killed their Exchange server.
    When will you start communicating with other product teams and publish accurate information?
    I warned my fellow Exchange administrators, just to stay on the safe side – http://ezoltan.blogspot.com/2019/08/important-update-bound-to-break-your.html

  • Mikael Aspehed 0

    Hi,
    Does the .NET Framework 4.8 have any pre-reqs on Windows 7 SP1?
    Looking at it in SCCM, the Windows 7 clients do not tag it as required and therefore don’t see it when it is deployed on them.

    BR
    Mikael

    • Namrata KarnamMicrosoft employee 0

      Yes the D3DCompiler package is a pre-req but its included as part of the Windows update for Win 7 SP1 and installed accordingly. If you need to install the standalone package, you can download it from the Microsoft Update Catalog site. There is more information about this package available in this support article

  • Jim Wooley 0

    What version of the 4.8 update solves the last WPF bug (specifically for Visual Studio’s Naming styles window)? I have 1902 with the latest available 4.8 update (from July) and the bug still appears to be there for me. Is the Aug update not available yet?

    • Namrata KarnamMicrosoft employee 0

      This fix is included in the latest update. Please install from the links at the beginning of this post to get it. 

      • Michael Kopljan 0

        VS still crashes!

  • Matt Willing 0

    I am also experiencing the last WPF bug (the issue with the Naming page in Visual Studio) but I have .NET 4.8 installed, it seems.
    I have the latest Windows version (Version 1903, OS build 18362.295) and .NET Framework 4.8 (the .NET Framework Release code in the registry is 528040). If I click on the links at the top of this article, the installer runs and unpacks its files and then informs me that the installation will not occur because “.NET Framework 4.8 or a later update is already installed on this computer.”
    The IDE still crashes with an ArgumentNullException “at System.Windows.Automation.Peers.DataGridItemAutomationPeer..ctor”
    Any other suggestions for resolving this issue?

    • Namrata KarnamMicrosoft employee 0

      The update for 1903 is available here: KB4511555. Can you try with this please?

  • Calum Hodgetts 0

    When will .NET Framework 4.8 be available in the update catalog and WSUS for Server 2016 and 2019?

    • Namrata KarnamMicrosoft employee 0

      Hi Calum, it is available now. For convenience, catalog links for WS 2016 and 2019 are referenced in the Knowledge Base Articles section of the blogpost above.

      • Mike Estes 0

        It is not yet showing up on WSUS for 2016 and 2019, I only see the updates. It is only showing up for 2012 R2, along with the updates, where it set to be important so it installed by default last month.

        We now have had our 2012 R2 boxes out of sync with 2016 and 2019 for a month now and it looks like another month since I still don’t see it showing up for 2016 and 2019 as of Sept 16th.

      • Phil Morrow 0

        I’m with Mike here. All 4.8 packages show in WSUS EXCEPT those targeting server 2016 or server 2019…. what’s up with that. I’d rather not load them manually. Why doesn’t the normal WSUS syncs pick this up? We’re getting all other 2016 and 2019 server updates.

        • Calum Hodgetts 0

          I was tired of waiting so I just imported them to my WSUS so SCCM would pick them up. Looks like they were published to the catalog but not to WSUS, which means the “master list” here is wrong again as it states “Target platforms: Windows Server 1903, Windows 10 Version 1903, Windows Server 2019, Windows 10 Version 1809, Windows 10 Version 1803, Windows Server 2016, Windows 10 Version 1709, Windows 10 Version 1703, Windows 10 Version 1607, Windows 10 Version 1511, and Windows 10 Version 1507”.

          • Mike Estes 0

            Thank you Phil and Calum, good to know that I wasn’t mistaken in my finding. Sad to know that it doesn’t seem that they care to even respond here or on Twitter about fixing this issue on their side.

            WU is getting sadder and sadder every month, we’re now finding several servers each month that say they’re fully up to date but are not and requires some heavy modifications of the WU data to fix. Most all of the biggest problems are with our Server 2016 updates, wish we hadn’t used that at all anywhere as these are the most painful to keep up to date with updates taking a long time, failing multiple times, Windows Server 2016 spontaneously rebooting on their own post install of updates, etc.

          • Namrata KarnamMicrosoft employee 0

            So sorry for the delay folks! We do care about this issue and are working with our WSUS team to get to the bottom of this. Will keep you all posted.

  • Michael Gorn 0

    There’s a serious bug in .NET 4.8 and it’s fully described here: https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windowsserver/en-US/a563b4e2-67d0-4f96-a10e-5136bc86521b/failover-cluster-manager-bug-on-server-2019-after-net-48-installed-unable-to-type-more-than-two

    Basically, after installing .NET 4.8 on Windows Server 2019 and rebooting, you are no longer able to input IPs that have 3 digits in any of the octets, into the Create Cluster Wizard (after installing Failover Clustering). Are you aware of this bug? Can you please create a KB article on it?

    • Namrata KarnamMicrosoft employee 0

      Thanks for reporting this Michael! We were able to repro this on our end as well and are working to find the root cause. I will provide an update as soon as I have it.

      • sky 0

        Thanks a lot for your effort. I never see Microsoft person answering hard questions in internet. maybe you are the only one. please keep the great work going on…

        • Namrata KarnamMicrosoft employee 0

          We are currently working on a fix for this issue and will keep you posted on it. Thanks again for reporting it!

          • Michael Gorn 0

            @Namrata Do you have an approximate timeline on when the fix will be released? Thank you.

    • Namrata KarnamMicrosoft employee 0

      Update on this – this fix was released late Jan 2020.

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