Microsoft .NET Desktop Runtime 10.0.14
Microsoft .NET Desktop Runtime is the free Windows component that apps built with Windows Forms or WPF need to start, offered here in versions 10, 9 and 8 for x64 and x86, alongside the Visual C++ runtimes.
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Microsoft .NET Desktop Runtime is the free Windows component that many modern desktop programs need before they will start.
If an app greets you with "You must install or update .NET to run this application", this is almost always what it is missing.
It is not a program you open yourself, it just lets other programs run, and the fix takes a couple of minutes.
What the .NET Desktop Runtime Actually Does - in Plain Terms
Developers build many Windows apps on Microsoft's .NET platform instead of writing everything from scratch. Those apps then expect the shared .NET pieces to already be on your PC, the same way a game expects DirectX.
The Desktop Runtime is the version for programs with windows and buttons, built with Windows Forms or WPF. It already includes the basic .NET Runtime, so it covers console tools too.
The Error That Brings Most People Here
A missing runtime usually shows up as a dialog when you start an app. The details name exactly what is needed:
- The message: "You must install or update .NET to run this application."
- Framework: 'Microsoft.WindowsDesktop.App' means the Desktop Runtime, and the version number after it tells you which one.
- Architecture: x64 or x86, which tells you which installer to pick.
Match those two details on the download page, install, and start the app again. No restart is normally needed.
Why There Are Three Versions
An app built for .NET 8 looks for version 8, and by default it will not run on version 10. Installing the newest runtime does not cover older apps, which is why the .NET Desktop Runtime download page carries all three current versions.
| Version | Support | Install it if |
|---|---|---|
| 10.0.14 | Long-term support until November 2028 | An app asks for version 10, or you are not sure - it is the newest |
| 9.0.22 | Support ends 10 November 2026 | An app asks for version 9 |
| 8.0.33 | Support ends 10 November 2026 | An app asks for version 8 |
The versions install side by side and do not conflict, so keeping all three is fine. Each comes as a 64-bit (x64) and a 32-bit (x86) installer; most PCs need x64, but install x86 too if a 32-bit app asks for it.
Support for 8 and 9 ends in November.
After 10 November 2026, .NET 8 and 9 get no more security fixes. Apps built on them keep working, but it is worth updating those apps once their developers move to .NET 10.
How to Install It
- Read the version and architecture in the app's error message.
- Download the matching installer, for example windowsdesktop-runtime-10.0.14-win-x64.exe for a 64-bit app asking for version 10.
- Run it and accept the prompt, then start the app again.
If you prefer the command line, Windows' built-in package manager does the same job: winget install Microsoft.DotNet.DesktopRuntime.10, with 8 or 9 in place of 10 for the older versions.
To see which runtimes are already installed, open Command Prompt and type dotnet --list-runtimes. Desktop Runtime versions appear as Microsoft.WindowsDesktop.App.
.NET Desktop Runtime or .NET Framework?
They are different things with confusingly similar names. The older .NET Framework, versions 4.x, is built into Windows 10 and 11, and some apps such as Driver Store Explorer use it instead.
If an error mentions ".NET Framework 4.8", you need that, not this runtime. If it mentions .NET 8, 9 or 10, or Microsoft.WindowsDesktop.App, you are in the right place.
Which Windows Versions Are Supported
Microsoft supports .NET 8, 9 and 10 on Windows 11 and on the Windows 10 editions still in support, such as LTSC and Enterprise, plus Windows Server 2012 and later. Windows 7 and 8.1 are not supported.
On an older PC, our guide to Windows 7 in 2026 covers what still runs there. For moving up, the Windows 11 Installation Assistant handles the upgrade on supported hardware.
Wondering whether the upgrade costs anything? Can you really get Windows 11 for free walks through the legal routes.
Other Runtimes Apps Ask For
.NET is one of several shared Microsoft components that programs expect. If an app still will not start after installing it, the missing piece is often one of these:
- Visual C++ Redistributable Runtimes for errors naming MSVCP140.dll or VCRUNTIME140.dll.
- Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime for apps that show blank windows or ask for WebView2.
- DirectX for older games and video tools that need legacy DirectX files.
Video tools are a common reason to need .NET: HandBrake, for example, asks for the .NET Desktop Runtime on Windows. The Other Tools category has more system components.
Quick questions
Is the .NET Desktop Runtime safe and free?
Yes. It is Microsoft's own official component, free to install, and the files here are Microsoft's unmodified installers.
Do I need all three versions?
Only the ones your apps ask for. Installing all three does no harm, because they sit side by side, but version 10 alone will not satisfy an app built for 8.
x64 or x86 - which one do I need?
Use the architecture named in the error message. Most apps today are x64; install x86 as well only if a 32-bit app asks for it.
Can I uninstall old .NET versions?
You can remove them in Settings, then Apps, but any program built on that version will stop starting. Keep the versions your apps use.
What happens when .NET 8 support ends?
Apps built on .NET 8 keep working after 10 November 2026, but the runtime gets no more security updates. Update those apps when their developers release .NET 10 versions.
Does it work on Windows 7?
No. .NET 8, 9 and 10 do not support Windows 7 or 8.1.
Want to see what is new in Windows itself? Our look at Windows 11 26H2 covers the latest update.
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Best Microsoft .NET Desktop Runtime Alternatives
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DirectX
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ffmpegGUI
FFmpegGUI is the frozen, simplest end of the audio encoders category, kept here for people who still need its AC3 and MP2 output.
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Gom Player
A free Windows media player with built-in codecs, automatic subtitle matching and a paid ad-free edition alongside it.
