.NET
Microsoft’s .NET Long-Term Support (LTS): Simplified
This article is part of a series on Migrating from .NET Framework to .NET, also available as a chapter in our free, downloadable eBook
.NET 10 has officially arrived, keeping up with .NET’s yearly excitement and fanfare. So what does that mean for .NET Core 2.1, .NET Core 3.1, .NET Framework 4.8, .NET 5, 6, 7 etc…?
There’s a lot to keep track of! Microsoft has scattered the information across a variety of GitHub pages, blog posts, and announcements, so it’s hard to know what’s still supported and what’s been deprecated.
Instead of cross-checking various docs, use these handy charts we’ve made to understand how your .NET set-up is being supported right now.
.NET Framework
| Version | Existing Support | Support End Date |
| 1.x | ✘ out of support | |
| 2.x | ✘ out of support | |
| 3.x | ✘ out of support | |
| 3.5 | ✓ Operating System | ⚠️ 2029 (April) |
| 4.0 to 4.6.1 | ✘ out of support | |
| .NET Core 1.0 – 3.1 | ✘ out of support | |
| 4.6.2 to 4.7 | ⚠️Operating System (mixed) – review support policy of each version | ⚠️ Varies (mixed) |
| 4.8 | ✓ Operating System | ✓ Indefinite (2031+) |
Any developers using an out-of-support .NET should consider migrating to .NET 10 as soon as possible.
Any developers using a yellow-warning .NET, or running applications on deprecated frameworks like Windows Communication Framework, should target with caution and start considering a migration plan.
.NET 5 and Beyond
| Platform | Release Date | Support End Date |
| 5 | November 2020 | |
| 6 | November 2021 | |
| 7 | November 2022 | |
| 8 | November 2023 | ✓ 2026 (November) |
| 9 | November 2024 | ✓ 2026 (November) |
| 10 | November 2025 | ✓ 2028 (November) |
All odd-numbered. NETs from .NET 9, only have support for two years after their release. This used to be only 18 months, until Microsoft announced late 2025 that they would be extending this by 6 months. Comparatively, even-numbered .NETs like .NET 8 and .NET 10 have three years of support from release.
Understand Your .NET’s Support Status
Although .NET Framework 3.5 and 4.8 are estimated to last another 10 years, it never hurts to start planning for migration. Consider how you’ll move your package libraries; now may be the time to consider a CI/CD method.
I know it’s a lot to absorb, and if you’re concerned about your .NET long-term support, I suggest bookmarking this page to keep the key points for future reference! Luckily, I’ve included this page as a chapter in our eBook the .NET Migration Guide, your one-stop shop for tips on ASP.NET Web Forms applications, microservices, understanding SemVer, and more. Download your free copy today!
