Install .Net Framework 3.5 on Windows 8.1 & 10 with WSUS

Installing .Net Framework 3.5 on Windows 8.1 and 10 is only through Programs and Features in Control Panel. But if the computer is configured to get the windows updates through WSUS, installing through Control Panel will most likely fail, no matter what else you try.

There is a Group Policy setting that you can alter to bypass getting the updates through WSUS.

Open Group Policy Editor (local or in AD), go to Computer Configuration → Policies → Administrative Templates → System, and open a setting called Specify settings for optional component installation… on the right-side panel.

Group Policy - Specify settings for optional component installation

Then select Enabled, and check the option “Contact Windows Update directly to download repair content instead of WSUS

Group Policy - Specify settings for optional component installation

Click OK and done. Run “gpupdate /force” to update the changes on the workstations to avoid the reboot.

10 thoughts on “Install .Net Framework 3.5 on Windows 8.1 & 10 with WSUS

  1. Hi,
    Greetings!!
    Could you help me if we can enable settings “Open Group Policy Editor (local or in AD), go to Computer Configuration → Policies → Administrative Templates → System, and open a setting called Specify settings for optional component installation…” using any commands like Powershell or DISM something… as I am looking after to automate this process.

    Kindly help me if there is any procedure by using commands.

    Best Regards,
    Sathish Kumar

  2. Thanks. Your a life saver! This was giving me headaches it was giving me so many issues. All sorted now though!

  3. thank you this was the perfect solution, problem was WSUS was kinda blocking the install, its fixed with this.

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