If you are provisioning a fresh machine, it is generally advised to install your IDE first, followed by the .NET Developer Pack. This ensures the environment properly registers the reference assemblies upon first launch.
The installs the .NET Framework runtime (for testing and debugging) plus the multi-targeting pack containing reference assemblies needed to build applications for that specific framework version. As noted in the documentation, "Developers can build applications targeting the .NET Framework 4.5.1 using either Visual Studio 2012 or third-party IDEs".
You must have full administrative permissions on the workstation to install system-wide targeting packs.
To display localized error messages, help files, and API documentation. Official .NET Framework 4.5 Developer Pack Links net framework 45 developer pack link
– The recommended version for those needing the 4.5 family, as it is the most stable and includes the latest fixes.
The most forward-compatible approach is to modernize your application. Consider upgrading your project to target or 4.8 , or even migrating to .NET 6/8 (the modern cross-platform .NET). This ensures continued security updates and technical support, as older framework versions no longer receive security fixes.
Complete Guide to Downloading and Installing .NET Framework 4.5 Developer Pack If you are provisioning a fresh machine, it
Run the installer in Compatibility Mode. Right-click the .exe file, select Properties , go to the Compatibility tab, check Run this program in compatibility mode for , and choose Windows 7 .
When you install a developer pack, you are not just installing a single tool. It deploys multiple essential assets onto your development workstation:
Right-click the downloaded file and select . Accept the Microsoft Software License Terms. Click Install and wait for the progress bar to complete. Restart your computer if prompted by the installer. Step 3: Verify Visual Studio Availability Open Visual Studio . Open your project or create a new one. As noted in the documentation, "Developers can build
Note: Microsoft officially ended support for the standalone .NET 4.5 runtime and developer pack in April 2022. It is highly recommended to target at least .NET Framework 4.6.2 or migrate to modern .NET (Core) if you are building new applications. System Requirements
Change the file extension from .nupkg to .zip and extract the contents
Modern Windows operating systems come pre-installed with newer versions of the .NET Framework (like 4.8 or 4.8.1). Because these versions are highly backward-compatible, the standalone 4.5 runtime installer may refuse to run. In this scenario, you only need to install the targeting pack, not the runtime.
On that page, look for:
.NET Framework 4.5 Developer Pack Link: Download and Setup Guide