Microsoft .NET 2.0 End of Life
Support dates and upgrade guidance — rebuilt from live data.
Microsoft .NET 2.0 reached end of life on 1 Oct 2018. It no longer receives security fixes.
Support timeline
Official dates from the Microsoft .NET release process.
| Milestone | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Initial release | 14 Aug 2017 | — |
| End of life | 1 Oct 2018 | 7.9 years ago |
| Latest release | 2.0.9 · 10 Jul 2018 | final |
Where to go from 2.0
Recommended target: Microsoft .NET 10 (supported until 14 Nov 2028).
The newest actively supported branch is Microsoft .NET 10 (latest release 10.0.10).
Frequently asked questions
Is Microsoft .NET 2.0 still safe to use?
Microsoft .NET 2.0 reached end of life on 1 Oct 2018, 2,869 days ago, and is no longer covered by standard support. Running it means no guaranteed security fixes.
Can I still download Microsoft .NET 2.0?
Yes — the final release (2.0.9) generally remains available from vendor archives and OS package mirrors, but installing it means running software with known, unpatched vulnerabilities.
What should I upgrade Microsoft .NET 2.0 to?
Upgrade to Microsoft .NET 10, the newest actively supported branch (supported until 14 Nov 2028).