Does WinUI3 C# project really need .net runtime?

Question

I have a C# WinUI3 project, target framework is .net 6.

And I setup a brand new Windows10 system, no .net 6 runtime is installed, but why this project can still running?

Does WinUI3 project really need .net runtime?

Answer 1

Hello @aluzi liu,

Windows ships with .NET. See How to: Determine which .NET Framework versions are installed.

• The check mark icon ✔️ denotes OS versions on which .NET Framework is installed by default.
• The plus sign icon ➕ denotes OS versions on which .NET Framework doesn't come installed but can be installed.
• The asterisk ***** denotes OS versions on which .NET Framework (whether preinstalled or not) must be enabled in Control Panel or, for Windows Server, through the Server Manager.

Answer 2

target framework is .net 6.

Your app uses .NET Framework 6, so it must be installed on the machine; how else could it work?

Answer 3

But the system is brand new installed, and does not have "C:\Program Files\dotnet" folder

And I copy "dotnet.exe" tool to this computer, running:

dotnet --list-sdks

dotnet --list-runtimes

both return empty:

May I say that .net runtime is not installed on this computer?

Answer 4

Windows10 version is 22H2, I can not found "C:\program files\dotnet" folder

I also copy dotnet.exe tool to this computer, running:

dotnet --list-sdks

dotnet --list-runtimes

Both return empty, so I can confirm that no .net 6 runtime is installed.