.NET Framework 4 Not showing up in Windows Update on Win7 64-bit

m8gix · 18 Apr 2013

I have a program that requires .NET Framework 4 and saw that I didn't have it installed. I think it's supposed to show up in Windows Update but it doesn't and I have installed all the important updates, although I feel that there are updates that Windows Update is not finding because I had no updates show up for a while and today I had a few security updates show up that were published a few years ago.

I downloaded the Fix It from:
Troubleshoot problems with installing updates - WindowsUpdate_dt000

But after I re-scanned for updates it just showed the same updates I had before with 1 available important update (which is IE10 but I dont need it).

Here I have screenshots of my installed updates, I dont know where the log is saved so I'll just post pics:

... Do I have updates missing that are not installed? How do I get .NET Framework 4 to show?

m8gix · 18 Apr 2013

I went ahead and downloaded the installer from: .NET Downloads, Developer Resources & Case Studies | Microsoft .NET Framework

After that Windows Update showed 3 new security updates from .NET Framework 4.5

But why didn't Windows Update find and install Framework 4.5 for me?

tom982 · 19 Apr 2013

Hello m8gix,

Things like the .NET framework and the C++ redistributables aren't delivered via Windows Update, you have to install them yourself by visiting the Microsoft Download Centre, as you found out. Once installed, you will get security updates through Windows Update though.

This is just because not everyone needs these components so it isn't fair to make everyone download them when some people might have limited bandwidth :)

Tom