How to Install .NET Framework 3.5 for Album Art Downloader (Windows 10/11)
If Album Art Downloader won’t start on Windows 10 or 11 — or Windows shows a message asking you to install the .NET Framework — this page walks you through the fix in about five minutes.
Why does Album Art Downloader need .NET Framework 3.5?
Album Art Downloader XUI (v1.05) was built on Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5. Windows 10 and 11 ship with newer .NET versions but do not include 3.5 out of the box, so the program can’t run until you enable it. This is a standard Windows component — not something the program bundles — and enabling it is safe and reversible.
Method 1: Enable it in Windows Features (recommended)
- Open the Control Panel (press Win + R, type
control, press Enter). - Go to Programs → Turn Windows features on or off.
- In the list, tick the box for .NET Framework 3.5 (includes .NET 2.0 and 3.0).
- Click OK. Windows will download the needed files through Windows Update — this requires an internet connection and may take a few minutes.
- Restart your PC if prompted, then launch Album Art Downloader again.
Method 2: Enable it with a command (alternative)
If the graphical method fails, you can enable the same feature from an elevated command prompt:
- Right-click the Start button and choose Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin).
- Run this command and press Enter:
DISM /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:NetFx3 /All
- Wait for the operation to complete (it downloads files from Windows Update), then restart if asked.
Note: both methods need administrator rights on your PC. On a work or school computer, you may need your IT administrator to do this for you.
What if you have no internet connection?
The two methods above download .NET Framework 3.5 files from Windows Update. If the PC is offline, you can point the installer at a Windows installation disc or ISO instead (Microsoft documents a /Source option for the DISM command that accepts install media as the file source). Once .NET 3.5 is enabled from any source, Album Art Downloader will start normally.
Frequently asked questions
Is .NET Framework 3.5 safe to install?
Yes. It’s an official Microsoft Windows component, and installing it only adds the older framework libraries — it doesn’t remove or replace the newer .NET versions already on your system.
I installed .NET 3.5 but the program still won’t start. What now?
Make sure the feature is actually enabled (reopen “Turn Windows features on or off” and confirm the box is ticked and not half-filled). A restart is sometimes required. If it still fails, the problem is likely something else — see our FAQ.
Does this apply to Windows 7 or 8?
Windows 7 already includes .NET Framework 3.5, so you generally don’t need this fix there. Windows 8/8.1 also require enabling it the same way as Windows 10/11.
Will enabling .NET 3.5 slow down my PC?
No. The framework libraries just sit on disk until a program that needs them runs. There is no background service or performance cost.
Haven’t installed the program yet? Grab it from our download page first, then come back here if Windows asks for the framework.