Manage - .Net Runtimes

Summary

This CW RMM implementation helps keep .NET on Windows devices clean, current, and secure. It can list installed .NET components, install the latest supported versions, update patch releases, remove unsupported versions, or perform a full cleanup and refresh.

The script checks Microsoft release data in real time, then uses that information to decide what to install, update, or remove. This reduces manual effort and lowers the risk of keeping outdated .NET versions.

When you run this script, expect software changes on the endpoint. Depending on the selected action, it may download installers, silently install updates, and remove older versions. A stable internet connection and administrator access are required.

NOTE:

• Installing or uninstalling sdk can also install or remove related aspNetCoreRuntime, desktopRuntime, and runtime components.
• Installing or uninstalling desktopRuntime can also install or remove the related runtime.
• For actions other than list, if Type is not provided, the script uses desktopRuntime by default.
• Install and update use the machine's native architecture installer (for example, x64 installer on x64 machines).
• If x86 components already exist on a machine, the script can detect and remove outdated x86 components during uninstall, update, and renew.
• Use Version carefully:
  • For list, install, uninstall, and update, you can target specific major versions (including unsupported versions).
  • For renew with Version, all specified versions must still be supported. If any are unsupported, the action will stop.
• Set Force to 1 to apply force removal behavior. Any other value (or blank) means force is not applied.
• For uninstall, update, and renew, older-version cleanup primarily targets components detected by dotnet.exe. With Force = 1, cleanup can also remove .NET entries found through uninstall registry data and package metadata, including components that dotnet.exe does not list.
• renew is the most aggressive option. It can remove versions you are not targeting. Review your required application dependencies before using it.

Sample Run

Dependencies

• Optimize-DotNetRunTime

User Parameters

Name	Example	Required	Default	Type	Description
Action	list install uninstall update renew	False	-	DropDown	Select the action to perform. Valid values are: list: Lists all installed .NET runtimes and SDKs. install: Installs the latest supported versions of .NET runtimes and SDKs. uninstall: Uninstalls unsupported or specific versions of .NET runtimes and SDKs. update: Updates to latest patches and removes superseded patches. renew: Removes all unsupported versions of .NET runtimes and SDKs and installs the latest available version. Note: Default Action is list
Type	sdk runtime desktopRuntime aspNetCoreRuntime all	False	-	DropDown	Select the type of .NET component to manage. Valid values are: sdk: Manages .NET SDKs. runtime: Manages .NET runtimes. desktopRuntime: Manages .NET desktop runtimes. aspNetCoreRuntime: Manages ASP.NET Core runtimes. all: Manages all .NET components. Note: Default Type is desktopRuntime
Version	8 9 8, 9	False	-	Text String	(Optional) Limit the action to specific .NET versions by major version number (e.g., 8, 9, or 8, 9, 10). When omitted, the script uses its default behavior for each action. Accepts both supported and EOL versions for list, install, uninstall, and update. For renew, all specified versions must be actively supported. Note: Default is not set (all applicable versions are targeted).
Force		False	-	Flag	Select it to apply forced MSI dependency bypass during removal. If Force is not selected, normal safe behavior is used.

Task Creation

Script Details

Step 1

Navigate to Automation ➞ Tasks

Step 2

Create a new Script Editor style task by choosing the Script Editor option from the Add dropdown menu

The New Script page will appear on clicking the Script Editor button:

Step 3

Fill in the following details in the Description section:

Name: Manage - .net Runtimes
Description: This script ensures that the system is running the latest supported versions of .NET runtimes and SDKs while removing unsupported versions to maintain a clean and secure environment. It manages the installation, uninstallation, and listing of .NET runtimes and SDKs on a Windows system.
Category: Custom

Parameters

Locate the Add Parameter button on the right-hand side of the screen and click on it to create a new parameter.

The Add New Script Parameter page will appear on clicking the Add Parameter button.

Action

The Add New Script Parameter page will appear on clicking the Add Parameter button.

• Set Action in the Parameter Name field.
• Select DropDown from the Parameter Type dropdown menu.
• Select String from the Option Type dropdown menu.
• Add list,install,uninstall,update,renew from the Option Type dropdown menu.
• Click the Save button.

Type

The Add New Script Parameter page will appear on clicking the Add Parameter button.

• Set Type in the Parameter Name field.
• Select DropDown from the Parameter Type dropdown menu.
• Select String from the Option Type dropdown menu.
• Add sdk,runtimes,desktopRuntime,aspNetCoreRuntime,all from the Option Type dropdown menu.
• Click the Save button.

Version

The Add New Script Parameter page will appear on clicking the Add Parameter button.

• Set Version in the Parameter Name field.
• Select Text String from the Parameter Type dropdown menu.
• Click the Save button.

Force

The Add New Script Parameter page will appear on clicking the Add Parameter button.

• Set Force in the Parameter Name field.
• Select Flag from the Parameter Type dropdown menu.
• Click the Save button.

Script Editor

Click the Add Row button in the Script Editor section to start creating the script

A blank function will appear:

Row 1 Function: PowerShell script

• Notes: <Leave it Blank>
• Use Generative AI Assist for script creation: False
• Expected time of script execution in seconds: 600
• Continue on Failure: False
• Run As: System
• Operating System: Windows
• PowerShell Script Editor:

PowerShell Script

Row 7 Function: Script Log

• Notes: <Leave it Blank>
• Continue on Failure: False
• Operating System: Windows
• Script Log Message: %Output%

Save Task

Click the Save button at the top-right corner of the screen to save the script.

Completed Task

Output

• Script Logs

Changelog

2026-08-11

• Initial version of the document