--- title: .NET 10 Support and Transition from .NET 8 slug: net-10-support-and-transition-from-net-8 createdAt: 2026-10-26T22:25:45.227Z --- ## Overview Microsoft's .NET 8 reaches end of support on **10 November 2026**. As part of our commitment to maintaining a secure, reliable and supported platform, Activate is introducing support for **.NET 10** in our next product release. .NET 10 is Microsoft's latest Long-Term Support (LTS) release and will receive security updates and support through to November 2028. To provide customers with flexibility and minimise disruption, Activate will make a new .NET 10 installer available alongside the existing .NET 8 installer. This approach allows customers to adopt .NET 10 when they are ready, without requiring an immediate migration of existing installations. ## What's Changing? From the next Activate release, two installation options will be available: | Installer | Description | | --------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | .NET 8 | Existing installer, retained for compatibility with current environments. | | .NET 10 | New installer targeting .NET 10, recommended for new deployments and future upgrades. | Both installers will be provided as part of the same Activate product release. The primary difference is the underlying .NET runtime used by Activate. This is a platform update rather than a change to Activate's functionality. ## Impact on Existing Customers **No immediate action is required for existing Activate installations.** Customers currently running the .NET 8 version can continue operating their existing installations without making changes as a result of the new installer becoming available. However, as Microsoft ends support for .NET 8, we recommend that customers plan to adopt the .NET 10 version to maintain a supported and secure operating environment. Customers should consider their internal change management processes, deployment schedules and infrastructure requirements when planning this update. ## Our Approach Activate is taking a phased approach to introducing .NET 10 support. ### Initial Release An upcoming Activate release will soon introduce a dedicated .NET 10 installer alongside the existing .NET 8 installer. This provides customers with the ability to select the appropriate version for their environment while maintaining access to the existing installation option. ### Customer Adoption Customers will be able to adopt the .NET 10 version as part of their normal upgrade and maintenance activities. We recommend validating the .NET 10 version in a test or UAT environment before deploying it into production, in accordance with your organisation's change management procedures. ### Ongoing Support Following Microsoft's end-of-support date for .NET 8, the underlying runtime will no longer receive Microsoft security updates or fixes. While the .NET 8 installer will initially remain available, customers are encouraged to move to .NET 10 as soon as practical. Activate will communicate any future changes to the availability or support of the .NET 8 installer in advance. ## Requirements for .NET 10 Customers choosing the .NET 10 installer will need to ensure that the appropriate .NET 10 runtime and supporting prerequisites are available in their environment. Before upgrading, we recommend: - Confirming that the target servers meet the .NET 10 system requirements. - Installing the required .NET 10 runtime components. - Validating compatibility with any relevant integrations or customisations. - Testing the updated installation in a non-production environment. - Following your normal backup and change management procedures. Detailed installation requirements will be provided with the release documentation. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Do I need to upgrade to .NET 10 immediately? No. Existing .NET 8 installations will continue to operate, and the .NET 8 installer will remain available alongside the new .NET 10 installer initially. However, we recommend planning an upgrade to .NET 10 because Microsoft support for .NET 8 ends on 10 November 2026. ### Will the .NET 10 version introduce new functionality? The introduction of .NET 10 is primarily a platform update. Both installers will be based on the same Activate product release, with the underlying .NET version being the key difference. ### Will my existing .NET 8 installation stop working after 10 November 2026? No. Microsoft's end-of-support date does not prevent existing applications from running. However, .NET 8 will no longer receive security updates or support from Microsoft after that date. ### Can .NET 8 and .NET 10 coexist on the same server? Yes. Microsoft supports side-by-side installation of different major .NET runtime versions, allowing .NET 8 and .NET 10 runtime components to coexist on the same server. This can help simplify planning and testing when preparing to adopt the new Activate installer. ### Which installer should I use? We recommend the .NET 10 installer for new deployments and upgrades where the environment meets the required prerequisites. The .NET 8 installer remains available for customers who need additional time to validate or prepare their environments. ### When will the .NET 8 installer be discontinued? A discontinuation date has not yet been announced. Activate will provide advance notice of any changes to the availability or support of the .NET 8 installer. ## Summary The introduction of .NET 10 support is part of Activate's ongoing commitment to platform security, reliability and long-term maintainability. By providing both .NET 8 and .NET 10 installers, we aim to make the adoption of the newer platform straightforward while allowing customers to manage the change within their own operational requirements. **We recommend that all customers begin planning their adoption of the .NET 10 version of Activate.** For assistance with planning or implementing the update, please contact Activate Support.