How to Download and Install .NET 11 Preview 1 (Windows, macOS, Linux)

Microsoft has released.NET 11 Preview 1 for developers who want early access to upcoming runtime, SDK, and tooling improvements. This guide walks you through downloading, installing, and verifying .NET 11 Preview 1 on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Important: Preview releases are for testing only. Do not use .NET 11 Preview 1 in production environments.

What You Should Install: SDK vs Runtime

Before downloading, choose the correct package:

• .NET SDK – Required if you want to build and develop apps
• .NET Runtime – Required only to run existing apps
• ASP.NET Core Runtime – Needed for web and server apps
• Desktop Runtime – Required for Windows desktop apps

If you want to build or test apps, install the .NET 11 SDK.

How to Download .NET 11 Preview 1

Microsoft provides official installers for all major platforms. The current preview version is:

• SDK: 11.0.100-preview.1
• Release date: February 10, 2026

You can download installers or binaries directly from Microsoft’s .NET downloads page.

How to Install .NET 11 Preview 1 on Windows

Option 1: Installer (Recommended)

1. Download the Windows x64 / x86 / Arm64 SDK installer
2. Run the installer
3. Follow the on-screen setup instructions
4. Restart your terminal after installation

Option 2: Using Winget

winget install Microsoft.DotNet.SDK.Preview

This installs the latest available preview SDK automatically.

Install .NET 11 Preview 1 on macOS

Using Homebrew

brew install --cask dotnet-sdk-preview

This installs the preview SDK for both Apple Silicon (Arm64) and Intel (x64) systems.

Alternatively, you can download the .pkg installer from Microsoft and install it manually.

Install .NET 11 Preview 1 on Linux

Using dotnet-install Script

wget https://dot.net/v1/dotnet-install.sh
chmod +x dotnet-install.sh
./dotnet-install.sh --channel 11.0 --quality preview

This method works across most Linux distributions and avoids package manager delays.

How to Verify Your Installation

After installation, confirm that .NET 11 Preview 1 is active:

dotnet --info

You should see output similar to:

• SDK version: 11.0.100-preview.1
• Runtime: 11.0.0-preview.1

If the command fails, restart your terminal and try again.

Using .NET 11 Preview with Visual Studio

• Windows: Install Visual Studio 2026 Insiders
• Cross-platform: Use Visual Studio Code with the C# Dev Kit

These tools fully support preview SDKs and allow side-by-side installs with stable .NET versions.

Can I Install .NET 11 Preview Alongside Stable Versions?

Yes. .NET supports side-by-side installation, so .NET 11 Preview will not replace .NET 8, .NET 9, or .NET 10.

Projects can target preview versions explicitly using global.json if needed.

Avoid using this preview if you:

• Maintain production systems
• Depend on stable APIs
• Require long-term support guarantees

Preview builds may introduce breaking changes before final release.

.NET 11 Preview 1 gives developers an early look at upcoming runtime, SDK, and tooling changes. If you want to experiment, test compatibility, or prepare for the next STS release, this preview is safe to explore in development environments.