Overview
.NET 8 Release Candidate 2 (RC2) is a near-final preview of .NET 8, intended for testing applications before the stable release. This guide covers what RC2 adds, the difference between the Runtime and the SDK, and how to download, install, and uninstall it.
.NET 8 Release Candidate 2 offline installers.
Key Takeaways
- RC2 is a preview build for testing — use the stable .NET 8 release for production.
- Install the Runtime to run apps, or the SDK to build them.
- Download only from Microsoft’s official .NET website.
- Verify the install by running dotnet --version in a terminal.
What’s New in RC2
- New package README files for .NET libraries on NuGet.
- SDK container publishing to a tar.gz archive.
- Tensor Primitives for .NET for numerical/AI workloads.
- Final refinements ahead of the stable .NET 8 launch.
Warning: Release Candidates are preview software. Do not use RC2 for production systems — wait for the stable .NET 8 release.
Which Component Do You Need?
- Runtime — install this to run .NET 8 applications.
- ASP.NET Core Runtime — needed to run web apps built on ASP.NET Core.
- SDK — install this to build and develop .NET 8 apps (it includes the runtime).
How to Download and Install
1. Open Microsoft’s official .NET download page (dotnet.microsoft.com).
2. Choose .NET 8 RC2 and select the Runtime, ASP.NET Core Runtime, or SDK for your platform.
3. Download the offline installer for your OS and architecture (x64/Arm64).
4. Run the installer and follow the prompts to complete setup.
5. Open a new terminal and run dotnet --version to confirm the installation.
Warning: Download .NET only from Microsoft’s official website (dotnet.microsoft.com).
How to Uninstall .NET
1. Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
2. Find the Microsoft .NET 8 RC2 Runtime or SDK entry.
3. Click it and choose Uninstall, then follow the prompts.
4. For a thorough cleanup of multiple versions, use Microsoft’s .NET Uninstall Tool.
Troubleshooting
Problem: dotnet --version shows an older version.
Solution: Open a new terminal so the PATH refreshes. If multiple SDKs are installed, the global.json file in a project can pin a specific version.
Problem: An app says the required runtime is missing.
Solution: Install the matching Runtime (or ASP.NET Core Runtime for web apps) for .NET 8, not just the SDK.
Problem: Installation fails.
Solution: Run the installer as administrator, ensure you downloaded the correct architecture, and temporarily disable antivirus.
Problem: You want to remove the preview cleanly.
Solution: Use Microsoft’s .NET Uninstall Tool to remove RC builds before installing the stable release.
Conclusion
.NET 8 RC2 lets you validate your apps against a near-final build. Download the right component from Microsoft, test thoroughly, and move to the stable .NET 8 release for production.
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