Microsoft's .NET Framework gets one less update reboot

Software behemoth makes Windows updates smaller, faster … how about less buggy and more tested?

Developers and other users of Microsoft's .NET Framework will soon be noticing changes to the company's Unified Update Platform (UUP).

In particular, they'll see one less reboot needed when installing updates, can use the Dynamic Update capability to ensure their .NET framework has the latest feature update packages, and will have more control when it comes to deciding on optional updates, we're told.

Microsoft this week said it will integrate the .NET Framework into the UUP, so users who move to Windows 11 version 22H2 will get automatic updates and will not need to reboot as many times. One time fewer than before, in fact. Think of the time you'll save.

It's part of the introduction The Register wrote about of on-premises UUP, which is designed to deliver smaller and faster uploads of Windows updates – once you install a one-time 10GB download, which is crucial to the on-prem update management.

The change will be a positive one for .NET Framework users, according to Brett Lopez, principal software engineer and program manager at Microsoft.

"Before this improvement, when you installed the latest OS feature update via Windows Update, .NET Framework updates would not automatically get installed," Lopez writes in a post. "Your device had to restart to apply the feature update first. Then it would scan against Windows Update to detect and install .NET Framework updates. This used to require another reboot."

In addition, preview .NET Framework updates will be offered in a new way. For Windows 11 22H2, they'll be found by going to Settings > Windows Update > Advanced option s> Optional updates. From there, users will be able to pick from a list the optional updates they want to install.

Before this, they often had to look out for updates by going to the Windows Update page and checking for them.

"This would automatically install preview .NET Framework updates and cause your device to restart," Lopez wrote. "With this improvement, [developers will] have better visibility into and control over adopting the latest optional preview .NET Framework updates."

To receive all optional update stuff, users can get the KB5022360 release or the latest Windows update.

Microsoft began banging the drum about smaller and faster updates in Windows 11 21H2 in 2021, including a redesign of cumulative updates that come in package size that is 40 percent smaller and a reduced download size for the more current Windows devices.

The software vendor in September 2022 promised further performance improvements – including 30 percent smaller update downloads – for feature and cumulative updates in Windows 11 22H2. ®