Why It's Time to Migrate from .NET Framework to Modern .NET? .NET upgrade assistant is here.

For years, enterprise and public sector applications have been built on the .NET Framework. But as we move into 2025 and beyond, staying on legacy versions of .NET Framework especially anything below 4.7 is becoming more than just a technical holdover. It’s becoming a blocker. With Microsoft prioritizing modern .NET , and tools like the .NET Upgrade Assistant making the migration process smoother, now is a great time to consider moving forward.

Thinking about switching to Modern .NET?

Modern .NET platforms bring performance gains, active support, and cleaner project structures using SDK-style projects and PackageReference dependency management. In contrast, .NET Framework is now in maintenance mode, with only critical fixes and no feature updates.

Key benefits of modern .NET

• Cross-platform compatibility (Windows, Linux, macOS)
• Faster runtime and improved memory performance
• Fewer dependency issues
• Better tooling and CI/CD support

The Challenge with Framework Projects

Older .NET Framework apps, especially those using packages.config for NuGet dependencies frequently encounter version conflicts, binding redirects, and overall brittle behavior. Common issues include:

• Conflicts between Newtonsoft.Json, System.Drawing.Common, and others
• Difficult upgrades and manual workarounds
• Slower builds and less reliable runtime behavior

Even if you're using IronPDF or other modern libraries, these compatibility challenges can make development and maintenance frustrating.

IronPDF: Consistent Across Framework and Modern .NET

IronPDF is designed to work seamlessly across both .NET Framework 4.6.2+ and .NET Core 3.1+ (including .NET 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9). The best part? Your code doesn’t have to change. The API remains consistent regardless of your runtime.

The differences lie only in:

• Project file structure
• How dependencies are referenced
• Runtime behavior under the hood

This means that when you're ready to move to modern .NET, IronPDF comes with you, no rewrite required.

A Tool to Help: .NET Upgrade Assistant

We also want to share a helpful tool from the broader community: the .NET Upgrade Assistant. This command-line tool helps guide developers through upgrading existing Framework apps to modern .NET versions.

What it does:

• Converts project files to SDK-style format
• Switches from packages.config to PackageReference
• Identifies deprecated APIs
• Supports WinForms, WPF, ASP.NET MVC, and class libraries

The assistant walks you through the upgrade process interactively and aims to retain as much of your existing code as possible.

Final Thoughts: Modern .NET Is Within Reach

If you're still on .NET Framework, you're not alone but you do have options. Upgrading no longer means rewriting everything. With tools like the .NET Upgrade Assistant and modern libraries like IronPDF, the path forward is clear and approachable.

You’ll benefit from:

• Better performance
• Easier builds
• Cleaner dependency management
• Access to the latest SDKs and tooling

Iron Software is here to support that journey whether you’re ready to migrate now or just beginning to explore what’s possible.

Try 10 Iron Products free for 30 days and see how it performs in your modernized environment. The same trial key works across both Framework and Core projects, so you can explore freely.

Need help getting started? Our support team is here for you.