I've installed .NET 5 SDK both x64 and x86 and updated visual studio to the latest version. Restarted the computer and visual studio many times, the only options it allows me are .NET Framework up to version 4.8.
.NET 5 does not appear in the new project window of visual studio either.
How can I make .NET 5 appear so I can update my project to it?
.NET 5 is not an upgrade to .NET Framework 4.8 in the sense that .NET Framework projects can be seamlessly upgraded to later version. .NET 5 is .NET Core, so .NET Core 2.x and .NET Core 3.x can be upgraded to that path. You'll have to port your project instead, and that's far more involved than simply changing a dropdown.
As the .Net 5 is not released you will not find it in the list. open the .csprj file by double-clicking on the project and change the framework manually.
<Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk.Web">
<PropertyGroup>
<TargetFramework>net5.0</TargetFramework>
</PropertyGroup>
</Project>
Then in your project enable preview NuGet packages and update to the new pre-release framework.
have a look at https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/aspnet/core/migration/31-to-50?view=aspnetcore-5.0&tabs=visual-studio, you will find some more tips there
UPDATE I just now did the update of visual studio and installed 5.0 using the framework download at https://dotnet.microsoft.com/download/dotnet/thank-you/sdk-5.0.100-windows-x64-installer and I now have 5.0 in the drop-down at the top of my list of frameworks. looks like the order is not latest at the bottom.
