How to Accurately Detect Windows Versions in .NET?

Precise Windows Version Detection in .NET Applications

Accurately identifying the specific Windows operating system version is crucial for many .NET development tasks. This guide offers a thorough approach to achieving precise version detection.

Leveraging System.Environment.OSVersion

The built-in System.Environment.OSVersion property provides basic information about the major Windows releases. However, its limitations prevent it from distinguishing all versions reliably.

Windows Version	PlatformID	Major Version	Minor Version
Windows 95	Win32Windows	4	0
Windows 98	Win32Windows	4	10
Windows Me	Win32Windows	4	90
Windows NT 4.0	Win32NT	4	0
Windows 2000	Win32NT	5	0
Windows XP	Win32NT	5	1
Windows 2003	Win32NT	5	2
Windows Vista	Win32NT	6	0
Windows 2008	Win32NT	6	0
Windows 7	Win32NT	6	1
Windows 2008 R2	Win32NT	6	1
Windows 8	Win32NT	6	2
Windows 8.1	Win32NT	6	3

Utilizing a Robust Library for Enhanced Accuracy

For more precise version identification, utilize a library like Platform.Windows. This library offers a comprehensive API for detailed information about the Windows runtime environment.

Critical Consideration: Manifest Compatibility

Ensure your application's manifest explicitly declares compatibility with Windows 8.1 and Windows 10. Failure to do so might lead to System.Environment.OSVersion incorrectly reporting Windows 8 (6.2) instead of the correct version (6.3 or 10.0).

.NET 5.0 and Beyond: Consistent Version Reporting

Starting with .NET 5.0 and later versions, System.Environment.OSVersion generally provides consistent and accurate OS version information. Consult Microsoft's documentation on Environment.OSVersion for further details.

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