.net core 3.1 not listed in target frameworks

Question

I want to change my target framework from .net core 3.0 to 3.1 preview, but it is not listed. I am running VS 2019 v16.1.9 and have installed both .net core 3.1 sdk and release. Restarted the computer, but 3.1 is not listed. How do I change to .net core 3.1?

Thank you.

Answer 1

I am running VS 2019 v16.1.9 and have installed both .net core 3.1 sdk and release

Your Visual Studio version is too old. You need at least 16.4 (currently in preview channel):

Visual Studio 16.4 Preview 5 and Visual Studio for Mac 8.4 Preview 5 are also releasing today. They are required updates to use .NET Core 3.1 Preview 3. Visual Studio 16.4 includes .NET Core 3.1, so just updating Visual Studio to 16.4 Preview 5 will give you the latest version of both products.

Answer 2

As of now, the .Net core 3.1 is in preview. This means, by default no preview version of SDK will be enabled in VS IDE. However, you can override this default IDE behavior through enabling preview versions of .Net core SDK. There is an option in VS IDE Tools -> Options that enables preview versions of the .NET Core SDK. You must restart after enabling this to see the change.

Note: You must also update your Visual Studio IDE to version 16.4 which includes .NET Core 3.1. Special thanks to Hans Passant.