# Leapwork Migration to .NET 8: FAQ

**Overview**  
In this article, you will learn about Leapwork’s migration to .NET 8, what’s changing, what isn’t, and how to install and run it. Through this FAQ, you will be able to get a quick reference so you can find answers easily without prior context.

**Pre-requisite:**  
Given the **major changes involved in the migration to .NET 8, it is a pre-requisite to have a one-time enablement activity of refreshing the license key**  
User can perform the following steps to deactivate/re-activate license as part of Leapwork update process.

- Login as Leapwork Admin > Open Leapwork Studio.  
- Navigate to Settings > License Management  
- Deactivate your Leapwork License by clicking **Deactivate** Button  
- Install Latest Leapwork Version 2025.3.0  
- Launch latest installed Leapwork  
- You will be prompted to provide license information  
- Click on the **Customer portal** link from the **License Key Needed** window.  
- Login to your customer portal account and get the License key and paste it in the **License key** section  
- Click on Validate.  
- You should be able to launch Leapwork Studio.  
- In case of any issues or clarification, please contact [Priority Support](mailto:prioritysupport@leapwork.com).

**Q. Is license activation affected?**  
**A.** Upgrades require license re-activation; fresh installs do not.

**Q. Do I need to back up before upgrading?**  
**A.** **Yes**, take a full backup of your Leapwork data before upgrading.

**Q. Why did you migrate from .NET Framework to .NET 8?**  
**A.** .NET 8 is a modern, high-performance, cross-platform runtime that brings improved security, scalability, long-term support, and performance (startup, memory, responsiveness), enabling better maintainability and access to new features.

**Q. Do I need to install any new runtime?**  
**A.** **No**, the product is delivered self-contained; .NET 8 is bundled.

**Q. What performance gains should I expect?**  
**A.** Faster startup, lower memory usage, and better responsiveness under load.

**Q. What changed in the installer?**  
**A.** It’s upgraded to WiX 6.0.2 (modern toolchain, faster builds, improved future Windows compatibility). _Migration of custom actions to .NET 8 is planned for release 2025.4._

**Q. Has SignalR communication changed?**  
**A.** **Yes**. The backend now uses [ASP.NET](https://asp.net/) Core, an open-source web development framework | .NET Core / .NET Core SignalR with full WebSocket support for better performance and scalability; the end-user experience is unchanged.

**Q. Were third-party libraries updated?**  
**A.** **Yes**, several were upgraded to the latest .NET-compatible versions; these are internal updates with no end-user impact.

**Q. Can I request Leapwork Cloud?**  
**A.** **Yes**. Contact [Support](mailto:prioritysupport@leapwork.com) for provisioning details.

**Q. Do I need .NET 6 for Fusion Recorder?**  
**A.** **No**. Fusion Recorder is bundled with .NET 8, no separate runtime required.

**Q. Example silent installation command?**  
**A.**
```
msiexec /i Leapwork_NETCore_Experimental_x64_2025.2.937.msi /quiet /norestart
```
_(Replace the MSI file name with the one you’re installing.)_

**Q. Which MSI “Available Features” can I include/exclude during a silent install?**  
**A.** Use the MSI feature flags `ADDLOCAL=<FeatureName>` to include and `REMOVE=<FeatureName>` to exclude. Available features:

> - `GreenScreenFeature` — Green Screen (Studio only)  
> - `AgentGreenScreenFeature` — Green Screen (Agent only)  
> - `SolManFeature` — SAP SolMan (Studio only)

**Q. Has HTTPS configuration changed?**  
**A.** **Yes**. HTTPS is now managed via `controller.config` (instead of legacy Windows `netsh` bindings); setup is simpler but requires updated configuration.

**Q. Has remote Selenium execution (BrowserStack, LambdaTest) changed?**  
**A.** **Yes**. Remote sessions are now handled by a dedicated .NET 8 service; no functional change for end users.

**Q. Do we still need .NET Framework for anything?**  
**A.** **Yes**, for Green Screen Adapter and SAP SolMan (COM registration). If not needed, you can skip them during installation so related features/binaries aren’t installed.

**Q. How do I control optional components during install?**  
**A.** Use MSI feature flags: `ADDLOCAL=<FeatureName>` to include, `REMOVE=<FeatureName>` to exclude.

**Q. Do I need an internet connection to install components?**  
**A.** **No**, everything is packaged with the installer.

**Q. Do I need to install .NET Framework explicitly?**  
**A.** **No**, .NET Framework is included in Windows.

**Q. Any changes to custom C# block execution?**  
**A.** **Yes**, .NET8 does not support the Global Assembly Cache (GAC); dependencies must be bundled or directly referenced.

**Q. Is the Demo Desktop App included?**  
**A.** **No**, it’s been removed from the installer; download it separately for demos (no customer impact).

**Q. Any impact on APIs, plugins, flows, settings, or database?**  
**A.** **No**. API contracts remain unchanged; existing plugins continue to work; flows/blocks behave the same; most settings remain (auto-updated if needed); and there are no database schema changes, still, take a backup before upgrading.

**Please Note:** If you’re using **Leapwork Studio to automate testing on Oracle or through Citrix**, please reach out to us at prioritysupport@leapwork.com. Our team will help you through the upgrade process.