# Migrating to .NET

This article shows how to migrate from an existing WinForms .NET Framework project to a .NET project (.NET 8 or later).

Before proceeding with this article please make sure that the following requirements are met:

* **Visual Studio 2022 v17.0 and newer**
* **Telerik UI for WinForms NuGet package installed**

## Example

1\. Create a new WinForms application using one of our [templates](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/visual-studio-integration/visual-studio-templates). This way you will have a fully functional application that you will migrate to .NET. You can use any application that uses the Telerik UI for Winforms controls as well.

In this case I am using the excel inspired template.

> caption Figure 1: New Application

![Visual Studio New Project dialog showing the Telerik UI for WinForms Excel-Inspired template](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/assets/a37c107ba47d797f850fa5da13308fc4/core-migration001.png)

> tip You can check your application compatibility with the following tool: [The Portability Analyzer](https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/dotnet/2018/08/08/are-your-windows-forms-and-wpf-applications-ready-for-net-core-3-0/)

2\. You need to create a WinForms .NET project. Currently this can be done from the Console. Open a new *Development Command Prompt for VS2017* and type the following command (you can use any preferred directory).

#### Creating WinForms project from the Command Prompt

`C:\core_projects>dotnet new WinForms -o MyWinformsApp1`

Once this is done you will see the following message.

![Command prompt output after creating a WinForms .NET project with the dotnet new command](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/assets/9a2ae61c3a000cec8b62a110c0bff647/core-migration002.png)

3\. Now open the project in Visual Studio 2022. Go to the Solution Explorer and right click dependencies and then click Add Reference. Navigate to the install folder of the winforms suite and choose the **NetCore** folder. Select all required assemblies (you can see them in the standard project).

![Visual Studio Add Reference dialog showing Telerik UI for WinForms .NET assemblies](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/assets/e978324f4b72127119b202bedec445c9/core-migration003.png)

4\. In Visual Studio 2022 go to Project -> Add Existing Item. Navigate to the standard application and select the form files.

![Visual Studio Add Existing Item dialog for importing form files into a WinForms .NET project](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/assets/1e13109bd9ad0c7edfe18a39a02a6a21/core-migration004.png)

5.Change the namespace in the newly added files to **MyWinformsApp1** and then change the startup form in the Program.cs file. That is all, now you can start the new application.

![Visual Studio Solution Explorer showing the migrated Telerik UI for WinForms project files](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/assets/34ba0819a3a85817cb195a0bb6abb7e1/core-migration005.png)

## See Also

* [Download Product Files](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/installation-and-upgrades/download-product-files)
* [How to Migrate a WinForms .NET Framework Project to .NET Core](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/knowledge-base/migare-net-framework-project-to-core)