Migrate DevExpress-Powered .NET Framework Apps to the Latest .NET Version

Oct 16, 2025
3 minutes to read

Important

Make sure you back up your projects before upgrading if you are not using source control.

To convert your DevExpress-powered .NET Framework application to the latest .NET version, do the following:

Convert DevExpress assembly references (DLLs) to corresponding NuGet package references with the DevExpress Project Converter. The DevExpress Project Converter automatically creates backup (.bak) files for CSPROJ and VBPROJ files by default.
Upgrade your application to the latest .NET version with Microsoft .NET Upgrade Assistant.

Step 1: Convert DevExpress Assemblies to NuGet Packages

Use the DevExpress Project Converter tool to quickly replace DevExpress assemblies (dll) with corresponding DevExpress NuGet packages as follows:

Run the DevExpress Project Converter.
Click Advanced to expand additional settings and enable “Convert DevExpress assembly references to NuGet packages”.
Once you click the “Convert DevExpress assembly references to NuGet packages” option, the warning message below automatically pops up:
Click Upgrade All to convert all assemblies in your solution. To convert assemblies in specific projects only, click Search and Select Projects.

Note

If your project references satellite assemblies (localization resources) for cultures other than DE, ES, or JA, they will not be automatically converted to NuGet packages, as these resources are not available in nuget.devexpress.

Step 2: Upgrade Your App to the Latest .NET Version

Important

Make sure you back up your projects before upgrading if you are not using source control.

Follow the steps below to upgrade your .NET Framework application to the latest .NET version:

Enable the .NET Upgrade Assistant in Visual Studio (requires Visual Studio 2022 version 17.14.17 or later):
Right-click on a project in the Solution Explorer window, and select Upgrade.
Select one of the following options based on your preferences:
Select the target framework and proceed:
Select components to upgrade and click the “Upgrade selection” button:

Once the application is upgraded, a status screen will appear listing all project-related artifacts. You can expand each artifact for detailed status information.

Read the following topics for additional information: