---
title: Installation
description: This page shows you how to install the .NET client for Elasticsearch. For SDK style projects, you can install the Elasticsearch client by running the...
url: https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/3016/reference/elasticsearch/clients/dotnet/installation
products:
  - Elasticsearch
  - Elasticsearch .NET Client
  - Elasticsearch Client
---

# Installation
This page shows you how to install the .NET client for Elasticsearch.

## Installing the .NET client

For SDK style projects, you can install the Elasticsearch client by running the following .NET CLI command in your terminal:
```text
dotnet add package Elastic.Clients.Elasticsearch
```

This command adds a package reference to your project (csproj) file for the latest stable version of the client.
If you prefer, you may also manually add a package reference inside your project file:
```shell
<PackageReference Include="Elastic.Clients.Elasticsearch" Version="{latest-version}" />
```

*NOTE: The version number should reflect the latest published version from [NuGet.org](https://www.nuget.org/packages/Elastic.Clients.Elasticsearch). To install a different version, modify the version as necessary.*
For Visual Studio users, the .NET client can also be installed from the Package Manager Console inside Visual Studio using the following command:
```shell
Install-Package Elastic.Clients.Elasticsearch
```

Alternatively, search for `Elastic.Clients.Elasticsearch` in the NuGet Package Manager UI.
To learn how to connect the Elasticsearch client, refer to the [Connecting](https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/3016/reference/elasticsearch/clients/dotnet/connecting) section.

## Compatibility

The Elasticsearch client is compatible with currently maintained .NET runtime versions. Compatibility with End of Life (EOL) .NET runtimes is not guaranteed or supported.
Language clients are **forward compatible**:
Given a constant major version of the client, each related minor version is compatible with its equivalent- and all later Elasticsearch minor versions of the **same or next higher** major version.
For example:

| Client Version | Compatible with Elasticsearch `8.x` | Compatible with Elasticsearch `9.x` | Compatible with Elasticsearch `10.x` |
|----------------|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|
| 9.x            | ❌ no                                | ✅ yes                               | ✅ yes                                |
| 8.x            | ✅ yes                               | ✅ yes                               | ❌ no                                 |

Language clients are also **backward compatible** across minor versions within the **same** major version (without strong guarantees), but **never** backward compatible with earlier Elasticsearch major versions.
<note>
  Compatibility does not imply feature parity. For example, an `8.12` client is compatible with `8.13`, but does not support any of the new features introduced in Elasticsearch `8.13`.
</note>

Refer to the [end-of-life policy](https://www.elastic.co/support/eol) for more information.