The specified framework version '2.1' could not be parsed The specified framework 'Microsoft.NETCore.App', version '2.1' was not found.

Just now seeing this error when trying to run update-database from PM console. I have the latest SDK installed.

I’ve tried repairing VS2017 and also uninstalling/reinstalling the latest .NET Core SDK.

What am I doing wrong here?

PM> update-database
The specified framework version '2.1' could not be parsed
The specified framework 'Microsoft.NETCore.App', version '2.1' was not found.
  - Check application dependencies and target a framework version installed at:
      C:\Program Files\dotnet\
  - Installing .NET Core prerequisites might help resolve this problem:
      http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=798306&clcid=0x409
  - The .NET Core framework and SDK can be installed from:
      https://aka.ms/dotnet-download
  - The following versions are installed:
      2.0.7 at [C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App]
      2.0.9 at [C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App]
      2.1.0 at [C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App]
      2.1.1 at [C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App]
      2.1.2 at [C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App]
      2.1.3 at [C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App]
      2.1.4 at [C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App]
      2.1.5 at [C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App]

[aherrick]

Hey all - I believe we figured this out. Our issue was we did have the correct project selected in PM, however the correct Project in the solution wasn’t set as Startup. Once I set the actual Core Web project as Startup, it worked. Confusing to say the least!

Thanks for the help anyway!

[featherbits]

Had the same issue. This

Check application dependencies and target a framework version installed at

is a clue on what to do next. So, I added <RuntimeFrameworkVersion>2.1.5</RuntimeFrameworkVersion> and got output like this

Your startup project ‘App.Database.Migrations.MySql’ doesn’t reference Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Design. This package is required for the Entity Framework Core Tools to work. Ensure your startup project is correct, install the package, and try again.

So the problem actually was a missing reference to Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Design package. Actually no need for the <RuntimeFrameworkVersion>2.1.5</RuntimeFrameworkVersion>.