Visual Studio 2019: Net Core Deployment Mode and Target Runtime
To avoid the weird 502.3 or other errors, please follow these rules: Deployment Mode Always select Self-contained except for Net Core 3.1 unless Net core 3.1 is installed on Windows Server 2012 R2+ (Net Core 3.1 requires 2012 R2+) Target Runtime Always select Win-x64. Though the "portable" option should work for all platforms, but it contains too many DLLs. Please check the publish profiles to make sure the profile is correct, e.g. no <_IsPortable>true</_IsPortable>. Sometimes the generated publish profile may not correct, please delete and re-create the profile. The recreation of publish profile is also suggested when Deployment Mode or Target Runtime is changed. Publish Mode Always use \\share instead of FTP. A lot of times using FTP can't correctly complete the deployment.