Visual interface for EF Core commands

In Entity Framework Core projects — projects where Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.* 5.0.0 or later is installed — JetBrains Rider helps execute dotnet EF Core commands using a visual interface. Each command has a dedicated dialog that provides fields for most arguments that are allowed, autofills most of them, and ensures that all required arguments are specified and valid.

This functionality is a visual wrapper around the dotnet ef command; therefore, first you need to make sure that the corresponding dotnet tool is installed and available.

When you open a solution with at least one EF Core project, JetBrains Rider will check whether the dotnet ef is available as a local or as global tool (dotnet ef 5.0 or later is required). If not, it will prompt you to install the latest version as a global tool.

You can also install any other version using the corresponding command, for example:

dotnet tool install --global dotnet-ef

Execute EF Core commands

Select Tools | Entity Framework Core | [command name] from the main menu.
Right-click the desired project in the Solution Explorer and choose Entity Framework Core | [command name].

The details of specific EF Core commands are described in the dedicated topics:

Prerequisites

Target .NET frameworks: netcoreapp3.1 and later for the Startup project, and netstandard2.1 and later for the Migrations project.
To install the .NET, follow the Microsoft documentation.
EF Core packages: Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.* 5.0.0 or later.
Tools: dotnet ef 5.0 or later.
To install the EF Core Global Tool, run the following command in the terminal:
dotnet tool install --global dotnet-ef

17 September 2025