Could not load file or assembly 'System.ComponentModel.Annotations, Version=4.1.0.0

I had similar problem but none of the above answers helped me. It turns out that solution is very easy, I've just run following command in Package Manager:

Install-Package System.ComponentModel.Annotations -Version 4.1.0

In my case, I was using 4.0.0, so I fixed it by adding in

<runtime>
<assemblyBinding xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1">
  <dependentAssembly>
    <assemblyIdentity name="System.ComponentModel.Annotations"
                      publicKeyToken="b03f5f7f11d50a3a" culture="neutral" />
    <bindingRedirect oldVersion="4.1.0.0" newVersion="4.0.0.0"/>
  </dependentAssembly>

Adapt to your required version.

This usually happens when visual studio can't figure out the correct bindingRedirect.

Most likely the cause it that the version of the nugget does not match the version of the produced library.

To fix do this:

1. From package manage console do:

   Get-Project –All | Add-BindingRedirect

   to regenerate assemblyBinding configuration at the config file

2. If didn't fix it, then add manually the binding redirection:

   <dependentAssembly>
       <assemblyIdentity name="System.ComponentModel.Annotations"    publicKeyToken="b03f5f7f11d50a3a" culture="neutral" />
       <bindingRedirect oldVersion="0.0.0.0-X" newVersion="Y" />
   </dependentAssembly>
   

   where:

   1. X is the version that can't be load, from the error message
   2. Y is the version on your project references. To get it, select the library from the references node, and look for the version on property pane.

Got it working by using assembly redirection as described in: just invoke FunctionsAssemblyResolver.RedirectAssembly() in the begining of your program. https://stackoverflow.com/a/50776946/2705777

using System.Reflection;
using System.Diagnostics;
using System.Linq;

public class FunctionsAssemblyResolver
{
    public static void RedirectAssembly()
    {
        var list = AppDomain.CurrentDomain.GetAssemblies().OrderByDescending(a => a.FullName).Select(a => a.FullName).ToList();
        AppDomain.CurrentDomain.AssemblyResolve += CurrentDomain_AssemblyResolve;
    }

    private static Assembly CurrentDomain_AssemblyResolve(object sender, ResolveEventArgs args)
    {
        var requestedAssembly = new AssemblyName(args.Name);
        Assembly assembly = null;
        AppDomain.CurrentDomain.AssemblyResolve -= CurrentDomain_AssemblyResolve;
        try
        {
            assembly = Assembly.Load(requestedAssembly.Name);
        }
        catch (Exception ex)
        {
        }
        AppDomain.CurrentDomain.AssemblyResolve += CurrentDomain_AssemblyResolve;
        return assembly;
    }

}

I fixed this error by doing the Clean Solution command in Visual Studio 2019.

Fixed this by installing the same System.ComponentModel.Annotations version I want to use across all the projects in the solution.

For me, none of the other solutions worked.

I resolved this by manually adding a reference to System.ComponentModel.DataAnnotations myself (via project -> References), rather than letting Visual Studio handle it via the light-bulb quick-fix menu.

Also for 4.2.0.0 version error this is fixed for me in web.config:

  <dependentAssembly>
    <assemblyIdentity name="System.ComponentModel.Annotations" publicKeyToken="b03f5f7f11d50a3a" culture="neutral" />
    <bindingRedirect oldVersion="0.0.0.0-4.2.1.0" newVersion="4.6.0" />
  </dependentAssembly>
</assemblyBinding> 

I have this issue by implementing a helper function redirecting the assembly at the begin (which was suggested in this answer):

public static class FunctionsAssemblyResolver
{
    #region Public Methods

    public static void RedirectAssembly()
    {
        AppDomain.CurrentDomain.AssemblyResolve += ResolveAssemblyOnCurrentDomain;
    }

    #endregion Public Methods

    #region Private Methods

    private static Assembly ResolveAssemblyOnCurrentDomain(object sender, ResolveEventArgs args)
    {
        var requestedAssembly = new AssemblyName(args.Name);
        var assembly = default(Assembly);

        AppDomain.CurrentDomain.AssemblyResolve -= ResolveAssemblyOnCurrentDomain;

        try
        {
            assembly = Assembly.Load(requestedAssembly.Name);
        }
        catch
        { }

        AppDomain.CurrentDomain.AssemblyResolve += ResolveAssemblyOnCurrentDomain;

        return assembly;
    }

    #endregion Private Methods
}

Linux Users

You may have to install mono if you're trying to generate .exe file from linux system.

See this link on how to install mono on ubuntu 20.04