The name 'ConfigurationManager' does not exist in the current context

In your project, right-click, Add Reference..., in the .NET tab, find the System.Configuration component name and click OK.

using System.Configuration tells the compiler/IntelliSense to search in that namespace for any classes you use. Otherwise, you would have to use the full name (System.Configuration.ConfigurationManager) every time. But if you don't add the reference, that namespace/class will not be found anywhere.

Note that a DLL can have any namespace, so the file System.Configuration.dll could, in theory, have the namespace Some.Random.Name. For clarity/consistency they're usually the same, but there are exceptions.


Ok.. it worked after restarting the VSTS. The link suggested the solution for the same problem. Wish i could have seen it before. :)


It's not only necessary to use the namespace System.Configuration. You have also to add the reference to the assembly System.Configuration.dll , by

  1. Right-click on the References / Dependencies
  2. Choose Add Reference
  3. Find and add System.Configuration.

This will work for sure. Also for the NameValueCollection you have to write:

using System.Collections.Specialized;