---
title: Start from template
slug: docs/xamarin/xamarin-templates
description: In this guide you learn how to download and start using a complete(frontend and backend) Xamarin app template on Visual Studio.
image: https://www.back4app.com/images/logo-social.png
docTags: 
createdAt: 2024-02-27T14:19:53.850Z
---

# Start your Xamarin project using a pre built template

## Introduction

In this section you learn how to get started with a Visual Studio template and get ready to use Back4App in 5 easy steps.

## Prerequisites

:::hint{type="info"}
**To complete this quickstart, you need:**

- [Visual Studio](https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/pt-br/) and [Xamarin Dependency](https://dotnet.microsoft.com/pt-br/apps/xamarin).
- An app created at Back4App. See more on [New Parse App tutorial](https://www.back4app.com/docs/get-started/new-parse-app).
:::

## 1 - Get the template

Download the template at [Back4App’s GitHub repository](https://github.com/back4app/xamarin-quickstart-example).

You can do that using the following command line:

:::BlockQuote
 $ curl -LOk https\://github.com/back4app/xamarin-quickstart-example/archive/master.zip && unzip master.zip
:::

## 2 - Open the project template

1. Open Visual Studio.
2. Click on <font color="#2166ae">`Open Project / Solution`</font>

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/yD3zCY-NNBBIfd0uqcfR5/so-iCN0G6PN0X9fptkLwd_image.png)

&#x20;    3\. Navigate to the project folder and click on <font color="#2166ae">`Open`</font>.

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/yD3zCY-NNBBIfd0uqcfR5/ZjUdMLg52SFaMIchsINc1_image.png)

## 3 - Install Required NuGet Packages

We need some additional libraries for this example. We will get them through Nuget Packages.

1. Right click on App’s name in the Solution Explorer and click on Manage <font color="#2166ae">`NuGet Packages...`</font>.

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/yD3zCY-NNBBIfd0uqcfR5/xEdKcXEhcPA4BaJeMmpMr_image.png)

&#x20;    2\. Press on Browse, search and install the packages <font color="#2166ae">`parse by Parse`</font> and <font color="#2166ae">`Xamarin.Android.Support.v7.AppCompat by Xamarin Inc.`</font>.

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/yD3zCY-NNBBIfd0uqcfR5/q9KsmkOqBA37bCbY_7tkd_image.png)

&#x20;    3\. Wait for the installations to complete.

## 4 - Setup app’s credentials

Update your strings values to set up the app’s credentials. Parse Xamarin SDK uses these settings to connect to the Back4App servers.

1. Open your strings file: <font color="#2166ae">`.../App1/Resources/values/strings.xml`</font>&#x20;

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/yD3zCY-NNBBIfd0uqcfR5/FQxsAoO4h5vUvcQ7g2lzP_image.png)

&#x20;    2\. Go to your App Dashboard at Back4App website.

&#x20;    3\. Navigate to app’s settings: Click on <font color="#2166ae">`Features`</font> > <font color="#2166ae">`Core Settings`</font> and press <font color="#2166ae">`Settings`</font>.

&#x20;    4\. Return to your <font color="#2166ae">`strings.xml`</font> file and paste your <font color="#2166ae">`applicationId`</font> and <font color="#2166ae">`dotNetKey`</font>.

:::hint{type="info"}
&#x20;See more at our [Back4App’s Creating New App guide](https://www.back4app.com/docs/get-started/new-parse-app).
:::



## 5 - Testing your connection

1. Build your app in a device or virtual device ( <font color="#2166ae">`Shift`</font> + <font color="#2166ae">`F10`</font>).

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/yD3zCY-NNBBIfd0uqcfR5/T6hqZuL1cps6rAtgNCpEG_image.png)

&#x20;       2\. Wait until the <font color="#2166ae">`Hello World!`</font> screen appears as below.

::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/yD3zCY-NNBBIfd0uqcfR5/n0SHe6T2l7E_KiwP2mQ8d_image.png" size="50" width="720" height="1280" position="center" showCaption="false"}

&#x20;       3\. Login at [Back4App](https://www.back4app.com/).

&#x20;       4\. Find your app and click on <font color="#2166ae">`Dashboard`</font>.

&#x20;       5\. Click on <font color="#2166ae">`Core`</font>.

&#x20;       6\. Go to <font color="#2166ae">`Browser`</font>.

If everything works properly, you should find a class named <font color="#2166ae">`Installation`</font> as follows:

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/yD3zCY-NNBBIfd0uqcfR5/ZLsk-nIXi_Kx43i0IjbXc_image.png)

## Next Steps

At this point, you have learned how to get started with Android apps. You are now ready to explore [Parse Server core features](https://www.back4app.com/product/parse-server) and [Back4App add-ons](https://www.back4app.com/product/addons).

Learn more by walking around [Parse open source documentation for .NET SDK](http://docs.parseplatform.org/dotnet/guide/).