ConfigurationManager.AppSettings - How to modify and save?

I know I'm late :) But this how i do it:

public static void AddOrUpdateAppSettings(string key, string value)
{
    try
    {
        var configFile = ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration(ConfigurationUserLevel.None);
        var settings = configFile.AppSettings.Settings;
        if (settings[key] == null)
        {
            settings.Add(key, value);
        }
        else
        {
            settings[key].Value = value;
        }
        configFile.Save(ConfigurationSaveMode.Modified);
        ConfigurationManager.RefreshSection(configFile.AppSettings.SectionInformation.Name);
    }
    catch (ConfigurationErrorsException)
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Error writing app settings");
    }
}

For more information look at MSDN

On how to change values in appSettings section in your app.config file:

config.AppSettings.Settings.Remove(key);
config.AppSettings.Settings.Add(key, value);

does the job.

Of course better practice is Settings class but it depends on what are you after.

Prefer <appSettings> to <customUserSetting> section. It is much easier to read AND write with (Web)ConfigurationManager. ConfigurationSection, ConfigurationElement and ConfigurationElementCollection require you to derive custom classes and implement custom ConfigurationProperty properties. Way too much for mere everyday mortals IMO.

Here is an example of reading and writing to web.config:

using System.Web.Configuration;
using System.Configuration;

Configuration config = WebConfigurationManager.OpenWebConfiguration("/");
string oldValue = config.AppSettings.Settings["SomeKey"].Value;
config.AppSettings.Settings["SomeKey"].Value = "NewValue";
config.Save(ConfigurationSaveMode.Modified);

Before:

<appSettings>
  <add key="SomeKey" value="oldValue" />
</appSettings>

After:

<appSettings>
  <add key="SomeKey" value="newValue" />
</appSettings>