Xamarin.Essentials: Version Tracking
The VersionTracking class lets you check the applications version and build numbers along with seeing additional information such as if it is the first time the application launched ever or for the current version, get the previous build information, and more.
Get started
To start using this API, read the getting started guide for Xamarin.Essentials to ensure the library is properly installed and set up in your projects.
Using Version Tracking
Add a reference to Xamarin.Essentials in your class:
using Xamarin.Essentials;
The first time you use the VersionTracking class it will start tracking the current version. You must call Track early only in your application each time it is loaded to ensure the current version information is tracked:
VersionTracking.Track();
After the initial Track is called version information can be read:
// First time ever launched application
var firstLaunch = VersionTracking.IsFirstLaunchEver;
// First time launching current version
var firstLaunchCurrent = VersionTracking.IsFirstLaunchForCurrentVersion;
// First time launching current build
var firstLaunchBuild = VersionTracking.IsFirstLaunchForCurrentBuild;
// Current app version (2.0.0)
var currentVersion = VersionTracking.CurrentVersion;
// Current build (2)
var currentBuild = VersionTracking.CurrentBuild;
// Previous app version (1.0.0)
var previousVersion = VersionTracking.PreviousVersion;
// Previous app build (1)
var previousBuild = VersionTracking.PreviousBuild;
// First version of app installed (1.0.0)
var firstVersion = VersionTracking.FirstInstalledVersion;
// First build of app installed (1)
var firstBuild = VersionTracking.FirstInstalledBuild;
// List of versions installed (1.0.0, 2.0.0)
var versionHistory = VersionTracking.VersionHistory;
// List of builds installed (1, 2)
var buildHistory = VersionTracking.BuildHistory;
Platform Implementation Specifics
All version information is stored using the Preferences API in Xamarin.Essentials and is stored with a filename of [YOUR-APP-PACKAGE-ID].xamarinessentials.versiontracking and follows the same data persistence outlined in the Preferences documentation.