To use Amplify, you must first initialize it for use in your project. If you haven't already done so, run this command:
```bash
amplify init
```

The base structure for a DataStore app is created by adding a new GraphQL API to your app.

```bash
# For new APIs
amplify add api

# For existing APIs
amplify update api
```

The CLI will prompt you to configure your API. Select **GraphQL** as the API type and reply to the questions as shown below. Conflict detection is **required** when using DataStore to sync data with the cloud.

```console
? Please select from one of the below mentioned services:
    `GraphQL`
? Here is the GraphQL API that we will create. Select a setting to edit or continue:
    `Name`
? Provide API name:
    `BlogAppApi`
? Here is the GraphQL API that we will create. Select a setting to edit or continue:
    `Authorization modes: API key (default, expiration time: 7 days from now)`
? Choose the default authorization type for the API
    `API key`
? Enter a description for the API key:
    `BlogAPIKey`
? After how many days from now the API key should expire (1-365):
    `365`
? Configure additional auth types?
    `No`
? Here is the GraphQL API that we will create. Select a setting to edit or continue:
    `Conflict detection (required for DataStore): Disabled`
? Enable conflict detection?
    `Yes`
? Select the default resolution strategy
    `Auto Merge`
? Here is the GraphQL API that we will create. Select a setting to edit or continue:
    `Continue`
? Choose a schema template
    `Single object with fields (e.g., “Todo” with ID, name, description)`
```

<Callout warning>

**Troubleshooting:** Cloud sync will fail without the **conflict detection** configuration. To enable it for an existing project, run `amplify update api` and choose **Enable conflict detection (required for DataStore)**.

</Callout>