diff --git a/examples/FeatureFlagDemo/FeatureFlagDemo.csproj b/examples/FeatureFlagDemo/FeatureFlagDemo.csproj
index ba61461d..800f4d40 100644
--- a/examples/FeatureFlagDemo/FeatureFlagDemo.csproj
+++ b/examples/FeatureFlagDemo/FeatureFlagDemo.csproj
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-<Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk.Web">
+<Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk.Web">
 
   <PropertyGroup>
     <TargetFramework>net8.0</TargetFramework>
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>
-    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Azure.AppConfiguration.AspNetCore" Version="7.3.0" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Azure.AppConfiguration.AspNetCore" Version="8.4.0" />
   </ItemGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>
diff --git a/examples/FeatureFlagDemo/Program.cs b/examples/FeatureFlagDemo/Program.cs
index 43be14d4..c7392ef7 100644
--- a/examples/FeatureFlagDemo/Program.cs
+++ b/examples/FeatureFlagDemo/Program.cs
@@ -33,6 +33,13 @@ public static IWebHostBuilder CreateWebHostBuilder(string[] args)
                             o.UseFeatureFlags();
                         });
                     }
+                    else
+                    {
+                        //
+                        // Disable Azure App Configuration provider when connection string is not configured
+                        // This enables feature flag retrieval solely from appsettings.json
+                        Environment.SetEnvironmentVariable("AZURE_APP_CONFIGURATION_PROVIDER_DISABLED", "true");
+                    }
                 })
                 .UseStartup<Startup>();
         }
diff --git a/examples/FeatureFlagDemo/Startup.cs b/examples/FeatureFlagDemo/Startup.cs
index f29f4934..0a7b7eca 100644
--- a/examples/FeatureFlagDemo/Startup.cs
+++ b/examples/FeatureFlagDemo/Startup.cs
@@ -48,6 +48,8 @@ public void ConfigureServices(IServiceCollection services)
                     .WithTargeting()
                     .UseDisabledFeaturesHandler(new FeatureNotEnabledDisabledHandler());
 
+            services.AddAzureAppConfiguration();
+
             services.AddMvc(o =>
             {
                 o.Filters.AddForFeature<ThirdPartyActionFilter>(MyFeatureFlags.EnhancedPipeline);