diff --git a/components/esp_http_client/esp_http_client.c b/components/esp_http_client/esp_http_client.c
index 61faf21357..feb3891af0 100644
--- a/components/esp_http_client/esp_http_client.c
+++ b/components/esp_http_client/esp_http_client.c
@@ -1645,6 +1645,15 @@ esp_http_client_transport_t esp_http_client_get_transport_type(esp_http_client_h
     }
 }
 
+esp_err_t esp_http_client_set_auth_data(esp_http_client_handle_t client, const char *auth_data, int len)
+{
+    if (client == NULL || auth_data == NULL || len <= 0) {
+        return ESP_ERR_INVALID_ARG;
+    }
+    http_utils_append_string(&client->auth_header, auth_data, len);
+    return ESP_OK;
+}
+
 void esp_http_client_add_auth(esp_http_client_handle_t client)
 {
     if (client == NULL) {
diff --git a/components/esp_http_client/include/esp_http_client.h b/components/esp_http_client/include/esp_http_client.h
index c125c9d468..6135976d56 100644
--- a/components/esp_http_client/include/esp_http_client.h
+++ b/components/esp_http_client/include/esp_http_client.h
@@ -600,6 +600,21 @@ esp_http_client_transport_t esp_http_client_get_transport_type(esp_http_client_h
  */
 esp_err_t esp_http_client_set_redirection(esp_http_client_handle_t client);
 
+/**
+ * @brief      On receiving a custom authentication header, this API can be invoked to set the
+ *             authentication information from the header. This API can be called from the event
+ *             handler.
+ *
+ * @param[in]  client       The esp_http_client handle
+ * @param[in]  auth_data    The authentication data received in the header
+ * @param[in]  len          length of auth_data.
+ *
+ * @return
+ *      - ESP_ERR_INVALID_ARG
+ *      - ESP_OK
+ */
+esp_err_t esp_http_client_set_auth_data(esp_http_client_handle_t client, const char *auth_data, int len);
+
 /**
  * @brief      On receiving HTTP Status code 401, this API can be invoked to add authorization
  *             information.