How to pass HttpClientHandler to existing HttpClient?

Question

I have HttpClient httpClient injected from outside of my class.

Inside my class I'm creating a new HttpClientHandler var handler = new HttpClientHandler() and setting its values.

I need to link HttpClientHandler to existing HttpClient the same way you can do it using the constructor: new HttpClient(handler)

Is it possible? I've tried looking for HttpClientHandler property within HttpClient but it does not exist. Is there any other way?

Answer 1

No, you can't.

• The HttpClient class does not hold a reference to the underlying HttpMessageHandler.
• Whenever you pass either an HttpClientHandler or a SocketsHttpHandler to the HttpClient's constructor then it is passing the handler to its base class's constructor.
• Its base class is a HttpMessageInvoker where the _handler field is defined as readonly.
• So, you can't change it after you have created an HttpClient instance.