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How can i set an x-api-key with the apikey in the header of a HTTP get request. I have tried something but it seems it doesnt work. Here is my code:

    private static String download(String theUrl)
        try {
            URL url = new URL(theUrl);
            URLConnection ucon = url.openConnection();
            ucon.addRequestProperty("x-api-key", apiKey);
            InputStream is = ucon.getInputStream();
            BufferedInputStream bis = new BufferedInputStream(is);
            ByteArrayBuffer baf = new ByteArrayBuffer(50);
            int current;
            while ((current = bis.read()) != -1)
                baf.append((byte) current);
            return new String (baf.toByteArray());
        } catch (MalformedURLException e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
        } catch (IOException e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
        return "";
EDIT:
Changed the code with the answer below but still getting an error message:  it couldn't instantiate the type HttpURLConnection(url). I have changed it but now i have to override 3 methods (below)
private static String download(String theUrl)
        try {
            URL url = new URL(theUrl);
            URLConnection ucon = new HttpURLConnection(url) {
                @Override
                public void connect() throws IOException {
                    // TODO Auto-generated method stub
                @Override
                public boolean usingProxy() {
                    // TODO Auto-generated method stub
                    return false;
                @Override
                public void disconnect() {
                    // TODO Auto-generated method stub
            ucon.addRequestProperty("x-api-key", apiKey);
            ucon.connect();
            InputStream is = ucon.getInputStream();
            BufferedInputStream bis = new BufferedInputStream(is);
            ByteArrayBuffer baf = new ByteArrayBuffer(50);
            int current;
            while ((current = bis.read()) != -1)
                baf.append((byte) current);
            return new String (baf.toByteArray());
        } catch (MalformedURLException e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
        } catch (IOException e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
        return "";
Instead of using a URLConnection, you should be using an HttpClient to make a request.
A simple example might look like this:
HttpClient httpclient = new DefaultHttpClient();
HttpGet request = new HttpGet(theUrl);
request.addHeader("x-api-key", apiKey);
HttpResponse response = httpclient.execute(request);
                Thanks for your answer, but after i paste this code into my code. I have to override 1 method (connect). Am i supposed to add  ucon.addRequestProperty("x-api-key", apiKey); inside this method? or is it to late and has there already been an connection established?
– Timmeeh93
                Oct 24, 2014 at 16:54
                I've updated my answer- you should be using HttpURLConnection, as URLConnection doesn't necessarily use HTTP and doesn't have an implementation of connect() (whereas HttpURLConnection does).
– Bryan Herbst
                Oct 24, 2014 at 16:56
                But i'm getting an error saying that it couldn't instantiate the type HttpURLConnection(url). I'll update my post above what eclipse is saying i have to do.
– Timmeeh93
                Oct 24, 2014 at 17:02
                My apologies, I forgot HttpURLConnection is also abstract. I updated my answer with a better solution that uses an actual HTTP request instead of just a URL connection.
– Bryan Herbst
                Oct 24, 2014 at 17:17
The use of Apache HttpClient is now discouraged. You can check it here: Android 6.0 Changes
You should better use URLConnection and cast to HttpURLConnection:
HttpURLConnection huc= (HttpURLConnection) url.openConnection();
huc.setRequestProperty("x-api-key","value");
        
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