Can't find Request.GetOwinContext

Question

I have been searching for an hour trying to figure out why this isn't working.

I have a ASP.Net MVC 5 application with a WebAPI. I am trying to get Request.GetOwinContext().Authentication, however I can't seem to find how to include GetOwinContext. Here is my code:

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Net;
using System.Net.Http;
using System.Web;
using System.Web.Mvc;
using System.Web.Security;
using TaskPro.Models;

namespace TaskPro.Controllers.api
{
    public class AccountController : ApiController
    {
        [HttpPost]
        [AllowAnonymous]
        public ReturnStatus Login(LoginViewModel model)
        { 
            if (ModelState.IsValid)
            {
                var ctx = Request.GetOwinContext(); // <-- Can't find this

                return ReturnStatus.ReturnStatusSuccess();
            }

            return base.ReturnStatusErrorsFromModelState(ModelState);
        }
    }
}

From what I've read, it should be part of the System.Net.Http, but I've included that and it still isn't resolving. Ctrl-Space doesn't give me any intellisense options either.

What am I missing here?

It's in the `System.Web.Http` namespace, but it is from the `System.Web.Http.Owin` dll. Have you referenced that? — Simon C, Mar 23 '14 at 23:44
Ok, I found the nuget package for Microsoft.AspNet.WebApi.Owin and installed that, and included the usings for System.Web.Http and System.Web.Http.Owin, but it still isn't working. — Scottie, Mar 23 '14 at 23:53
Sorry, my above comment should have read `System.Net.Http` namespace. So you don't need a using for `.Owin`, just `using System.Net.Http` which you already have. — Simon C, Mar 23 '14 at 23:58
possible duplicate of [ASP.Net Identity - HttpContext has no extension method for GetOwinContext](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/21148209/asp-net-identity-httpcontext-has-no-extension-method-for-getowincontext) — Darren Wainwright, Feb 02 '15 at 13:53

Simon C · Accepted Answer · 2017-07-31T22:33:01.400

171

The GetOwinContext extension method is in the System.Web.Http.Owin dll which needs to be downloaded as a nuget package (The nuget package name is Microsoft.AspNet.WebApi.Owin)

Install-Package Microsoft.AspNet.WebApi.Owin

See msdn here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.net.http.owinhttprequestmessageextensions.getowincontext(v=vs.118).aspx

Nuget package here: https://www.nuget.org/packages/Microsoft.AspNet.WebApi.Owin

However, the method is still part of the System.Net.Http namespace, so the using definitions you have should be fine.

EDIT

Okay, to clear up some confusion: If you are using an ApiController (i.e MyController : ApiController) you will require the Microsoft.AspNet.WebApi.Owin package.

If you are using a regular Mvc controller (i.e. MyController : Controller) you will need the Microsoft.Owin.Host.SystemWeb package.

In MVC 5 the pipelines for Api and regular MVC were very different, but often have the same naming conventions. So an extension method in one does not apply to the other. Same for a lot of the action filters etc.

edited Jul 31 '17 at 22:33

answered Mar 24 '14 at 00:09

Simon C

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The second link worked for me. Just run Install-Package Microsoft.AspNet.WebApi.Owin in your package manager. – Rogala Aug 11 '14 at 21:39
Token revocation is too hard!!! But this answer finally helped me get it working (plus manually deleting it from the db, which I have access to). Thank you!! – SlimsGhost May 28 '15 at 02:08
I have this problem too but I've used Install-Package Microsoft.Owin.Host.SystemWeb to solve issue – hmfarimani Apr 09 '17 at 23:23
1

I don't get why this is deemed to be correct - this extension method has nothing to do with WebAPI, and indeed it's in `Microsoft.Owin.Host.SystemWeb`, not `Microsoft.AspNet.WebApi.Owin`. – John Jul 31 '17 at 08:01
3

@John - If you are using an API controller you need `Microsoft.AspNet.WebApi.Owin`. If you are in a regular MVC controller you will need `Microsoft.Owin.Host.SystemWeb`. The `Request` object is different depending on which Controller type you are using so a different extension method. – Simon C Jul 31 '17 at 22:29
Thanks. I should have read the post until its end before to install the first suggested package :). – AFract Nov 14 '17 at 14:08

Obi · Answer 2 · 2014-11-09T14:18:30.427

51

None of these worked for me. I had to compare Nuget packages with one that was created with Identity and I found this Nuget package missing which when added fixed the issue for me

Microsoft.Owin.Host.SystemWeb

Apparently you need it to run OWIN on IIS using the ASP.NET request pipeline (read you're screwed without it!)

edited Nov 09 '14 at 14:18

answered Jun 06 '14 at 13:15

Obi

3,091
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2

you do not have to run on IIS. – Trevor de Koekkoek Nov 08 '14 at 02:43
1

@TrevordeKoekkoek yes but if you read the comment properly it says you need the library to run on IIS (If you want to run on IIS you cannot do without this library) – Obi Nov 09 '14 at 14:18
1

you need that package plus a using System.Web; statement. – Serban Murariu Jun 22 '15 at 14:13
It fixed the issue for me. Thanks! – Artorias2718 Jan 22 '19 at 23:27

score 47 · Answer 3 · edited Apr 25 '14 at 08:38

47

In WEB API, you can get the reference using the following:

HttpContext.Current.GetOwinContext().GetUserManager<ApplicationUserManager>();

it works in Identity 2.0

edited Apr 25 '14 at 08:38

ReNiSh AR

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answered Apr 25 '14 at 08:18

user3572087

506
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5

-1 This requires dependency on System.Web, which not available in self-hosted scenarios. – Kugel Jul 04 '14 at 05:28
6

After all this time, people are still using HttpContext.Current? It is not testable. context should be injected. – Trevor de Koekkoek Nov 08 '14 at 02:41
1

Only installing Nuget Package Microsoft.Owin.Host.SystemWeb worked for me – Himalaya Garg Nov 29 '16 at 16:09

score 23 · Answer 4 · answered Sep 06 '14 at 23:30

23

You may need to add the NuGet package Microsoft.Owin.Host.SystemWeb in order to do this:

HttpContext.Current.GetOwinContext().GetUserManager<ApplicationUserManager>();

answered Sep 06 '14 at 23:30

Serj Sagan

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score 8 · Answer 5 · answered May 31 '17 at 07:19

8

In my case I need to add

using Microsoft.AspNet.Identity.Owin;

for resolving GetOwinContext and then GetUserManager in following line.

Request.GetOwinContext().GetUserManager<ApplicationUserManager>();

answered May 31 '17 at 07:19

Muhammad Ramzan

342
3
16

score 5 · Answer 6 · answered Apr 09 '17 at 23:28

5

I have this problem and I download extra package from nuget to solve my problem,(run following command in Package Manager Console) Install-Package Microsoft.Owin.Host.SystemWeb

answered Apr 09 '17 at 23:28

hmfarimani

531
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1

This was the solution for me as well - Framework 4.6.2 Console App – Serexx Jun 27 '17 at 21:07

DavidRR · Answer 7 · 2017-12-27T19:44:10.063

(Please note that this answer is for ASP.NET Web API which corresponds to the tag used on the question. See this question if your inquiry is with respect to ASP.NET MVC.)

The question does not specify how the ASP.NET Web API service is to be hosted. The dialog in this post indicates (emphasis mine):

kichalla wrote Oct 24, 2014 at 1:35 AM

If you are NOT self-hosting, do not use Microsoft.AspNet.WebApi.Owin package with IIS...this package is only supposed to be used with self hosting.

Use of the Microsoft.AspNet.WebApi.Owin package is recommended in the accepted answer. In this answer I am reporting what has worked for me when hosting an ASP.NET Web API service in IIS.

First, install the following NuGet package:

Microsoft.Owin.Host.SystemWeb

OWIN server that enables OWIN-based applications to run on IIS using the ASP.NET request pipeline.

(Note that as I write, the latest available version of this NuGet package is 3.1.0. Also, to the extent that it might matter, I am using Visual Studio 2013 Update 5.)

After installing this NuGet package, you can do the following:

using Microsoft.Owin;
using System.Web;

IOwinContext context = HttpContext.Current.GetOwinContext();
// or
IOwinContext context = HttpContext.Current.Request.GetOwinContext();

Now, to shed some light on how these statements are resolved. In Visual Studio, if you right-click GetOwinContext in either statement and select "Peek Definition," Visual Studio will display the following:

// Assembly Microsoft.Owin.Host.SystemWeb.dll, v3.1.0.0

using Microsoft.Owin;
using System;
using System.Runtime.CompilerServices;

namespace System.Web
{
    public static class HttpContextExtensions
    {
        public static IOwinContext GetOwinContext(this HttpContext context);
        public static IOwinContext GetOwinContext(this HttpRequest request);
    }
}

As you can see, within the System.Web namespace, there are two GetOwinContext extension methods:

One on the HttpContext class, and
The other on the HttpRequest class.

Again, for those hosting their Web API service in IIS, my hope is that this clears up any ambiguity regarding where a definition for GetOwinContext can be found with respect to this late date in 2017.

score 2 · Answer 8 · answered Jan 13 '15 at 03:14

This took me forever to find a simple answer: but what I did was use the Get extension of the single instance of the IOwinContext that was instantiated in the startup. So it came out like this:

private readonly IOwinContext _iOwinContext = HttpContext.Current.GetOwinContext();

public ApplicationUserManager UserManager
    {
        get
        {
            return _userManager ?? _iOwinContext.Get<ApplicationUserManager>() ;
        }
        private set
        {
            _userManager = value;
        }
    }

score 1 · Answer 9 · answered Nov 27 '15 at 15:11

1

The GetOwinContext() extension method is not found in threads other than the GUI thread.

So be careful to not call this function from within any awaited function.

answered Nov 27 '15 at 15:11

AxD

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score 1 · Answer 10 · answered Mar 27 '16 at 23:20

After looking at the ASP.NET default project I discovered I needed to include this in my application startup:

// Enable the application to use a cookie to store information for the signed in user
// and to use a cookie to temporarily store information about a user logging in 
// with a third party login provider
app.UseCookieAuthentication(new CookieAuthenticationOptions());
app.UseExternalSignInCookie(DefaultAuthenticationTypes.ExternalCookie);`

score 1 · Answer 11 · answered Jul 28 '16 at 12:26

1

I was missing package: Microsoft.AspNet.WebApi.Owin for ApiControllers. Hope this helps!

answered Jul 28 '16 at 12:26

D-Go

413
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score 1 · Answer 12 · answered Jan 23 '17 at 21:41

I had this same problem and solved it by using a private method: private IAuthenticationManager AuthenticationManager { get { return HttpContext.Current.GetOwinContext().Authentication; } }

This worked swimmingly for me.

score 0 · Answer 13 · answered Mar 02 '18 at 08:06

0

I had to add package Microsoft.AspNet.Identity.Owin

answered Mar 02 '18 at 08:06

GraehamF

1,971
24
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Can't find Request.GetOwinContext

13 Answers13

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