The disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods for HTTP header-based authentication. For example, the systems and methods include receiving, at a mobile platform server, a first request message from a client device, the first request message requesting to download an application from the mobile platform server, sending, to the client device, a first response message having a first authentication query within header portions of the first response message, receiving, at the mobile platform server, a second request message having first authentication credentials within header portions of the second request message, sending, to the client device, a second response message having a second authentication query within header portions of the second response message, receiving, at the mobile platform server first device, a third request message having second authentication credentials within header portions of the third request message, and sending, to the client device, the application.