diff --git a/examples/protocols/esp_http_client/CMakeLists.txt b/examples/protocols/esp_http_client/CMakeLists.txt
index 6896d5acd..cce8eb1e2 100644
--- a/examples/protocols/esp_http_client/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/examples/protocols/esp_http_client/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -2,5 +2,9 @@
 # CMakeLists in this exact order for cmake to work correctly
 cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.5)
 
+# (Not part of the boilerplate)
+# This example uses an extra component for common functions such as Wi-Fi and Ethernet connection.
+set(EXTRA_COMPONENT_DIRS $ENV{IDF_PATH}/examples/common_components/protocol_examples_common)
+
 include($ENV{IDF_PATH}/tools/cmake/project.cmake)
 project(esp-http-client-example)
diff --git a/examples/protocols/esp_http_client/Makefile b/examples/protocols/esp_http_client/Makefile
index 851c3475d..50d3b5f35 100644
--- a/examples/protocols/esp_http_client/Makefile
+++ b/examples/protocols/esp_http_client/Makefile
@@ -5,5 +5,7 @@
 
 PROJECT_NAME := esp-http-client-example
 
+EXTRA_COMPONENT_DIRS = $(IDF_PATH)/examples/common_components/protocol_examples_common
+
 include $(IDF_PATH)/make/project.mk
 
diff --git a/examples/protocols/esp_http_client/main/CMakeLists.txt b/examples/protocols/esp_http_client/main/CMakeLists.txt
index 093811e66..77a52e233 100644
--- a/examples/protocols/esp_http_client/main/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/examples/protocols/esp_http_client/main/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
-set(COMPONENT_SRCS "app_wifi.c"
-                   "esp_http_client_example.c")
+set(COMPONENT_SRCS "esp_http_client_example.c")
 set(COMPONENT_ADD_INCLUDEDIRS ".")
 
 
diff --git a/examples/protocols/esp_http_client/main/Kconfig.projbuild b/examples/protocols/esp_http_client/main/Kconfig.projbuild
deleted file mode 100644
index 803ab080a..000000000
--- a/examples/protocols/esp_http_client/main/Kconfig.projbuild
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,17 +0,0 @@
-menu "Example Configuration"
-
-    config WIFI_SSID
-        string "WiFi SSID"
-        default "myssid"
-        help
-            SSID (network name) for the example to connect to.
-
-    config WIFI_PASSWORD
-        string "WiFi Password"
-        default "mypassword"
-        help
-            WiFi password (WPA or WPA2) for the example to use.
-
-            Can be left blank if the network has no security set.
-
-endmenu
diff --git a/examples/protocols/esp_http_client/main/app_wifi.c b/examples/protocols/esp_http_client/main/app_wifi.c
deleted file mode 100644
index da5ac44d5..000000000
--- a/examples/protocols/esp_http_client/main/app_wifi.c
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,75 +0,0 @@
-/* ESP HTTP Client Example
-
-   This example code is in the Public Domain (or CC0 licensed, at your option.)
-
-   Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, this
-   software is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR
-   CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
-*/
-
-#include "esp_wifi.h"
-#include "esp_event_loop.h"
-#include "esp_log.h"
-#include "esp_system.h"
-#include "freertos/event_groups.h"
-#include "esp_wifi.h"
-#include "esp_event_loop.h"
-#include "esp_log.h"
-#include "app_wifi.h"
-
-static const char *TAG = "WIFI";
-
-/* FreeRTOS event group to signal when we are connected & ready to make a request */
-static EventGroupHandle_t wifi_event_group;
-
-/* The event group allows multiple bits for each event,
-   but we only care about one event - are we connected
-   to the AP with an IP? */
-const int CONNECTED_BIT = BIT0;
-
-static esp_err_t event_handler(void *ctx, system_event_t *event)
-{
-    switch (event->event_id) {
-        case SYSTEM_EVENT_STA_START:
-            esp_wifi_connect();
-            break;
-        case SYSTEM_EVENT_STA_GOT_IP:
-            xEventGroupSetBits(wifi_event_group, CONNECTED_BIT);
-            break;
-        case SYSTEM_EVENT_STA_DISCONNECTED:
-            /* This is a workaround as ESP32 WiFi libs don't currently
-               auto-reassociate. */
-            esp_wifi_connect();
-            xEventGroupClearBits(wifi_event_group, CONNECTED_BIT);
-            break;
-        default:
-            break;
-    }
-    return ESP_OK;
-}
-
-void app_wifi_initialise(void)
-{
-    tcpip_adapter_init();
-    wifi_event_group = xEventGroupCreate();
-    ESP_ERROR_CHECK(esp_event_loop_init(event_handler, NULL));
-    wifi_init_config_t cfg = WIFI_INIT_CONFIG_DEFAULT();
-    ESP_ERROR_CHECK(esp_wifi_init(&cfg));
-    ESP_ERROR_CHECK(esp_wifi_set_storage(WIFI_STORAGE_RAM));
-    wifi_config_t wifi_config = {
-        .sta = {
-            .ssid = CONFIG_WIFI_SSID,
-            .password = CONFIG_WIFI_PASSWORD,
-        },
-    };
-    ESP_LOGI(TAG, "Setting WiFi configuration SSID %s...", wifi_config.sta.ssid);
-    ESP_ERROR_CHECK(esp_wifi_set_mode(WIFI_MODE_STA));
-    ESP_ERROR_CHECK(esp_wifi_set_config(ESP_IF_WIFI_STA, &wifi_config));
-    ESP_ERROR_CHECK(esp_wifi_start());
-
-}
-
-void app_wifi_wait_connected()
-{
-    xEventGroupWaitBits(wifi_event_group, CONNECTED_BIT, false, true, portMAX_DELAY);
-}
diff --git a/examples/protocols/esp_http_client/main/app_wifi.h b/examples/protocols/esp_http_client/main/app_wifi.h
deleted file mode 100644
index 91c886d5b..000000000
--- a/examples/protocols/esp_http_client/main/app_wifi.h
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,17 +0,0 @@
-/* ESP HTTP Client Example
-
-   This example code is in the Public Domain (or CC0 licensed, at your option.)
-
-   Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, this
-   software is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR
-   CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
-*/
-
-#ifndef _APP_WIFI_H_
-#define _APP_WIFI_H_
-
-void app_wifi_initialise(void);
-void app_wifi_wait_connected();
-
-
-#endif
diff --git a/examples/protocols/esp_http_client/main/esp_http_client_example.c b/examples/protocols/esp_http_client/main/esp_http_client_example.c
index 3978671b4..c1aa73ea9 100644
--- a/examples/protocols/esp_http_client/main/esp_http_client_example.c
+++ b/examples/protocols/esp_http_client/main/esp_http_client_example.c
@@ -14,7 +14,9 @@
 #include "esp_log.h"
 #include "esp_system.h"
 #include "nvs_flash.h"
-#include "app_wifi.h"
+#include "esp_event.h"
+#include "tcpip_adapter.h"
+#include "protocol_examples_common.h"
 
 #include "esp_http_client.h"
 
@@ -486,8 +488,6 @@ static void https_async()
 
 static void http_test_task(void *pvParameters)
 {
-    app_wifi_wait_connected();
-    ESP_LOGI(TAG, "Connected to AP, begin http example");
     http_rest_with_url();
     http_rest_with_hostname_path();
     http_auth_basic();
@@ -514,7 +514,14 @@ void app_main()
       ret = nvs_flash_init();
     }
     ESP_ERROR_CHECK(ret);
-    app_wifi_initialise();
+    tcpip_adapter_init();
+    ESP_ERROR_CHECK(esp_event_loop_create_default());
+
+    /* This helper function configures Wi-Fi or Ethernet, as selected in menuconfig.
+     * Read "Establishing Wi-Fi or Ethernet Connection" section in
+     * examples/protocols/README.md for more information about this function.
+     */
+    ESP_ERROR_CHECK(example_connect());
 
     xTaskCreate(&http_test_task, "http_test_task", 8192, NULL, 5, NULL);
 }