Knowledge Base
How to Export a Certificate as a PFX File from Windows
Overview
By the end of this guide, you will have exported an installed certificate — together with its private key — as a Personal Information Exchange (PFX) file that you can use to migrate the certificate, configure a server, or keep as a backup. The procedure uses the built-in Windows Certificate Manager. You will open Certificate Manager, locate the certificate, run the Certificate Export Wizard, include the private key, set a password, choose a save location, and verify the exported file.
Prerequisites
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Access to the Windows system where the certificate is installed.
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Permission to open Certificate Manager (certmgr.msc or certlm.msc).
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The private key associated with the certificate (required for PFX export).
Steps
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Open Certificate Manager.
Launch the Certificate Manager where your certificate is installed, from the Start menu or the Run dialog (Win + R):
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Enter certmgr.msc for Current User certificates.
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Enter certlm.msc for Local Computer certificates.
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Locate the certificate.
In the Certificate Manager console, expand Personal, select Certificates, right-click the certificate you want to export, and select All Tasks → Export.
Figure 2: Personal → Certificates with All Tasks → Export selected for the certificate.
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Start the Certificate Export Wizard.
When the wizard opens, click Next on the Welcome page.
Figure 3: Certificate Export Wizard Welcome page.
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Choose to export the private key.
Select Yes, export the private key, then click Next.
Figure 4: Export Private Key page with “Yes, export the private key” selected.
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Configure the export options.
Leave the default settings, or optionally select Include all certificates in the certification path if possible, then click Next.
Figure 5: Export File Format options page.
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Set a password for the PFX file.
Select Password, enter a strong password to protect the PFX file, then click Next.
Figure 6: Security page with Password enabled and password is entered.
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Choose a save location.
Click Browse, select the destination folder, enter a name for the PFX file, and click Next.
Figure 7: File to Export page with the save path and file name.
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Complete the export.
Review your selections on the confirmation screen, then click Finish to complete the export.
Figure 8: Completing the Certificate Export Wizard confirmation page.
Verification
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Navigate to the location where you saved the PFX file.
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Confirm the .pfx file exists and imports without errors.
Similar Questions
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How do I export a certificate with its private key as a PFX file on Windows?
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How do I create a password-protected PFX backup of a certificate?
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How do I use Certificate Manager to export a certificate from the Local Computer store?
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