Installing a PFX SSL Certificate on Windows Server

Overview

This guide explains how to install a PFX (Personal Information Exchange) SSL certificate on a Windows Server using the Microsoft Management Console (MMC).

Prerequisites

  • The PFX file containing your SSL certificate and private key.

  • The password you set when exporting or generating the PFX.

  • Administrator access to the Windows Server.

Steps

1. Open the Certificates MMC

  1. Press Win + R, type mmc, and press Enter.

  2. In the console, go to File > Add/Remove Snap-in.

  3. Select Certificates and click Add.

  4. Choose Computer Account, then Local Computer, and click Finish.

  5. Click OK to return to the main MMC screen.

2. Import the PFX File

  1. In the MMC, expand Certificates (Local Computer).

  2. Navigate to Personal > Certificates.

  3. Right-click Certificates, select All Tasks > Import.

  4. Browse to your .pfx file and click Next.

  5. Enter the PFX password. Check Mark this key as exportable (recommended).

  6. Choose Place all certificates in the Personal store and click Next.

  7. Click Finish. You should see a message: "The import was successful."

3. Bind the Certificate in IIS

  1. Open Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager.

  2. In the left tree, select your server name, then expand Sites.

  3. Right-click your website and choose Edit Bindings.

  4. Select https, then click Edit (or Add if not present).

  5. From the SSL certificate dropdown, choose your newly imported certificate.

  6. Click OK, then Close.

4. Verify

  • Restart IIS: open Command Prompt and run iisreset.

  • Visit your site with https:// and confirm the certificate is applied.

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