Export a Certificate as a .REG

For the most part, installing certificates on Windows is no easy task for an end-user. A combination of mmc and trying to put the cert in the right store is a much, much longer process than is needed. This post should show you how to export a certificate from the Trusted Root Certification Authorities store as a .reg file that you can distribute to end-users. You could also use it as part of a batch file or VBScript to silently import the certificate.

Click Start | Run and enter mmc. Press OK.

Click File | Add/Remove Snap-In and press the Add button.

Choose Certificates and press Add.

01

Choose Computer Account and press Next.

02

Leave Local Computer selected and press Finish.

Press Close and OK.

Expand the Certificates\Trusted Root Certification Authorities folder and look for the [CA Name] certificate. It may be listed twice. Double-click to open the properties.

03

Click the Details tab. Scroll to the bottom and examine the Thumbprint. Take note of the first few characters.

04

Click Start | Run and enter regedit. Press OK.

Expand HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\SystemCertificates\ROOT\Certificates. Look for a key name starting with the same characters as the thumbprint. The certificate data is stored in the blob value.

05

Right-click the key name and choose Export.

Save the .reg file some place safe.

06

You can also use this method for some of the other certificate stores. The other useful store I use frequently is the Personal store. Just replace the ROOT in that registry path with MY to find the certificates there.

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Recent content I've written for you—just for you!— to enjoy while you're here.

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Quick commentary and links to other sources you'll find interesting. I promise.

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Some personal background, links to related projects, and other ways to connect.

Hi there. My name is Tom Pacyk and this is my small home on the web. I love the intersection of design, technology, and communication, which is a combination that led me to a career in sales and marketing roles at places like Zoom and ServiceNow. They're a bit old now, but I also had the opportunity to publish a couple of books along the way.

Portland, Oregon is home for me, my wife Beth, and our three kids, but I'm actually a Midwestern transplant—I grew up in the Chicago suburbs and went to school at Purdue and Illinois. When I find some free time I'm probably going to concerts, rooting for the Portland Timbers, or working on my Sunshine Burn Photography project.