Step by step guide to move or copy an SSL certificate from one windows server to another windows server.

1. How to Move SSL Certificate from
One Windows Server to Another?
Explained by AboutSSL.org

2. Sometimes, you have to move or copy SSL certificate from one
Windows server to another. Whether you want to switch your hosting
provider, or add another server, or maintain proper load balancer
environment, you’ll need to transfer your SSL certificate. This blog will
help you at every step so that you can easily move or copy SSL from
one windows server to another.
Basically, the entire process can be divided into three crucial steps
(assuming that you have SSL installed on your original server). These
steps are:
 Exporting the Certificate
 Importing the Certificate
 Assigning the SSL Certificate
Introduction

3. 1. Exporting the certificate from Windows MMC
console (Cont..)
 Open Run from the Start Menu.
 Type mmc and press OK

4. 1. Exporting the certificate from Windows
MMC console (Cont..)
 Click on File and go to Add/Remove Snap-in…

5. 1. Exporting the certificate from Windows
MMC console (Cont..)
 Select Certificates and then click ADD>

6. 1. Exporting the certificate from Windows
MMC console (Cont..)
 Now click on Computer Account and hit Next button.

7. 1. Exporting the certificate from Windows
MMC console (Cont..)
 Make sure the Local Computer option has been selected already. If
not, select it.
 Click on Finish and press OK.

8. 1. Exporting the certificate from Windows
MMC console (Cont..)
 Now go back to the Console and expand Certificates (Local
Computer) >> Personal >> Certificates. You should now see the
certificate you want to move.

9. 1. Exporting the certificate from Windows
MMC console (Cont..)
 Double-click the certificate and check if the Private Key is there.
You won’t be able to move ahead without the Private Key.
 Hit the Okay button if it’s there.

10. 1. Exporting the certificate from Windows
MMC console (Cont..)
 Now, right-click on the certificate and go to All Tasks >> Export…

11. 1. Exporting the certificate from Windows
MMC console (Cont..)
 Click Next.

12. 1. Exporting the certificate from Windows
MMC console (Cont..)
 Select the Yes, export the private key and hit Next.

13. 1. Exporting the certificate from Windows
MMC console (Cont..)
 Select Include all certificates in the certification path if possible
and hit Next.

14. 1. Exporting the certificate from Windows
MMC console (Cont..)
 Now enter the password (you’ll need this later).

15. 1. Exporting the certificate from Windows
MMC console (Cont..)
 Now browse or enter the proper path of the certificate file and
press Next.

16. 1. Exporting the certificate from Windows
MMC console
 Click Finish.
 Now you can close the MMC Console.

17. 2. Importing the certificate to new Windows
server (Cont..)
 First, you must copy the .pfx file to a suitable location on the new
machine.
 Open Run from the Start Menu.
 Type mmc and press OK.

18. 2. Importing the certificate to new Windows
server (Cont..)
 Click on File and go to Add/Remove Snap-in…

19. 2. Importing the certificate to new Windows
server (Cont..)
 Select Certificates and then click ADD> Button.

20. 2. Importing the certificate to new Windows
server (Cont..)
 Now click on Computer Account and hit Next.

21. 2. Importing the certificate to new Windows
server (Cont..)
 Make sure the Local Computer option has been selected already. If
not, select it.
 Click on Finish and press OK.

22. 2. Importing the certificate to new Windows
server (Cont..)
 Now go back to the Console and expand Certificates (Local
Computer) >> Personal >> Certificates.

23. 2. Importing the certificate to new Windows
server (Cont..)
 Right-click on the certificate and go to All Tasks >> Import…

24. 2. Importing the certificate to new Windows
server (Cont..)
 Click Next.
 Now browse or enter the proper path of the certificate file and
press Next.

25. 2. Importing the certificate to new Windows
server (Cont..)
 Click the Browse button to select the .pfx file you copied. If it
doesn’t appear, change the file type from “X.509…” to “Personal
Information Exchange (*.pfx, *.p12)”.

26. 2. Importing the certificate to new Windows
server (Cont..)
 Enter the password you entered while exporting the certificate file.

27. 2. Importing the certificate to new Windows
server (Cont..)
 Select the Automatically select the certificate store based on the
type of certificate and press Next.

28. 2. Importing the certificate to new Windows
server (Cont..)
 Hit Finish.

29. 2. Importing the certificate to new Windows
server
 Now hit the Refresh button in the console.
 Close the MMC.

30. 3. Assigning the Certificate
Once you have finished importing the SSL certificate on your new
Windows server, you now need to assign it on you’re the new server.
Here’s how to do it:
 Open IIS manager from the Start
 Right-click the website on which you want to deploy certificate.
Click Properties.
 Now Assign an existing certificate and press Next.
 Select the new certificate you just imported and hit Next.
 Restart the IIS.
Now your mission to move or copy SSL certificate from one Windows
server to another is done and dusted.
Well done!

31. Important Resources
 How to Install SSL Certificate on Microsoft IIS 5 & 6
 How to Install SSL Certificate on Microsoft IIS 7
 How to Install SSL Certificate on Microsoft IIS 8
 How to Install SSL Certificate on Microsoft Exchange Server 2007
 How to Install SSL Certificate on Microsoft Exchange Server 2013

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