Convert Files to PEM Format (2024)

If you are using third-party certificate files, ensure that the files are in .pem format. If not, follow the information in this section to convert them.

Convert RSA Key File to PEM Format

Use the following command to convert an RSA key file to a .pem format file:

Syntax:

openssl rsa -in <path-to-key-file> -text <path-to-PEM-file>

Example:

openssl rsa -in C:\Certificates\serverKeyFile.key -text > serverKeyFileInPemFormat.pem

Convert CER File to PEM Format

Use the following command to view the .cer file:

Syntax:

openssl x509 -in <path-to-cer-file> -text -noout

Example:

openssl x509 -in C:\Certificates\AnyCert.cer -text -noout

If you receive the following error, it implies that it is a DER-encoded .cer file. Then, follow theConvert DER-Encoded .cer Filesection to convert a DER-encoded .cer file:

unable to load certificate 12626:error:0906D06C:PEM routines:PEM_read_bio:no start line:pem_lib.c:647:Expecting: TRUSTED CERTIFICATE

Convert DER-Encoded CER File

Use the following commands to convert a DER-encoded .cer file to a .pem format:

Syntax:

openssl x509 -inform DER -in <path-to-cer-file> -out <path-to-crt-file> openssl x509 -in <path-to-crt-file> -out <path-to-pem-file> -outform PEM

Example:

openssl x509 -inform DER -in C:\Certificates\AnyCert.cer -out C:\Certificates\AnyCertCrt.crt openssl x509 -in C:\Certificates\AnyCertCrt.crt -out C:\Certificates\AnyCertInPem.pem -outform PEM

Convert a base64-Encoded CER File

Use the following command to convert a base64-encoded .cer file to a .pem format file:

Syntax:

openssl x509 -in <path-to-cer-file> -outform pem -out <path-to-pem-file>

Example:

openssl x509 -in C:\Certificates\AnyCert.cer -outform pem -out C:\Certificates\AnyCertInPem.pem

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FAQs

Convert Files to PEM Format? ›

Privacy Enhanced Mail (PEM) files are a type of Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) file used for keys and certificates. PEM, initially invented to make e-mail secure, is now an Internet security standard.

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What is a PEM file? ›

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Can I just rename CRT to PEM? ›

For certificates in CER or CRT format, you can directly modify the certificate file name extension to convert them into PEM format. For example, you can rename the server. crt certificate file to server. pem.

How do I change the format of a PDF file? ›

Open the PDF in Acrobat and select Convert from the top tools bar. Alternatively, from the All tools menu, select Export a PDF. The various formats to which you can export the PDF file are displayed. From the Convert panel, select image format and then from the drop-down, select the desired image file format.

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Are PEM and key files same? ›

key files are generally the private key, used by the server to encrypt and package data for verification by clients. . pem files are generally the public key, used by the client to verify and decrypt data sent by servers. PEM files could also be encoded private keys, so check the content if you're not sure.

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Are PEM files text files? ›

PEM (originally “Privacy Enhanced Mail”) is the most common format for X. 509 certificates, CSRs, and cryptographic keys. A PEM file is a text file containing one or more items in Base64 ASCII encoding, each with plain-text headers and footers (e.g. -----BEGIN CERTIFICATE----- and -----END CERTIFICATE----- ).

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Is PEM format same as CRT? ›

Is a PEM file the same thing as a CRT file? Dear friend, They are not the same. A PEM file is a container format that can hold different types of encoded data, such as certificates, private keys, and certificate chains.

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How to create a PEM file for iOS push notifications? ›

PEM file. Click on the + button in the upper right-hand corner. Select from the options “Apple Push Notification service SSL (Production)” and then click Continue. Now, from the App ID drop down list, select the app you want to generate the certificate for then click Continue.

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