How to export or import certificates between Netscape and Microsoft Internet Explorer browsers
Originally Published: 2001-04-26
Article Number
Applies To
Keon Certificate Authority
Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.x
Netscape Navigator 4.x
TechNote 0239
Issue
Unable to import certificates. The file specified is either corrupt or is not a valid file.
Cause
Resolution
A. Exporting certificates from Netscape:
1. Go to Netscape Navigator and click the "Security" button in the toolbar.
2. Click "Yours" under the "Certificates" item.
3. Select the certificate that you want to export, then click the "Export" button.
4. Enter the password or the pin for Communicator Certificate DB if the DB is password protected.
5. Then you will be asked for a password to protect data being exported. You may enter one or leave it blank.
6. Re-enter the password to confirm it - If you have chosen one, enter the same password again. Otherwise, click on OK to continue.
7. Select the folder where you want to export your keys to, assign a file name to the key file and save it. Netscape will export the keys as a *.p12 file.
8. Netscape will finish the whole process with a message saying that the export was successful.
B. Importing the certificates into MSIE:
1. Go to your IE browser and choose "Tools" -> "Internet Option".
2. Click the "Content" tab, then click "Certificates".
3. Click on "Import" button to begin the import process.
4. IE will bring up the Certificate Manager Import Wizard. Click Next.
5. Click "Browse" to browse to the folder which contains the *.p12 file and select it.
Note: you may have to change the Files of type to All Files (*.*) to see the p12 file.
6. Click Next.
7. IE will then ask you for the password, which you first entered when exporting the keys out of Netscape. If your keys were not password protected, leave the Password field blank.
8. Check the "Mark the private key as exportable" option if you want to export the keys later on. Click Next.
9. IE will present an option, by default, of automatically selecting the certificate store to store the imported certificate. Accept the default and click Next.
10. Click "Finish" and IE will present a message saying the import is successful.
Exporting Certificates from MSIE and importing the certificates into Netscape:
A. Exporting certificates from MSIE:
1. Go to your IE browser and choose "Tools" -> "Internet Option".
2. Click the "Content" tab, then click "Certificates".
3. Select the certificate that you want to export, then click the "Export" button to begin the export process.
4. IE will bring up the Certificate Manager Export Wizard. Click Next.
5. The wizard will ask if you want to export the private keys. Select that option and click Next.
6. The wizard will present a default option of exporting the keys as a PKCS #12 (.PFX) format, with "Enable strong protection" selected by default. Use default setup and click Next.
7. IE will ask you for the password then. You MUST enter a password here as Netscape requires one to import an IE keypair successfully. After confirming your password, click Next.
8. Click "Browse" to choose folder location to export the keys and enter a file name and save it. IE will export the keys as a *.pfx file. Click Next.
9. Wizard will indicate a successful export. Click Finish to complete the process and IE will present a message saying the export is successful.
B. Importing the certificates into Netscape:
1. Go to Netscape Navigator and click the "Security" button in the toolbar.
2. Click "Yours" under the "Certificates" item.
3. Click the "Import a Certificate" button.
4. Enter the password or the pin for Communicator Certificate DB if the DB is password protected.
5. Netscape will ask for the key file. Change the Files of type to All Files to see the desired *.pfx file. Select it and click "Open".
6. Netscape will then ask for the password. Enter the password and click OK to continue.
7. Netscape will finish the whole process with a message saying that the import was successful.
Note: the certificate name imported by Netscape may appear unusual in numbers, you may need to click on "View" to see the actual certificate name.
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