SSL Converter

Certificate File to Convert

Private Key File

Chain Certificate File (optional)

Chain Certificate File 2 (optional)

Type of Current Certificate

Type To Convert To

PFX Password

Convert Certificate

About SSL Converter

The SSL Converter transforms SSL certificates between formats like PEM, PFX, DER, and P7B without requiring command-line tools or OpenSSL knowledge. System administrators and developers frequently receive certificates in formats incompatible with their servers, creating deployment delays and security gaps. ToolsPivot's SSL Converter eliminates this friction by handling all major certificate format conversions instantly through a browser-based interface.

ToolsPivot's SSL Converter Overview

Core Functionality

The SSL Converter accepts certificate files in PEM, DER, PKCS#7 (P7B), and PKCS#12 (PFX/P12) formats and outputs them in your required format. Users upload their certificate file, select the source and target formats, provide any necessary private keys or passwords, and receive the converted certificate within seconds. The tool preserves certificate validity, expiration dates, and cryptographic integrity during conversion while ToolsPivot processes everything securely without storing uploaded files.

Primary Users & Use Cases

System administrators deploying certificates across Windows IIS, Apache, Nginx, and Tomcat servers use this tool most frequently. Web developers migrating sites between hosting platforms, DevOps engineers automating certificate deployment, and IT security teams managing enterprise certificate infrastructure all rely on format conversion capabilities. The tool serves anyone who needs certificates compatible with specific server environments without learning OpenSSL commands.

Problem & Solution

Certificate authorities issue certificates in PEM format, but Windows servers require PFX files while Java applications need JKS or P7B formats. Without a converter, administrators must install OpenSSL, learn complex command syntax, and risk errors that can break certificate chains. ToolsPivot's SSL Converter solves this by providing instant browser-based conversion with automatic format detection and SSL installation verification.

Key Benefits of SSL Converter

No Software Installation Required. Convert certificates directly in your browser without downloading or configuring OpenSSL on your system.
Preserves Certificate Chain Integrity. Intermediate and root certificates remain properly linked during conversion, preventing chain validation errors.
Supports All Major Server Platforms. Generate compatible output for Windows IIS, Apache, Nginx, Tomcat, and cloud platforms like AWS and Azure.
Password Protection for PFX Files. Set custom passwords when creating PKCS#12 files to protect private keys during transfer and storage.
Automatic Format Detection. The tool identifies your certificate's current format from file extensions and content headers, reducing conversion errors.
Instant Processing Speed. Complete certificate conversions in seconds rather than troubleshooting OpenSSL command syntax for hours.
No File Storage on Servers. Uploaded certificates and private keys are processed in memory and never stored, maintaining security compliance when you generate certificate requests.

Core Features of SSL Converter

PEM to PFX Conversion. Combine PEM certificates and private keys into password-protected PKCS#12 files for Windows server deployment.
PFX to PEM Extraction. Split PKCS#12 containers into separate certificate and private key files for Apache or Nginx installation.
DER to PEM Transformation. Convert binary DER-encoded certificates to Base64 PEM format for text-based configuration files.
P7B Certificate Chain Handling. Extract individual certificates from PKCS#7 bundles or create P7B files from multiple PEM certificates.
Private Key Inclusion Options. Choose whether to include, exclude, or encrypt private keys in converted output based on your security requirements.
Intermediate Certificate Support. Include CA bundle and intermediate certificates in conversions to maintain complete trust chains.
Certificate Validation Before Conversion. The tool verifies certificate integrity and matches private keys before processing to prevent invalid output, similar to how you'd decode CSR files.
Multiple File Upload. Submit certificate, private key, and intermediate certificate files in a single conversion operation.
Password-Protected Input Handling. Decrypt password-protected PFX files by providing the original password during upload.
Download-Ready Output. Receive converted certificates as downloadable files with correct extensions and formatting.

How ToolsPivot's SSL Converter Works

Select your source format. Choose the current format of your certificate file from PEM, DER, P7B, or PFX options.
Upload certificate files. Provide your certificate file and private key if the conversion requires it.
Choose target format. Select the output format needed for your server environment.
Set conversion options. Enter passwords for PFX creation or provide decryption passwords for protected files. Use a secure password generator for strong PFX passwords.
Download converted certificate. Receive your certificate in the new format ready for server installation.

When to Use SSL Converter

Use the SSL Converter whenever your certificate format doesn't match your server requirements. This occurs most frequently when migrating between server platforms, deploying certificates received from certificate authorities, or consolidating certificate management across mixed infrastructure environments.

Specific Use Scenarios:

Migrating from Apache to Windows IIS. Convert PEM certificates to PFX format for Windows server import.
Deploying CA-Issued Certificates. Transform certificates received in standard PEM format to your server's required format.
Java Application Deployment. Convert certificates to P7B or PKCS#12 format for Tomcat and Java Keystore compatibility.
Cloud Platform Migration. Prepare certificates in formats required by AWS Certificate Manager, Azure, or Google Cloud.
Automating Certificate Renewal. Convert renewed certificates to match existing deployment scripts and configurations. Use CSR validation to verify renewal requests.
Backup and Archive. Create PFX files with password protection for secure certificate storage.
Multi-Server Deployment. Generate multiple format versions from a single source certificate for heterogeneous environments.

Edge cases include converting certificates with non-standard extensions, handling self-signed certificates, and processing certificates with unusual encoding. The converter handles most standard certificate configurations automatically.

Use Cases / Applications

Scenario: Windows Server Administrator Receiving PEM Certificate

Context: IT administrator receives SSL certificate from CA in PEM format for deployment on IIS.
Process:
- Upload the .crt certificate file and .key private key file
- Select PFX as the output format
- Set a secure password for the PFX file
Outcome: Administrator imports the PFX directly into Windows Certificate Store and binds it to IIS website.

Scenario: DevOps Engineer Migrating to Linux Servers

Context: Team migrating from Windows infrastructure needs to convert existing PFX certificates for Nginx.
Process:
- Upload the .pfx file and enter the current password
- Select PEM as the output format
- Download separate certificate and key files
Outcome: Engineer deploys certificates to Nginx using standard ssl_certificate and ssl_certificate_key directives. They can decode certificate details to verify the content.

Scenario: Java Developer Preparing Tomcat SSL

Context: Developer needs to configure HTTPS on Tomcat server using certificates issued in PEM format.
Process:
- Upload certificate, private key, and intermediate CA files
- Select PKCS#12 as output format
- Import into Java Keystore using keytool
Outcome: Tomcat server accepts connections with properly configured SSL trust chain.

Scenario: Security Team Auditing Certificate Chain

Context: Security analyst needs to extract and verify individual certificates from a PFX bundle.
Process:
- Upload the PFX file with decryption password
- Convert to PEM format for text inspection
- Verify certificate properties match security requirements
Outcome: Analyst confirms certificate chain integrity and matches certificates with private keys to ensure deployment readiness.

SSL Certificate Format Reference Table

Understanding certificate formats helps you choose the correct conversion path for your deployment scenario.

Format	Extensions	Encoding	Contains Private Key	Common Use
PEM	.pem, .crt, .cer, .key	Base64 ASCII	Optional (separate file)	Apache, Nginx, Linux servers
DER	.der, .cer	Binary	No	Java platforms, Windows
P7B/PKCS#7	.p7b, .p7c	Base64 ASCII	No	Windows, Java Tomcat
PFX/PKCS#12	.pfx, .p12	Binary	Yes (encrypted)	Windows IIS, certificate backup

PEM format remains the most versatile, with most certificate authorities issuing certificates in this format. You can identify PEM files by opening them in a text editor and looking for "-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----" headers.

Common Conversion Scenarios by Server Type

Different server platforms require specific certificate formats. Match your target server to find the required conversion.

Apache and Nginx (Linux): Require PEM format with separate certificate (.crt) and private key (.key) files. If you have a PFX file, convert to PEM and extract the key separately.

Windows IIS: Requires PFX/PKCS#12 format with private key included. If you received PEM files from your CA, combine the certificate, key, and intermediate certificates into a single PFX file.

Tomcat (Java): Accepts PKCS#12 or JKS format. Convert PEM certificates to PKCS#12, then use keytool to import into a Java Keystore if needed.

AWS/Azure/GCP: Cloud platforms typically accept PEM format. Convert any other format to PEM before uploading to cloud certificate managers.

OpenSSL Commands Reference

For users who prefer command-line conversion, these OpenSSL commands accomplish the same conversions available in ToolsPivot's SSL Converter.

PEM to PFX:

openssl pkcs12 -export -out certificate.pfx -inkey privateKey.key -in certificate.crt -certfile CACert.crt

PFX to PEM:

openssl pkcs12 -in certificate.pfx -out certificate.pem -nodes

DER to PEM:

openssl x509 -inform der -in certificate.der -out certificate.pem

PEM to DER:

openssl x509 -outform der -in certificate.pem -out certificate.der

P7B to PEM:

openssl pkcs7 -print_certs -in certificate.p7b -out certificate.pem

The ToolsPivot SSL Converter performs these conversions automatically without requiring OpenSSL installation or command-line knowledge.

Related Tools

Complete your SSL certificate workflow with these complementary ToolsPivot tools:

SSL Checker: Verify SSL certificate installation and check expiration dates after deployment.
CSR Generation: Create Certificate Signing Requests for new SSL certificate orders.
CSR Decoder: Inspect CSR contents before submitting to certificate authorities.
Certificate Decoder: View detailed certificate information including issuer, validity, and extensions.
Certificate Key Matcher: Confirm that certificates and private keys belong together.
Base64 to Image: Decode Base64-encoded content for verification purposes.
Website Safety Checker: Scan websites for security vulnerabilities and SSL configuration issues.
DNS Lookup: Verify DNS records before certificate deployment.
Server Status Checker: Monitor server availability after certificate installation.

FAQ Section

What SSL certificate formats can I convert? ToolsPivot's SSL Converter supports PEM, DER, PKCS#7 (P7B), and PKCS#12 (PFX/P12) formats. These cover all major server platforms including Apache, Nginx, Windows IIS, and Java-based servers.

Do I need to upload my private key for conversion? Private key upload is required only when converting to PFX/PKCS#12 format, which bundles the key with the certificate. PEM to DER or P7B conversions don't require the private key.

Is it safe to upload my SSL certificate and private key? Yes. ToolsPivot processes all files in memory without storing them on servers. Files are discarded immediately after conversion completes, and all transfers occur over encrypted HTTPS connections.

How do I convert a certificate for Windows IIS? Upload your PEM certificate (.crt file) and private key (.key file), select PFX as the output format, set a password, and download the result. Import the PFX file into Windows Certificate Manager and bind it to your IIS site.

What password should I use for PFX files? Use a strong, unique password of at least 12 characters including letters, numbers, and symbols. You'll need this password when importing the PFX file into your server.

Can I convert wildcard and multi-domain (SAN) certificates? Yes. The converter handles all certificate types including wildcard, multi-domain, EV, and standard domain-validated certificates. Certificate properties are preserved during conversion.

Does converting a certificate affect its expiration date? No. Format conversion doesn't modify the certificate's validity period, expiration date, or any cryptographic properties. Only the file encoding changes.

What's the difference between PEM and DER formats? PEM is Base64-encoded text readable in any text editor, while DER is binary format. PEM is more common for Linux servers; DER is typically used with Java platforms. You can check your hosting provider to determine which format your server requires.

How do I include intermediate certificates in my conversion? Upload your intermediate certificate (CA bundle) along with your server certificate. The converter will include the full chain in PFX output or combine them properly for PEM output.

Can I extract the private key from a PFX file? Yes. Convert the PFX to PEM format, and the output will contain both the certificate and private key. You may need to separate them into individual files for some server configurations.

What if my certificate file has an unusual extension? The converter identifies format by file content, not just extension. If auto-detection fails, manually select the source format. PEM files contain "-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----" headers; binary files are typically DER or PFX.

Why does my converted certificate show a chain error? Chain errors usually indicate missing intermediate certificates. Include your CA's intermediate certificate bundle in the conversion, or download the complete chain from your certificate authority. Use domain WHOIS lookup to verify domain ownership if renewal issues occur.