A Step-By-Step Guide on How to Export Code Signing Certificate on Mac

Once you finish the installation process of your code signing certificate; it is the time to use the sign programs. For this, you need to export the code signing certificate. This quick guide outlines the steps through which you can export the code signing certificate. When planning to export the code signing certificate on Mac, use Safari as a preferred browser, and this process is carried out as a P12 file.

Below is the step-by-step guide on how to export code signing certificate on Mac:

Step 1

• 1. Go to Keychain Access
• 2. Scroll to the ‘Favorites’ section available in the Finder window
• 3. Click on ‘Applications’ and further, click on ‘Utilities’
• 4. Under ‘Utilities’, double click on the ‘Keychain Access’ option

Step 2

• 1. Now under the ‘Keychain Access’ window, click on to the ‘Login’ option and in under the Category, click on the last option ‘Certificates’
• 2. On the right side of the window, select the Code Signing Certificate and your IntermediateCertificate (for example - DigiCert SHA2 Assured ID Code Signing CA)

Step 3

• 1. Now in the ‘Keychain Access’ toolbar, scroll the mouse on the ‘File’ option
• 2. From the ‘File’ option, go to the option called as the ‘Export Items’

Step 4

After scrolling to the ‘Export’ window, you will see four text boxes (‘Save As’, ‘Tags’, ‘Where’, and File Format. Now, you need to follow the below steps:

• 1. In the ‘File Format’ option, select Personal Information Exchange (.p12)
• 2. In the ‘Save As’ option, click on the extreme right arrow and go on to the location where you want to export (ensure that you must have the permission to access the file wherever you store it) your code signing certificate on Mac in the form of (w/private key) .p12 file
• 3. You can assign a name to the code signing .p12 file (for example – myPersonalCodeSigningCertificate)
• 4. Click on the ‘Save’ button

Step 5

A new pop up window will open which will ask you to enter a password. Thus, follow the below steps:

• 1. In the ‘Password’ option, create a new password, which can keep your file secure (you can also see the strength of your password and accordingly decide whether it is a strong password on or not)
• 2. Next is the ‘Verify’ the password through the ‘Verify’ option
• 3. Click on Ok

Step 6

• 1. You will get an Export Window where you need to enter your login keychain password in the dedicated ‘Password’ option. Through this, the keychain will export the private key along with the code signing certificate.
• 2. Click on ‘Allow’ button

Step 7

• 1. You are done! Your code signing certificate is now successfully exported to the location.

  As you clicked on the ‘Allow’ button, your code signing certificate will be available in the desired destination directory, which you earlier selected and stored as a .p12 file.

• 2. To use the file for signing, simply rename the .p12 file to .pfx file.

The Last Note

Hope this step-by-step guide helped you to export your code signing certificate successfully. Just a recap – As we wanted to export the file on Mac, we used the Safari browser, and we stored the file as a .P12 file.