makecert.exe missing in windows 7, how to get it and use it

Question

I am using Windows 7. I don't have the makecert.exe, which I came to know when I tried to run commands to generate certificates like

makecert -sk XYZ -n "CN=XYZ Company" testXYZ.cer

I get error :

'makecert' is not recognised as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.

Pls suggest how to resolve this issue. Do i need to install the Windows SDK again.

Regards, Pravin.

score 38 · Answer 1 · edited Mar 10 '15 at 02:26

38

makecert.exe comes with both Visual Studio and the Windows SDK. Therefore just use either the Visual Studio Command Prompt or the Windows SDK command prompt and it will work straight out of the box as it will be included in the command prompt path.

makecert is included in the ".NET Development > Tools" bucket.

This selected bucket includes the makecert utility (at least in SDK v7.1).

edited Mar 10 '15 at 02:26

simplify

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answered Feb 05 '12 at 22:22

Pete Davis

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If you only need makecert: Install the version of windows SDK for your computer. During installation, untick everything except .net tools. – MGOwen Jun 17 '13 at 05:21
...and if you just selected the default install location, `makecert.exe` (and `pvk2pfx.exe`) will be inside `C:\Program Files\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v7.1\Bin` – Sharky May 27 '17 at 06:12

score 13 · Answer 2 · answered Jun 19 '13 at 15:35

13

C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\8.0\bin\x64

OR

C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\8.0\bin\x86

answered Jun 19 '13 at 15:35

aditya potdar

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On Windows 7, the default install directory is: C:\Program Files\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v7.1\Bin – Doug S Dec 21 '17 at 18:42

score 11 · Answer 3 · answered Feb 04 '13 at 15:18

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You can find a version of makecert here : http://www.inventec.ch/chdh/notes/makecert_5_131_3790_0.zip. Also instructions on how to use it here : http://www.inventec.ch/chdh/notes/14.htm

answered Feb 04 '13 at 15:18

Ajibola

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https://www.virustotal.com/#/file/4d50ce341be70511e9a871dd347b3f5793ea97787cdfc92045c0bcc8aae6e298/detection – user3079364 Oct 30 '17 at 14:48

score 9 · Answer 4 · answered Apr 01 '11 at 06:57

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Have you read this link: MakeCert? It sends you to Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit from where you can download the SDK including makecert

answered Apr 01 '11 at 06:57

Ocaso Protal

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OP might have found [this link](http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bfsktky3%28v=vs.110%29.aspx) which is the top Google result for "makecert" but lacks the link to the SDK. +1 MS for documentation consistency. – Carl G Feb 13 '14 at 00:23

score 4 · Answer 5 · edited Mar 29 '18 at 17:56

4

MakeCert.exe is now deprecated. You should use PowerShell's New-SelfSignedCertificate cmdlet to create a selfsigned certificate.

edited Mar 29 '18 at 17:56

StackzOfZtuff

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answered Nov 22 '16 at 17:11

Raj Rao

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Is your question, how to install powershell on Windows 7, then maybe this will help https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/heyscriptingguy/2011/01/07/how-do-i-install-powershell-on-windows-7-and-other-questions/ – Raj Rao Mar 06 '18 at 14:41
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As another question points out, [New-SelfSignedCertificate will not run on Windows 7](https://stackoverflow.com/q/43592526/1331011). So no, my question is not how to install Powershell on Windows 7. – Wormbo Mar 06 '18 at 18:06

score 4 · Answer 6 · answered Jan 13 '12 at 13:39

I know its too late to reply, however it might help other looking out for this executable.

if you have installed VS 2005, you will find it under

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\Common7\Tools\Bin

if you have installed VS 2008, you will find it under

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\SmartDevices\SDK\SDKTools

go to this location on command prompt and then run you "makecert" command with arguments.

score 2 · Answer 7 · edited Jan 18 '13 at 13:04

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You can find it on microsoft sdks directory:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v7.0A\Bin\makecert.exe

edited Jan 18 '13 at 13:04

akjoshi

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answered Jan 18 '13 at 12:46

Catalin S

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score 1 · Answer 8 · answered Oct 20 '18 at 11:59

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My copy (with Visual Studio 2017 installed) was here: "C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\bin\10.0.17134.0\x64\makecert.exe"

answered Oct 20 '18 at 11:59

Christopher

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score 0 · Answer 9 · answered Aug 29 '13 at 20:58

Ran into the same problem awhile back and thought I would share the link I found to download and install this tool.

http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?linkid=84091

Please let me know if this works if you do get around to it, I realize this post is a little old.

David Levy · Answer 10 · 2018-09-18T23:03:15.193

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Windows 10 after installing Windows SDKs:

If you have ARM microprocessor: C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\bin\10.0.17134.0\arm64

Intel microprocessor: C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\bin\10.0.17134.0\x64

Add that folder to your PATH environment variable

edited Sep 18 '18 at 23:03

answered Sep 18 '18 at 22:56

David Levy

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makecert.exe missing in windows 7, how to get it and use it

10 Answers10