.pem files

Common questions

How do I open a .pem file?

On Windows use Notepad (built in — to read the header); on macOS use Keychain Access (built in); on Linux use openssl x509 -text -in file.pem. A base64 text container for certificates and cryptographic keys.

What is a .pem file?

PEM Certificate or Key. PEM files are text, wrapping base64 data between BEGIN and END lines that say what is inside — CERTIFICATE, PRIVATE KEY, PUBLIC KEY. The same format is used for TLS certificates, SSH keys and AWS key pairs, which is why .pem, .crt, .cer and .key often hold identical content.

Can I convert a .pem file?

Yes. It is usually converted to .der, .crt, .pfx or .p12, either by exporting from one of the programs listed above or with a format converter.

Related pages

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