Personal information exchange data
File type: Encoded and encrypted file
A pkcs12 file extension identifies a Personal Information Exchange (PKCS#12) data file.
OpenSSL can create, read, inspect, and extract data from this portable container format.
File type category:
Encoded and encrypted file
Date updated: October 26, 2026
PKCS#12 is a standard for storing or transporting a user's private keys, certificates, and miscellaneous secrets in a portable container. The contents can be protected with password-based encryption and integrity checks.
The pkcs12 file extension is used for a file that can contain a private key together with its certificate and related certificate chain. Its MIME type is application/x-pkcs12.
The OpenSSL project provides cross-platform command-line tools for working with these files. PKCS#12 remains in use for exchanging personal certificates and private keys between systems.
Use the OpenSSL command-line tools to inspect a pkcs12 file and list or extract its certificates and private keys. OpenSSL is available for multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux.
A password may be required when the file is protected.
A PKCS#12 file is a container rather than a document format, so conversion normally means extracting its contents. OpenSSL can export the certificates and private keys to commonly used PEM-encoded files.
If the complete certificate-and-key container is needed, OpenSSL can also create a new PKCS#12 file with different passwords or protection settings.
Language
