File Extension Database

Open CSR File

A CSR file, according to its acronym, or Certificate Signing Request is a block of encrypted text that is normally generated on the server where the SSL certificate will be used, although it can also be generated externally.

The CSR contains information that will be finally included in the SSL certificate, such as your name or that of the company, the address, the country of residence or the common name (domain for which the SSL is generated), in addition to this data it will also include a public key that will also be included in your certificate.

The Certification Authority or Certificate Authority (CA), that is, the company that will generate your SSL will use this CSR to generate this SSL certificate.

How to generate a CSR?

Generating a CSR is very simple, they are generated using a public and a private key, thus, the public key is included in the CSR file, and the private key is used to digitally sign the CSR file.

The content of a CSR file is basically plain text with a series of values, some of which you will see below:

[req]
distinguished_name = req_distinguished_name
req_extensions = v3_req
prompt = no
[req_distinguished_name]
C = your_country
ST = your_state
L = your_city
OR = your_company_name
OU = IT Dept.
CN=yourdomainname.com
[v3_req]
keyUsage = keyEncipherment, dataEncipherment
extendedKeyUsage = serverAuth
subjectAltName = @alt_names
[alt_names]
DNS.1 = www.yourdomainname.com

In the data above, replace:

your_country - The country where your organization is registered.
your_state - The state/province where the company is registered.
your_city - The city where the company is registered.
your_company_name - The full name of your company.
yourdomainname.com - Your domain name. Note that you should replace it twice in the file.

After creating this file, in a txt file named config.txt, you must type the following command, via SSH

openssl req -new -out certificate.csr -newkey rsa:2048 -nodes -sha256 -keyout certificate.key -config config.txt

Two files are created in the process:

certificate.csr : this file contains the Certificate Signing Request.

certificate.key : this file contains the Private Key that you will need during the installation of the SSL certificate.

Security Issues

Deleting the file containing the private key from your account, once you have copied it to a safe place, is recommended for security reasons.

There are CSR file generators online, which you can also use:

How Can I Open CSR File on Windows

We researched and learned that the best way to open CSR file is to find a CSR file in question in Windows OS File Explorer and double click on it to launch the corresponding application.
If a CSR file is not opened in an application and you instead get a "Windows can't open a file" error message you should try looking for an application which can open the file in question.
If you know the application which can open CSR file then run it and see if there is a File->Open main menu option in the application.
If you don't know the application which function as CSR file opener then try to search online for "CSR viewer", "application to open CSR file" or "open CSR file" queries in the search engine you like.
Install the application you found and check if it can open CSR file

How Can I Open CSR File on Mac OS

We recommend to find a CSR file in question in Mac OS Finder and double click on it to launch the corresponding application.
If a CSR file is not opened in a Mac OS application and you instead get a "There is no application set to open the file" error message you can click on "Search App Store" in the error dialog and Mac OS will show you applications compatible with CSR file.
If you know the Mac OS application which can work as CSR file opener you can choose the "Choose Application..." option in the error box to associate the file extension and open CSR file in it.
If you don't know the application which can open CSR file then try to search for "CSR viewer", "application to open CSR file" or "read CSR file" queries in the online search engine you like.
Install the application you found and check if it can read CSR file

How Can I Open CSR File on Android

If you downloaded a CSR file on Android device you can open it by following steps below:

In the Android apps list on your Android device find "My Files" or "File manager" app and tap to start it.
Tap on "Downloads" folder inside the app.
You should see your downloaded CSR file in that folder.
Tap on the file. If Android device supports opening the file you downloaded it will open in the corresponding app.
If file does not open you can look for the corresponding app that can open the file by searching Android App Store for the "CSR".
If you cannot open the file with the apps from Android App Store it is possible that the file could only be opened on desktop platforms such as Windows or Mac OS. Try searching for "CSR viewer", "CSR file reader" online and see if any desktop applications can open it.
It is also possible that the file you downloaded is outdated and is no longer supported.

How to Open CSR File on iPhone or iPad

To open CSR File on iOS device follow steps below:

We advies to open Files app on your iPhone or iPad device. You can find it by swiping down on the home screen and typing "Files" in the search bar.
Tap on the Downloads folder on the Files app home screen.
You will see all files that you recently downloaded. Tap on the CSR file to view it.
If you have the right app that can open it it will automatically launch and open your file.
If you don't have the app which can open it you need to serch Apple app store for "CSR". This way you can find apps which can open CSR files.
If this doesn't help it is possible that your file could be opened only by the desktop application. To find an app which can open it on desktop look for "CSR viewer" or "CSR file" online in your favorite search engine.

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