How to Install SSL Certificate in XAMPP For Local Development?

  • Riju
    Riju Ghosh
  • sundew
    5 min.read
  • sundew
    June 27th, 2025
  • Technology
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Setting up SSL in XAMPP ensures your local development environment mimics real-world, secure HTTPS deployments. Learning how to install SSL certificate in XAMPP is a key step to building secure web applications in a local environment. This isn’t just a best practice but often a prerequisite for enabling critical functionalities. Without HTTPS, many modern web features such as APIs, service workers, and secure cookies won’t function as intended, even in a local environment. 

With this guide, you’ll set up HTTPS using either OpenSSL or the easier and trusted mkcert utility, ensuring your development mirrors real-world conditions.

Step-by-Step Guide on How to Install SSL Certificate in XAMPP

There are two straightforward ways to get SSL running in your local XAMPP setup, using the built-in OpenSSL utility or the more user-friendly mkcert tool. Both approaches help you simulate a secure environment for development.

Using OpenSSL utility

Step 1: Create a minimal config file

Step 2: Generate the private key and certificate using the minimal config file

Step 3: Configure Apache to use the certificate

Step 4: Review SSL configuration

Step 5: Verify Apache configuration and check for syntax errors

Step 6: Restart Apache

Using mkcert utility (Recommended)

Step 1: Install mkcert by following the instructions here

Step 2: Generate the certificates

Step 3: Configure Apache to use the generated certificates

Step 4: Review and verify Apache configuration

Step 5: Restart Apache

There are a few browser APIs that require the web page to run in a secure context. For that, we need SSL. Here is how we can configure SSL for Apache in XAMPP. There are two ways to configure the SSL - either using openssl or mkcert

Using OpenSSL utility

This method works properly. However, you won’t be able to see the green padlock icon even after following the steps below. This is intended behavior. To get a green padlock without warnings, you need to add your certificate to the trusted root certificate authorities.

Step 1: Create a minimal config file

Create a new file named openssl_minimal.cnf and add the following content:

Create_a_minimal_config_file

Make sure to replace the placeholder variables with actual values

Save this file in a convenient location, such as C:\xampp\apache\conf\openssl_minimal.cnf

Step 2: Generate the private key and certificate using the minimal config file

2.1 Open terminal and navigate to the OpenSSL directory.

apache_bin

 2.2 Generate a private key. The following command will generate a private key name private.key . Feel free to use any name of your choice.

Generate_a_private_key

2.3 Create a Certificate Signing Request (CSR) file using the minimal config file created earlier. The output file name can be customized.

Certificate_Signing_Request_(CSR)_file

2.4 Generate a self-signed certificate file using the minimal config file. The parameters can be customized.

self_signed_certificate_file

Step 3: Configure Apache to use the certificate

3.1 Copy the generated files to a convenient location inside the Apache folder.

Copy_ generated_files

3.2 Open the httpd-ssl.conf file located in xampp\apache\conf\extra and update the paths.

Configure_apache

The paths are relative to the Apache installation folder.

3.3 Ensure that the following lines are un-commented in the httpd.conf file.

httpd.conf_file

Step 4: Review SSL configuration

Review the VirtualHost setup in the SSL configuration file. Here is a sample of what it might look like.

Review_SSL_configuration

Step 5: Verify Apache configuration and check for syntax errors

5.1 Navigate to xampp\apache\bin

apache_bin

5.2 Check for syntax and other configuration errors using the following command

httpd.exe-t

5.3 If everything is correct you would get the message Syntax OK

Step 6: Restart Apache

Use the XAMPP control panel to restart Apache. Now try accessing localhost via HTTPS. The browser might show a warning about the certificate being self-signed. You may ignore the warning and proceed.

Using mkcert utility (Recommended)

mkcert is a tool to make trusted certificates for local development without any configuration.

Step 1: Install mkcert 

To get started with, first install mkcert by following the instructions here.

Once mkcert is set up, run the below command to install the trusted root store.

Install_mkcert

Step 2: Generate the certificates

mkcert_localhost

The above command will generate two files - localhost.pem and localhost-key.pem

Step 3: Configure Apache to use the generated certificates

3.1 Copy the generated files to a convenient location inside the Apache folder.

copy_the_generated_files_Apache_folder

3.2 Update the httpd-ssl.conf file located in C:\xampp\apache\conf\extra

SSLCertificateFile_Apache

Step 4: Review and verify Apache configuration

Review and verify the Apache configuration using the steps mentioned above (Step 4 and Step 5 of OpenSSL installation).

Step 5: Restart Apache

Restart Apache, and you are good to go. When opened in the browser, the green padlock icon will be visible.

Summing It Up

Now you have two reliable methods to set up HTTPS in your local environment: OpenSSL for a manual approach and mkcert for a quicker, trusted solution. Understanding how to install SSL certificate in XAMPP localhost not only helps you avoid browser security warnings but also ensures that your development environment aligns with modern web standards. 

Secure by default is now the new norm, and that applies to local development too, especially for APIs and full-stack work.

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