This guide explains how to check the digital certificates installed on your device—on Windows, macOS, Chrome and Firefox.
It also shows how to verify certificate details, understand expiration dates, and avoid problems in business environments where multiple users and certificates must be controlled, and how Signaturit can simplify certificate management and security for you.
This article focuses on device and user/organization certificates (X.509, PKI)—not website SSL/TLS checks. If what you need is to check an SSL certificate for a website, see the short note at the end.
What is a digital certificate?
A digital certificate is an electronic file that links an individual, organization, device, or entity to a cryptographic key pair. It verifies identity, supports secure authentication, and enables trusted interactions. Certificates can be installed in browsers, operating systems, smart cards or USB cryptographic devices. They are issued by a Certification Authority (CA), such as national authorities or trusted private digital trust and identity solutions.
There are different types, including:
- Personal certificates verify an individual’s identity.
- Representation certificates are issued to individuals acting on behalf of an organization.
- Public sector/government certificates are used for administrative procedures, digital seals, employee certificates, and more.
How to check digital certificates on Windows?
Method 1: using certmgr.msc
- Open the Start Menu and type certmgr.msc.
- Press Enter to open the Certificate Manager.
- Navigate to Personal → Certificates.
- You will see a list of installed certificates, including expiration dates and basic details.
- Double‑click any certificate to view full information: issuing CA, subject, validity period and technical attributes.
method 2: using microsoft management console (mmc)
- Press Win + R, type mmc, press Enter.
- Add the Certificates snap‑in (for the current user or the computer).
- Browse the certificate folders to view details and manage them
If you want to learn more about certificate usage in secure signing workflows, you can also check this resource:
How to view digital certificates on macos?
- Open Keychain Access (Applications → Utilities).
- Select the relevant keychain (e.g., login, System).
- Go to Certificates or My Certificates.
- Double‑click any item to view issuer, owner, trust settings and expiration
How to check certificates in your browser?
Google chrome
- Open Settings.
- Go to Privacy and security → Security.
- Scroll to Manage certificates to view all certificates installed on the device.
Mozilla firefox
- Open Settings (or Preferences on macOS).
- Go to Privacy & Security.
- Scroll to the Security section and click View Certificates.
- Review the available certificate lists, including authorities and personal certificates.
In both browsers, you can double-click any certificate. This will show you details like the issuer, expiration date, and public key information.
For a deeper look at how browsers interact with identity technologies and eIDAS, you can read:
👉 eIDAS‑compliant electronic signatures
How to verify digital signatures in pdfs?
When working with digitally signed PDF documents, it’s important to verify that the signature is authentic and that the certificate used is valid. Adobe Acrobat provides built‑in tools to review certificate details and confirm document integrity.
- Open the PDF and select the Signatures panel.
- Click Validate Signatures.
- Open Signature Properties → Show signer’s certificate to review certificate details (issuer, trust level, validity period).
- Check whether the signature has a timestamp and whether it can be verified.
- Review any warnings about certificate trust or document modifications.
If you frequently work with signed PDFs and want to streamline signature workflows or send documents for secure signing, you can also explore our dedicated solution for electronic signatures, which simplifies and automates legally compliant signing:
👉 Electronic signature for PDF documents
Why does certificate management become complex in organizations?
Managing certificates manually is simple on a personal device—but becomes high‑risk when:
- Several employees use multiple devices.
- Different certificates are used for signing, authentication or encryption.
- Expiration dates are not monitored centrally.
- Permissions vary by role or project.
- Remote access is required but not securely managed.
- Audits or compliance checks require detailed certificate activity logs.
These issues lead to expired certificates, service interruptions, security incidents, and compliance failures.
Prevent interruptions and centralize control with Signaturit
To simplify large‑scale management, organizations use centralized certificate platforms. With IvSign from Signaturit, you can:
- Issue and store certificates securely in the cloud (no local installs needed).
- Apply custom user policies and role‑based access.
- Monitor usage and expiration in one place.
- Access certificates from any device securely.
- Reduce errors and administrative overhead.
Faqs
ssl/tls note (website certificates)
If your goal is to check a website’s SSL/TLS certificate (expiry, chain, issuer), use a dedicated SSL checker provided by certificate authorities or trusted web tools. These tools analyze HTTPS configurations and certificate validity.
