---
product: Chilkat
product_version: 11.7.0
language: c
language_label: C
class: CertStore
license: free
deprecated: false
reference_html: https://www.chilkatsoft.com/refdoc/c_CkCertStoreRef.html
---
# Chilkat CertStore — C — v11.7.0

> Chilkat 11.7.0 · language=c · class=CertStore
> Other versions: replace `11.7.0` in this URL. Other languages: `https://www.chilkatsoft.com/ai-docs/v/11.7.0/<lang>/classes/CertStore.md`.
> Language-wide rules (install, unlock, error model, strings/bytes): `https://www.chilkatsoft.com/ai-docs/v/11.7.0/c/guide.md`.

## Purpose

**Open, search, manage, and use certificate collections from many sources.**

`Chilkat.CertStore` is the Chilkat class for working with collections of X.509 certificates. It can open and manage certificates from system stores, Apple Keychain, Windows registry or file stores, memory stores, PEM files, PFX/P12 files, and smart card or USB token devices. It supports loading, searching, iterating, adding, removing, and closing certificate stores, with platform-specific behavior for Windows and Apple Keychain.

**Open certificate stores**

Access certificates from Windows certificate stores, Apple Keychain, files, memory stores, PEM bundles, PFX/P12 files, and hardware tokens.

**Search and retrieve certs**

Find certificates by subject, issuer, serial number, thumbprint, email, private-key availability, or other identifying information.

**Iterate collections**

Enumerate certificates in a store and retrieve each certificate as a `Chilkat.Cert` object for inspection or use.

**Add and remove certificates**

Add certificates to writable stores, remove certificates where supported, and manage store contents from application code.

**Private-key backed certs**

Work with certificates that have associated private keys from PFX/P12, operating-system stores, smart cards, USB tokens, or other providers.

**Use across Chilkat**

Pass retrieved certificates to other Chilkat classes for TLS client authentication, S/MIME, signing, encryption, decryption, and verification.

**Common pattern:** Open the appropriate certificate store, search or iterate to find the needed certificate, retrieve it as a `Chilkat.Cert`, and then pass that certificate to the Chilkat class that needs it. Use certificate stores when the application should select from existing system, file-based, keychain, or hardware-backed certificates.

For an extended overview, see [CertStore Class Overview](https://www.chilkatsoft.com/certstore_class_overview.asp).

## Object creation, unlocking and error handling

**Create/Dispose**

```c
HCkCertStore instance = CkCertStore_Create();
// ...
CkCertStore_Dispose(instance);
```

`HCkCertStore CkCertStore_Create(void);`

Creates an instance of the HCkCertStore object and returns a handle ("void \*" pointer). The handle is passed in the 1st argument for the functions listed on this page.

`void CkCertStore_Dispose(HCkCertStore handle);`

Objects created by calling CkCertStore_Create must be freed by calling this method. A memory leak occurs if a handle is not disposed by calling this function. Also, any handle returned by a Chilkat "C" function must also be freed by the application by calling the appropriate Dispose method, such as CkCertStore_Dispose.

Call `Global.UnlockBundle` once at the start of the program, before using this or any other Chilkat class. Any string unlocks a fully functional 30-day trial; a purchased unlock code is used in production. See `guide.md` for the exact code in C.

## Members common to every Chilkat class

Documented once per language in `common-members.md`; listed here so this page is self-contained.

| Property | Signature | Access | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| `DebugLogFilePath` | `void CkCertStore_getDebugLogFilePath(HCkCertStore cHandle, HCkString retval); void CkCertStore_putDebugLogFilePath(HCkCertStore cHandle, const char *newVal); const char *CkCertStore_debugLogFilePath(HCkCertStore cHandle);` | read/write | If set to a file path, this property logs the LastErrorText of each Chilkat method or property call to the specified file. |
| `LastErrorHtml` | `void CkCertStore_getLastErrorHtml(HCkCertStore cHandle, HCkString retval); const char *CkCertStore_lastErrorHtml(HCkCertStore cHandle);` | read-only | Provides HTML-formatted information about the last called method or property. |
| `LastErrorText` | `void CkCertStore_getLastErrorText(HCkCertStore cHandle, HCkString retval); const char *CkCertStore_lastErrorText(HCkCertStore cHandle);` | read-only | Provides plain text information about the last called method or property. |
| `LastErrorXml` | `void CkCertStore_getLastErrorXml(HCkCertStore cHandle, HCkString retval); const char *CkCertStore_lastErrorXml(HCkCertStore cHandle);` | read-only | Provides XML-formatted information about the last called method or property. |
| `LastMethodSuccess` | `BOOL CkCertStore_getLastMethodSuccess(HCkCertStore cHandle); void CkCertStore_putLastMethodSuccess(HCkCertStore cHandle, BOOL newVal);` | read/write | Indicates the success or failure of the most recent method call: `TRUE` means success, `FALSE` means failure. |
| `Utf8` | `BOOL CkCertStore_getUtf8(HCkCertStore cHandle); void CkCertStore_putUtf8(HCkCertStore cHandle, BOOL newVal);` | read/write | When set to `TRUE`, all `const char *` arguments and return values are interpreted as UTF-8 strings. |
| `VerboseLogging` | `BOOL CkCertStore_getVerboseLogging(HCkCertStore cHandle); void CkCertStore_putVerboseLogging(HCkCertStore cHandle, BOOL newVal);` | read/write | If set to `TRUE`, then the contents of LastErrorText (or LastErrorXml, or LastErrorHtml) may contain more verbose information. |
| `Version` | `void CkCertStore_getVersion(HCkCertStore cHandle, HCkString retval); const char *CkCertStore_version(HCkCertStore cHandle);` | read-only | Version of the component/library, such as "10.1.0" |

## Member index

| Member | Kind | Signature |
|---|---|---|
| `AvoidWindowsPkAccess` | property, read/write | `BOOL CkCertStore_getAvoidWindowsPkAccess(HCkCertStore cHandle); void CkCertStore_putAvoidWindowsPkAccess(HCkCertStore cHandle, BOOL newVal);` |
| `NumCertificates` | property, read-only | `int CkCertStore_getNumCertificates(HCkCertStore cHandle);` |
| `SmartCardPin` | property, read/write | `void CkCertStore_getSmartCardPin(HCkCertStore cHandle, HCkString retval); void CkCertStore_putSmartCardPin(HCkCertStore cHandle, const char *newVal); const char *CkCertStore_smartCardPin(HCkCertStore cHandle);` |
| `UncommonOptions` | property, read/write | `void CkCertStore_getUncommonOptions(HCkCertStore cHandle, HCkString retval); void CkCertStore_putUncommonOptions(HCkCertStore cHandle, const char *newVal); const char *CkCertStore_uncommonOptions(HCkCertStore cHandle);` |
| `AddCertificate` | method | `BOOL CkCertStore_AddCertificate(HCkCertStore cHandle, HCkCert cert);` |
| `CloseCertStore` | method | `BOOL CkCertStore_CloseCertStore(HCkCertStore cHandle);` |
| `CreateFileStore` | method | `BOOL CkCertStore_CreateFileStore(HCkCertStore cHandle, const char *filename);` |
| `CreateMemoryStore` | method | `BOOL CkCertStore_CreateMemoryStore(HCkCertStore cHandle);` |
| `CreateRegistryStore` | method | `BOOL CkCertStore_CreateRegistryStore(HCkCertStore cHandle, const char *regRoot, const char *regPath);` |
| `FindCert` | method | `BOOL CkCertStore_FindCert(HCkCertStore cHandle, HCkJsonObject json, HCkCert cert);` |
| `GetCert` | method | `BOOL CkCertStore_GetCert(HCkCertStore cHandle, int index, HCkCert cert);` |
| `LoadPemFile` | method | `BOOL CkCertStore_LoadPemFile(HCkCertStore cHandle, const char *pemPath);` |
| `LoadPemStr` | method | `BOOL CkCertStore_LoadPemStr(HCkCertStore cHandle, const char *pemString);` |
| `LoadPfxBd` | method | `BOOL CkCertStore_LoadPfxBd(HCkCertStore cHandle, HCkBinData bd, const char *password);` |
| `LoadPfxFile` | method | `BOOL CkCertStore_LoadPfxFile(HCkCertStore cHandle, const char *pfxFilename, const char *password);` |
| `OpenCurrentUserStore` | method | `BOOL CkCertStore_OpenCurrentUserStore(HCkCertStore cHandle, BOOL bReadOnly);` |
| `OpenFileStore` | method | `BOOL CkCertStore_OpenFileStore(HCkCertStore cHandle, const char *filename, BOOL bReadOnly);` |
| `OpenLocalSystemStore` | method | `BOOL CkCertStore_OpenLocalSystemStore(HCkCertStore cHandle, BOOL bReadOnly);` |
| `OpenRegistryStore` | method | `BOOL CkCertStore_OpenRegistryStore(HCkCertStore cHandle, const char *regRoot, const char *regPath, BOOL bReadOnly);` |
| `OpenSmartcard` | method | `BOOL CkCertStore_OpenSmartcard(HCkCertStore cHandle, const char *csp);` |
| `OpenWindowsStore` | method | `BOOL CkCertStore_OpenWindowsStore(HCkCertStore cHandle, const char *storeLocation, const char *storeName, BOOL bReadOnly);` |
| `RemoveCertificate` | method | `BOOL CkCertStore_RemoveCertificate(HCkCertStore cHandle, HCkCert cert);` |

## Properties

### CertStore.AvoidWindowsPkAccess

`Chilkat 11.7.0 · c · CertStore · AvoidWindowsPkAccess · property · read/write`

```c
BOOL CkCertStore_getAvoidWindowsPkAccess(HCkCertStore cHandle);
void CkCertStore_putAvoidWindowsPkAccess(HCkCertStore cHandle, BOOL newVal);
```

Applies only when running on a Microsoft Windows operating system. If `TRUE`, then any method that returns a certificate will not try to also access the associated private key, assuming one exists. This is useful if the certificate was installed with high-security such that a private key access would trigger the Windows OS to display a security warning dialog. The default value of this property is `FALSE`.

### CertStore.NumCertificates

`Chilkat 11.7.0 · c · CertStore · NumCertificates · property · read-only`

```c
int CkCertStore_getNumCertificates(HCkCertStore cHandle);
```

The number of certificates held in the certificate store.

### CertStore.SmartCardPin

`Chilkat 11.7.0 · c · CertStore · SmartCardPin · property · read/write · since 9.5.0.86`

```c
void CkCertStore_getSmartCardPin(HCkCertStore cHandle, HCkString retval);
void CkCertStore_putSmartCardPin(HCkCertStore cHandle, const char *newVal);
const char *CkCertStore_smartCardPin(HCkCertStore cHandle);
```

Can be set to the PIN value for a certificate / private key stored on a smart card.

### CertStore.UncommonOptions

`Chilkat 11.7.0 · c · CertStore · UncommonOptions · property · read/write · since 9.5.0.87`

```c
void CkCertStore_getUncommonOptions(HCkCertStore cHandle, HCkString retval);
void CkCertStore_putUncommonOptions(HCkCertStore cHandle, const char *newVal);
const char *CkCertStore_uncommonOptions(HCkCertStore cHandle);
```

This is a catch-all property to be used for uncommon needs. This property defaults to the empty string, and should typically remain empty.

## Methods

### CertStore.AddCertificate

`Chilkat 11.7.0 · c · CertStore · AddCertificate · method`

```c
BOOL CkCertStore_AddCertificate(HCkCertStore cHandle, HCkCert cert);
```

On Windows, this updates or adds `cert` to the open Windows certificate store. Note: This imports the certificate without the private key. The `Chilkat.Pfx.ImportToWindows` method must be called to import a certificate with a private key.

Beginning with Chilkat v10.0.0, on macOS and iOS, this adds the certificate, **including any private keys** and intermediate CA certificates, to the Apple Keychain.

Returns TRUE for success, FALSE for failure.

### CertStore.CloseCertStore

`Chilkat 11.7.0 · c · CertStore · CloseCertStore · method · since 9.5.0.94`

```c
BOOL CkCertStore_CloseCertStore(HCkCertStore cHandle);
```

This method closes any open certificate stores, removes all certificates from the object, and sets the NumCertificates property back to 0.

Returns TRUE for success, FALSE for failure.

### CertStore.CreateFileStore

`Chilkat 11.7.0 · c · CertStore · CreateFileStore · method`

```c
BOOL CkCertStore_CreateFileStore(HCkCertStore cHandle, const char *filename);
```

This method, **available only on Microsoft Windows**, creates a new file-based certificate store. You can save certificates to this store by using the AddCertificate function.

Internally, the Microsoft function CertOpenStore is called with the provider type CERT_STORE_PROV_FILE and the flag CERT_STORE_CREATE_NEW_FLAG, to create a new, empty certificate store that is backed by a file.

Returns TRUE for success, FALSE for failure.

### CertStore.CreateMemoryStore

`Chilkat 11.7.0 · c · CertStore · CreateMemoryStore · method`

```c
BOOL CkCertStore_CreateMemoryStore(HCkCertStore cHandle);
```

This method, **available only on Microsoft Windows**, creates an in-memory certificate store. Certificates may be added by calling AddCertificate.

Internally, the Microsoft function CertOpenStore is called with the provider type CERT_STORE_PROV_MEMORY to create a new in-memory certificate store. This store acts as a temporary container for managing certificates during runtime. The store exists only in memory and is not backed by a file or persistent storage. Certificates can be added, retrieved, or removed, but the store is lost when the application ends unless explicitly saved elsewhere.

Returns TRUE for success, FALSE for failure.

### CertStore.CreateRegistryStore

`Chilkat 11.7.0 · c · CertStore · CreateRegistryStore · method`

```c
BOOL CkCertStore_CreateRegistryStore(HCkCertStore cHandle, const char *regRoot, const char *regPath);
```

This method, **available only on Microsoft Windows**, creates a new registry-based certificate store. You can save certificates to this store by using the AddCertificate function.

Internally, the Microsoft function CertOpenStore is called with the provider type CERT_STORE_PROV_REG and a registry key to create a new, empty certificate store in the Windows registry.

`regRoot` can be the string `CurrentUser` or `LocalMachine`. `regPath` is a registry key path such as `Software/MyApplication/Certificates`.

Returns TRUE for success, FALSE for failure.

### CertStore.FindCert

`Chilkat 11.7.0 · c · CertStore · FindCert · method · since 10.1.2`

```c
BOOL CkCertStore_FindCert(HCkCertStore cHandle, HCkJsonObject json, HCkCert cert);
```

Searches for a certificate using criteria from `json` and stores the result in `cert`. If multiple criteria are provided, it searches each one sequentially and returns the first match.

Preference is given to non-expired certificates, so if both expired and non-expired certificates match, the non-expired one is selected.

See the examples below for details.

Returns TRUE for success, FALSE for failure.

### CertStore.GetCert

`Chilkat 11.7.0 · c · CertStore · GetCert · method · since 10.1.2`

```c
BOOL CkCertStore_GetCert(HCkCertStore cHandle, int index, HCkCert cert);
```

Loads the Nth certificate into `cert`. The first certificate is at index 0.

Returns TRUE for success, FALSE for failure.

### CertStore.LoadPemFile

`Chilkat 11.7.0 · c · CertStore · LoadPemFile · method`

```c
BOOL CkCertStore_LoadPemFile(HCkCertStore cHandle, const char *pemPath);
```

Loads the certificates contained within a PEM formatted file.

Returns TRUE for success, FALSE for failure.

### CertStore.LoadPemStr

`Chilkat 11.7.0 · c · CertStore · LoadPemStr · method`

```c
BOOL CkCertStore_LoadPemStr(HCkCertStore cHandle, const char *pemString);
```

Loads the certificates contained within an in-memory PEM formatted string.

Returns TRUE for success, FALSE for failure.

### CertStore.LoadPfxBd

`Chilkat 11.7.0 · c · CertStore · LoadPfxBd · method · since 10.1.2`

```c
BOOL CkCertStore_LoadPfxBd(HCkCertStore cHandle, HCkBinData bd, const char *password);
```

Loads the PFX/P12 bytes contained in `bd`. `password` is the password to the PFX.

Returns TRUE for success, FALSE for failure.

### CertStore.LoadPfxFile

`Chilkat 11.7.0 · c · CertStore · LoadPfxFile · method`

```c
BOOL CkCertStore_LoadPfxFile(HCkCertStore cHandle, const char *pfxFilename, const char *password);
```

Loads a PFX file. Once loaded, the certificates within the PFX may be searched via the Find\* methods. It is also possible to iterate from 0 to NumCertficates-1, calling GetCertificate for each index, to retrieve each certificate within the PFX.

**Note:** This method does not import certificates into the Windows certificate stores. The purpose of this method is to load a .pfx/.p12 into this object so that other API methods can be called to explore or search the contents of the PFX. The Chilkat Pfx class also provides similar functionality.

Returns TRUE for success, FALSE for failure.

### CertStore.OpenCurrentUserStore

`Chilkat 11.7.0 · c · CertStore · OpenCurrentUserStore · method`

```c
BOOL CkCertStore_OpenCurrentUserStore(HCkCertStore cHandle, BOOL bReadOnly);
```

On Windows, this method opens the **Current-User\\Personal** certificate store in the registry. Set `bReadOnly` to `TRUE` to open the store in read-only mode, which allows you to fetch certificates without adding or removing them. This prevents `permission denied` errors that require read-write access.

Starting in version 10.0.0, this method opens the **Apple Keychain** on MacOS and iOS systems. The `bReadOnly` is ignored.

After opening the store, you can search for certificates using the Find\* methods. Alternatively, you can iterate through the certificates by indexing from 0 to NumCertificates-1, using GetCertificate to access each one.

Returns TRUE for success, FALSE for failure.

### CertStore.OpenFileStore

`Chilkat 11.7.0 · c · CertStore · OpenFileStore · method`

```c
BOOL CkCertStore_OpenFileStore(HCkCertStore cHandle, const char *filename, BOOL bReadOnly);
```

(This method only available on Microsoft Windows operating systems.)  
Opens a file-based certificate store.

Once loaded, the certificates within the store may be searched via the Find\* methods. An application may also iterate from 0 to NumCertficates-1 and call GetCertificate to access each certificate by index.

Returns TRUE for success, FALSE for failure.

### CertStore.OpenLocalSystemStore

`Chilkat 11.7.0 · c · CertStore · OpenLocalSystemStore · method`

```c
BOOL CkCertStore_OpenLocalSystemStore(HCkCertStore cHandle, BOOL bReadOnly);
```

(This method is only available on Microsoft Windows operating systems.)  
Opens the registry-based Local-Computer\\Personal certificate store. Set `bReadOnly` = `TRUE` if only fetching certificates and not updating the certificate store (i.e. certificates will not be added or removed). Setting `bReadOnly` = `TRUE` causes the certificate store to be opened read-only, and will prevent `permission denied` errors caused by the need for read-write permission.

Once loaded, the certificates within the store may be searched via the Find\* methods. An application may also iterate from 0 to NumCertficates-1 and call GetCertificate to access each certificate by index.

Returns TRUE for success, FALSE for failure.

### CertStore.OpenRegistryStore

`Chilkat 11.7.0 · c · CertStore · OpenRegistryStore · method`

```c
BOOL CkCertStore_OpenRegistryStore(HCkCertStore cHandle, const char *regRoot, const char *regPath, BOOL bReadOnly);
```

(This method only available on Microsoft Windows operating systems.)  
Opens an arbitrary registry-based certificate store. `regRoot` must be `CurrentUser` or `LocalMachine`. `regPath` is a registry path such as `Software/MyApplication/Certificates`.

Setting `bReadOnly` = `TRUE` causes the certificate store to be opened read-only, and will prevent `permission denied` errors caused by the need for read-write permission.

Once loaded, the certificates within the store may be searched via the Find\* methods. An application may also iterate from 0 to NumCertficates-1 and call GetCertificate to access each certificate by index.

Returns TRUE for success, FALSE for failure.

### CertStore.OpenSmartcard

`Chilkat 11.7.0 · c · CertStore · OpenSmartcard · method · since 10.1.2`

```c
BOOL CkCertStore_OpenSmartcard(HCkCertStore cHandle, const char *csp);
```

This function identifies connected HSM devices such as smart cards and USB tokens, and loads the certificates from each device. It has been significantly enhanced in Chilkat v10.1.2 and is compatible with Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Linux. (Android is not yet supported.)

Note: The `csp` is no longer used and is ignored. Applications should pass an empty string.

Note: If multiple HSM devices are connected, avoid setting the SmartCardPin property unless all devices share the same PIN. Otherwise, Chilkat will attempt to use that PIN for each device, which could cause issues.

Returns TRUE for success, FALSE for failure.

### CertStore.OpenWindowsStore

`Chilkat 11.7.0 · c · CertStore · OpenWindowsStore · method · since 9.5.0.49`

```c
BOOL CkCertStore_OpenWindowsStore(HCkCertStore cHandle, const char *storeLocation, const char *storeName, BOOL bReadOnly);
```

(This method only available on Microsoft Windows operating systems.)  
Opens a Microsoft Windows certificate store. `storeLocation` must be `CurrentUser` or `LocalMachine`. `storeName` is the name of the certificate store to open. It may be any of the following:

- AddressBook: Certificate store for other users.
- AuthRoot: Certificate store for third-party certification authorities (CAs).
- CertificationAuthority: Certificate store for intermediate certification authorities (CAs).
- Disallowed: Certificate store for revoked certificates.
- My: Certificate store for personal certificates.
- Root: Certificate store for trusted root certification authorities (CAs).
- TrustedPeople: Certificate store for directly trusted people and resources.
- TrustedPublisher: Certificate store for directly trusted publishers.

Setting `bReadOnly` = `TRUE` causes the certificate store to be opened read-only, and will prevent `permission denied` errors caused by the need for read-write permission.

Once loaded, the certificates within the store may be searched via the Find\* methods. An application may also iterate from 0 to NumCertficates-1 and call GetCertificate to access each certificate by index.

Returns TRUE for success, FALSE for failure.

### CertStore.RemoveCertificate

`Chilkat 11.7.0 · c · CertStore · RemoveCertificate · method`

```c
BOOL CkCertStore_RemoveCertificate(HCkCertStore cHandle, HCkCert cert);
```

(This method only available on Microsoft Windows operating systems.)  
Removes the passed certificate from the store. The certificate object passed as the argument can no longer be used once removed.

Returns TRUE for success, FALSE for failure.

## Related classes

[`BinData`](https://www.chilkatsoft.com/ai-docs/v/11.7.0/c/classes/BinData.md), [`Cert`](https://www.chilkatsoft.com/ai-docs/v/11.7.0/c/classes/Cert.md), [`JsonObject`](https://www.chilkatsoft.com/ai-docs/v/11.7.0/c/classes/JsonObject.md)