# Export a certificate request

If you want to sign a certificate request with an external certificate authority, you must export the certificate request.

##

Note: TLS Credentials elements represent both certificate requests and signed certificates in the Management Client. In the Configuration view, the State column for the TLS Credentials element shows whether the element represents a certificate request or a signed certificate.

For more details about the product and how to configure features, click Help or press F1.

## Steps

1. Select Configuration, then browse to Administration.
2. Select Certificates > TLS Credentials.
3. Right-click the certificate request, then select Export Certificate Request.
4. Copy or export the certificate request.

   - Copy the certificate request, then paste it in an external application to sign it externally.

     Note: If you copy and paste the certificate request, include the “Begin Certificate Request” header and the “End Certificate Request” footer.
   - Click Export, browse to the location where you want to save the certificate request, then click Save.
5. Click OK to close the Export Certificate Request dialog box.

## Next steps

Sign the certificate request in an external application, then import the signed certificate request into the SMC.

## Export Certificate Request dialog box

Use this dialog box to export a certificate request to sign using an external certificate authority.

Option | Definition
--- | ---
Certificate request field | Shows the certificate request as text. You can copy and paste the certificate request into an external application to sign the certificate.
Export | Exports the certificate request so that you can sign it using an external certificate authority. Opens the Export Certificate Request dialog box.