iis - How can I create a self-signed cert for localhost?

Question

I've gone through the steps detailed in How do you use https / SSL on localhost? but this sets up a self-signed cert for my machine name, and when browsing it via https://localhost I receive the IE warning.

Is there a way to create a self-signed cert for "localhost" to avoid this warning?

Answer 1

Since this question is tagged with IIS and I can't find a good answer on how to get a trusted certificate I will give my 2 cents about it:

First use the command from @AuriRahimzadeh in PowerShell as administrator:

New-SelfSignedCertificate -DnsName "localhost" -CertStoreLocation "cert:LocalMachineMy"

This is good but the certificate is not trusted and will result in the following error. It is because it is not installed in Trusted Root Certification Authorities.

Solve this by starting mmc.exe.

Then go to:

File -> Add or Remove Snap-ins -> Certificates -> Add -> Computer account -> Local computer. Click Finish.

Expand the Personal folder and you will see your localhost certificate:

Copy the certificate into Trusted Root Certification Authorities - Certificates folder.

The final step is to open Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager or simply inetmgr.exe. From there go to your site, select Bindings... and Add... or Edit.... Set https and select your certificate from the drop down.

Your certificate is now trusted: