How to Install OpenSSL on Windows Computers

OpenSSL is a powerful toolkit for working with SSL/TLS protocols and encryption. It’s widely used for creating private keys, CSRs, certificates, and more. While it’s built into most Linux systems, installing OpenSSL on Windows takes a few extra steps.

Here’s a simple guide to get OpenSSL up and running on your Windows PC.

🔧 What Is OpenSSL?

OpenSSL is an open-source library that implements the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocols. It also includes a command-line tool for creating and managing certificates, encrypting files, and more.

✅ Step 1: Download OpenSSL for Windows

Windows doesn’t include OpenSSL by default, so you’ll need to download a precompiled version.

1. Go to the trusted community builds site:
   👉 https://slproweb.com/products/Win32OpenSSL.html
2. Choose the correct installer for your system:
   • Win64 OpenSSL for 64-bit systems
   • Win32 OpenSSL for 32-bit systems

Tip: Most modern PCs use 64-bit Windows.

✅ Step 2: Run the Installer

1. Launch the downloaded .exe file
2. Follow the setup wizard
3. When prompted:
   • Choose “The Windows system directory” to install the binaries (unless you prefer a custom path)
   • Accept the license and finish the installation

✅ Step 3: Add OpenSSL to System Path

To use OpenSSL from the Command Prompt:

1. Press Windows + S, search for “Environment Variables”, and click “Edit the system environment variables”
2. In the System Properties window, click Environment Variables
3. Under System variables, find and select Path, then click Edit
4. Click New, and add the path to the OpenSSL bin folder, typically: C:\Program Files\OpenSSL-Win64\bin
5. Click OK to save everything

✅ Step 4: Verify Installation

Open Command Prompt and run:

openssl version

You should see something like:

OpenSSL 3.0.8 7 Feb 2023

If you do, you’re good to go!

🔐 Common Uses for OpenSSL on Windows

• Generate private keys and certificate signing requests (CSRs)
• Convert certificate formats (PEM, DER, PFX)
• Check certificate details
• Encrypt or decrypt files using AES or RSA

Example: Create a new private key:

openssl genrsa -out mykey.pem 2048

✅ Uninstalling OpenSSL (If Needed)

Go to Settings > Apps, find OpenSSL, and click Uninstall. You can also manually remove its folder and path variable if needed.

Final Thoughts

Installing OpenSSL on Windows is simple once you know where to get it. Whether you’re managing HTTPS certificates or just want to test encryption locally, it’s a great tool to have in your Windows toolkit.

Let me know in the comments if you run into any issues during setup — I’m here to help.