How to enable SSL in localhost XAMPP on macOS

If you are developing a web application that requires HTTPS connection, you may want to Enable SSL in localhost XAMPP server. SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is a protocol that encrypts the data between the client and the server, ensuring that no one can intercept or tamper with it. In this blog post, I will show you how to set up SSL in localhost XAMPP macOS step by step. follow this step by step guide to Enable SSL in localhost

Step 1: Check XAMPP SSL config

Open /Applications/XAMPP/xamppfiles/etc/httpd.conf and make sure your settings are the same as below:

Test SSL config with this command:

sudo /Applications/XAMPP/xamppfiles/xampp enablessl

Step 2: Backup httpd-ssl.conf

Go to: /Applications/XAMPP/xamppfiles/etc/extra
Copy httpd-ssl.conf & paste as httpd-ssl.conf.bak

Step 3: Edit httpd-ssl.conf

Open /Applications/XAMPP/xamppfiles/etc/extra/httpd-ssl.conf
Change default port from 8443 to 443

#Listen 8443
Listen 443

Find this line and remove everything below it

## SSL Virtual Host Context

Step 4: Create SSL folder to store SSL files

Open Terminal and run these commands:

cd /Applications/XAMPP/xamppfiles/etc/
mkdir ssl
cd ssl

Step 5: Create SSL CSR & private key

You can use any file name here (just replace localhost)

openssl req -new -newkey rsa:2048 -nodes -keyout localhost.key -out localhost.csr

Enter info as below. Note: change localhost to your localhost domain name (ex: www.domain.name)

There are 2 more infos may be asked:

A challenge password
An optional company name

Leave these info BLANK (just Enter, no need input anything)

Step 6: Create .ext file

touch localhost.ext

Copy & paste below content to v3.ext file
Note: change localhost to your localhost domain name

Step 7: Create SSL CRT

openssl x509 -req -sha256 -extfile localhost.ext -days 3650 -in localhost.csr -signkey localhost.key -out localhost.crt

Step 8: Add SSL CRT to macOS Keychain

Double click on localhost.crt on Finder
Select Keychain: System then click Add
Find & double click on localhost cert in Keychain Access
Expand Trust, select When using this certificates: Always Trust
Close the window and click Update Settings

Step 9: Config SSL in XAMPP virtual host

Open /Applications/XAMPP/xamppfiles/etc/extra/httpd-vhosts.conf
Update your config:

from

to

Step 10: Open Chrome and access https://localhost. Congratulation!

You have successfully enabled SSL in localhost XAMPP

Related Links:

• Enabling SSL with XAMPP – Stack Overflow
• Setting up SSL on a local xampp/apache server – Stack Overflow
• How to Enable Valid SSL in localhost for XAMPP?
• How do I use https (SSL) in XAMPP while using virtual hosts – Stack Overflow
• How to Create Valid SSL in localhost for XAMPP – Stack Overflow