CSR Decoder — Read Certificate Signing Request Details Free

CSR Decoder

Paste your Certificate Signing Request (CSR) to decode all fields — subject, organization, key type, key size, and Subject Alternative Names.

100% Free Instant Decode SAN Validation
Paste your Certificate Signing Request
Paste the CSR starting with -----BEGIN CERTIFICATE REQUEST-----
Validates FormatConfirms CSR is parseable
Key InfoType, algorithm, and bits
SAN CheckWarns if SANs are missing
All FieldsSubject + org information

About CSR Decoder

The CSR Decoder is a free online tool that reads and displays the human-readable contents of a Certificate Signing Request (CSR). CSRs are binary-encoded files generated on your server when you initiate the SSL certificate process — their contents are not directly readable without a decoder.

Decoding a CSR lets you verify that all details are correct before submitting it to a Certificate Authority (CA) to issue your SSL certificate. A single typo in the domain name or organization field means the CA will issue a certificate with incorrect information.

How to Decode a CSR

  • Copy your PEM-encoded CSR text (starts with -----BEGIN CERTIFICATE REQUEST-----)
  • Paste it into the input field
  • Click Decode CSR
  • Review the decoded fields

Fields Revealed by Decoding

  • Common Name (CN) — the primary domain being secured
  • Organization (O) — your company legal name
  • Organizational Unit (OU) — department
  • Country (C), State (S), Locality (L) — location fields
  • Subject Alternative Names — additional domains/subdomains
  • Key algorithm and size — RSA 2048, EC P-256, etc.

Related tools: CSR Generator (create a new CSR), CSR Checker (verify an existing CSR). All free, no login required.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a CSR?
A CSR (Certificate Signing Request) is a block of encoded data you send to a Certificate Authority (CA) when applying for an SSL certificate. It contains your public key and organization details. The CA validates and signs it to produce your SSL certificate.
Why are SANs important in a CSR?
Since Chrome 58 in 2017, browsers only trust certificates based on their SAN (Subject Alternative Name) fields — the Common Name (CN) is ignored for matching. A CSR without SANs will produce a certificate that modern browsers will reject or warn about.
What key size is recommended?
RSA 2048 is the minimum accepted by major CAs and is considered safe. RSA 4096 is stronger but slower. ECC P-256 provides equivalent security to RSA 3072 with a much smaller key, making it ideal for performance-conscious servers.
Can I use the same CSR for renewal?
Yes, you can — but it's not recommended. Reusing a CSR means reusing the same private key. Security best practice is to generate a new private key and CSR each time you renew to limit exposure from any past key compromise.

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