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Add-HgsKeyProtectionCertificate

Adds a key certificate to the Key Protection Service.

PowerShell · Risk: High · Documentation Verified

Last verified: 2026-10-26

Microsoft HgsKeyProtection reference: Adds a key certificate to the Key Protection Service. The syntax and selected example below are adapted from the pinned Windows Server 2025 reference. Module availability, target configuration and delegated permissions determine whether it can run in your environment. Documentation and parameter text: Microsoft, CC BY 4.0; formatting adapted by Cmdlet World. No execution testing is claimed.

Add-HgsKeyProtectionCertificate -CertificateType <KeyCertificateType> -Thumbprint <String>
 [-NoCertificateReplication] [-Force] [-WhatIf] [-Confirm] [<CommonParameters>]

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Required permissions

Use an account with the target resource permissions documented for Add-HgsKeyProtectionCertificate. Modifying administrative cmdlets may require elevation or delegated administration. This catalog does not assert that ordinary users can execute the command.

Supported environments

Windows / HgsKeyProtection · Windows Server 2025 documentation; feature/module prerequisites apply

Parameters

-CertificatePassword: Specifies the password which protects a certificate file. If the certificate file is protected by a password, you must specify this value.
-CertificatePath (required): Specifies the path to the certificate which will be added to the Key Protection Service.
-CertificateType (required): Specifies the type of the certificate that this cmdlet adds. The acceptable values for this parameter are: - Signing - Encryption
-Confirm: Prompts you for confirmation before running the cmdlet.
-Force: Forces the command to run without asking for user confirmation.
-NoCertificateReplication: This only applies when you use the -Thumbprint option to specify a certificate. It is typically used for hardware security module (HSM) backed certificates but can be used for other certificates too. Specifying NoCertificateReplication disables automatic replication of the certificate from LocalMachine\My certificate store to the same store on all other nodes in the cluster. The HGS admin is then responsible for replicating that certificate manually to all other nodes in the cluster.
-Thumbprint (required): Specifies the thumbprint of the certificate to add. You must add the certificate to the LocalMachine\My certificate store before you run the current cmdlet.
-WhatIf: Shows what would happen if the cmdlet runs. The cmdlet is not run.

Prerequisites

Windows with the HgsKeyProtection module and the Windows feature or management tools that provide it. Confirm target connectivity and version compatibility using the linked Microsoft reference.

Security considerations

This cmdlet changes system state. Review every target and parameter in the official reference, test outside production, and prepare an appropriate backup or rollback. Do not execute the example automatically.

Examples

Example 1: Add an encryption certificate

Add-HgsKeyProtectionCertificate -CertificateType Encryption -Thumbprint "d39203a3b3544743ad552afe0615dc1f"

This command adds a certificate reference to the Key Protection Service for use as an encryption certificate. Source: Microsoft, CC BY 4.0; transcript prompt/output removed. This example was not executed.

Sources

https://github.com/MicrosoftDocs/windows-powershell-docs/blob/b7645dd8c687139b28e845119da30ec670526507/docset/winserver2025-ps/HgsKeyProtection/Add-HgsKeyProtectionCertificate.md

https://learn.microsoft.com/powershell/module/hgskeyprotection/add-hgskeyprotectioncertificate?view=windowsserver2025-ps

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