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---
title: Add a Custom CA Certificate - API Management | Microsoft Docs
description: Learn how to add a custom CA certificate in Azure API Management. Also learn how to delete a certificate.
services: api-management
ms.service: azure-api-management
ms.topic: how-to
ms.date: 02/17/2026
ms.custom:
- sfi-image-nochange
#customer intent: As an API developer, I want to add a custom CA certificate in API Management.
---
# How to add a custom CA certificate in Azure API Management
**APPLIES TO: Developer | Basic | Standard | Premium**
Azure API Management allows you to upload and install CA certificates on the machine inside the trusted root and intermediate certificate stores. Use this functionality if your services require a custom CA certificate.
This article shows how to manage CA certificates of an API Management instance in the Azure portal. For example, if you use self-signed client certificates, you can upload custom trusted root certificates to API Management.
[!INCLUDE [api-management-ca-certificate-v2-tiers](../../includes/api-management-ca-certificate-v2-tiers.md)]
CA certificates uploaded to API Management can be used for certificate validation only by the managed API Management gateway. If you use the [self-hosted gateway](self-hosted-gateway-overview.md), you can learn how to [create a custom CA for self-hosted gateway](#create-custom-ca-for-a-self-hosted-gateway) later in this article.
[!INCLUDE [api-management-workspace-availability](../../includes/api-management-workspace-availability.md)]
[!INCLUDE [api-management-service-update-behavior](../../includes/api-management-service-update-behavior.md)]
[!INCLUDE [updated-for-az](~/reusable-content/ce-skilling/azure/includes/updated-for-az.md)]
## Upload a CA certificate
Complete the following steps to upload a new CA certificate. If you haven't created an API Management instance yet, see [Create an API Management service instance](get-started-create-service-instance.md).
1. Go to your Azure API Management instance in the Azure portal.
1. In the left menu, under **Security**, select **Certificates**. On the **Certificates** page, select **CA certificates** > **+ Add**.
1. In the **Upload CA certificate** window, select the file icon and browse for the certificate .cer file. In the **Store** box, select a certificate store. Only the public key is needed, so the password is optional.
:::image type="content" source="media/api-management-howto-ca-certificates/02.png" alt-text="Screenshot that shows the steps for adding a CA certificate in the Azure portal." lightbox="media/api-management-howto-ca-certificates/02.png":::
1. Select the **Add** button at the bottom of the window, and then select **Save**. This operation might take a few minutes.
> [!NOTE]
> You can also upload a CA certificate by using the `New-AzApiManagementSystemCertificate` PowerShell command.
## Delete a CA certificate
Select the certificate, and then select **Delete** in the **...** menu.
## Create custom CA for a self-hosted gateway
If you use a [self-hosted gateway](self-hosted-gateway-overview.md), validation of server and client certificates via CA root certificates uploaded to API Management service isn't supported. To establish trust, configure a specific client certificate so that it's trusted by the gateway as a custom certificate authority.
Use the [Gateway Certificate Authority](/rest/api/apimanagement/current-ga/gateway-certificate-authority) REST APIs to create and manage custom CAs for a self-hosted gateway. To create a custom CA:
1. [Add a certificate](api-management-howto-mutual-certificates.md) .pfx file to your API Management instance.
1. Use the [Gateway Certificate Authority - Create Or Update](/rest/api/apimanagement/current-ga/gateway-certificate-authority/create-or-update) REST API to associate the certificate with the self-managed gateway.
## Limits
API Management currently enforces a limit of 10 CA certificates per instance.
## Related content
- [How to secure backend services using client certificate authentication](./api-management-howto-mutual-certificates.md)
- [How to secure APIs using client certificate authentication](./api-management-howto-mutual-certificates-for-clients.md)
[Upload a CA certificate]: #step1
[Delete a CA certificate]: #step1a