Having Pidgin SSL Certificate Error? Here’s The Fix

Posted by: Damien on November 20th, 2010
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pidgin-ssl-error

Update: The latest version of Pidgin (2.7.7) has fixed this issue. For Windows users, uninstall your current version, download and install the latest version. For Ubuntu users, add the following PPA and update your system:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:pidgin-developers/ppa
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade

If you are using Pidgin to connect to your MSN messenger, you will probably receive the SSL certificate error message. it’s kinda irritating and prevents you from connecting to your MSN account. Here’s the fix.

1. Go to https://omega.contacts.msn.com/

2. On the URL bar, click on the security lock (usually just in front of the URL). Click on the certificate information.

pidgin-certificate-information

3. Go to the Detail tab and click the “Export” button. Save the file as “omega.contacts.msn.com” (without the quotes).

pidgin-export-certificate

4. Copy and paste this file to
“/home/your-username/.purple/certificates/x509/tls_peers/omega.contacts.msn.com”. When prompted, select “Replace” to replace the existing file.

That’s it. Open your Pidgin and the SSL certificate error will be gone.

Damien Oh is the owner and chief editor of Make Tech Easier

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  • http://martvefun.myopenid.com/ martvefun

    Great I was looking for that yesterday. What was the error casued by ?

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1410310725 Mike Freeman

    Hmmm… I followed these instructions, and I’m still getting the error. It’s getting really annoying.

  • Lala

    thank you nice tip

  • http://www.facebook.com/kaylel Kayle Lang

    Thank you very much. I owe you one.

  • http://maketecheasier.com/ Damien Oh

    It is probably because the Microsoft renewed the SSL certificate, causing the old one to be invalid.

  • Mondongo

    Yeah, same here. Followed the instructions and no luck.

  • Benchervin

    When I click on that link I get an error message:

    Directory Listing Denied
    This Virtual Directory does not allow contents to be listed.

  • Olof_nord_

    If you are on a windows system the path where the”omega.omega.contacts.msn.com” should be placed is:
    C:Usersyour-usernameAppDataRoaming.purplecertificatesx509tls_peers
    thank you Damien for the help!

  • bahaha

    save it as “509 PEM with chain” or something like that.

  • http://www.facebook.com/jeremy.list Jeremy List

    If you’re using firefox there will still be a lock icon in the status bar at the bottom. You get the security information by clicking it even though the page has an error. I had the same trouble at first

  • Indarkestdays

    Where do you save it in pidgin portable? In certificate folder there is no “omega.contacts.msn.com” file

  • Guest

    Thanks for this. For those having problems, make sure the file that you copy into the folder overwrites the old one (ie. they should both have the same file name)

  • http://maketecheasier.com/ Damien Oh

    It’s expected to see the Directory Listing Denied page. Just click on the icon beside the URL and follow the above steps to export the certificate.

  • Kian

    Thanks a bunch!!!

  • Jmdeboer

    Sweet, thanks.

  • Phius

    Great! Thanks :D

  • Meridian

    https://omega.contacts.msn.com/

    Directory Listing Denied
    This Virtual Directory does not allow contents to be listed.

  • guest

    Meridian, SSL negotiations are done before the first HTTP GET request. The cert is still exportable by the steps above.

  • John

    Thanks !

  • Ny

    I tried with Firefox but couldn’t find the info, tried with Chrome and voila! Now Pidgin is working!

  • http://qedx.com/ haris

    I had to save it as “Base64-encoded ASCII, certificate chain” for it to work

  • http://cheluna.blogspot.com/ consu

    Thanks!! Love it!

  • http://manurevah.com/ manu

    euh, that is a complicated fix for a simple (and stupid) issue. just mv/delete the the current certificate and when you connect you will get the new certificate. done.

  • TalkCafe del Mar

    I tried it on my own Manu, but no… it didn’t get new certificate… just the error.
    But the workaround solved the problem.
    THX!

  • Johndoe

    Be sure to highlight the *.contacts.msn.com (not above) and export this as omega.contacts.msn.com into ~/.purple/certificates/x509/tls_peers (overwrite as needed), then restart pidgin (or maybe just re-login).

  • N0c!f

    You need to put the certificate in the following folder :
    YourDrive:PidginPortableDatasettings.purplecertificatesx509tls_peers

  • Dr.Death

    wo0ow, that’s was the best and easiest solution, work fine with my ubuntu

    Thanks buddy

  • Anna Raidanoksa

    Well, it worked until I quit the program and now I’m getting it again.

  • bluecat

    try to reinstall it, go to pidgin website in downloads section, :P

    this is what they put in the pidgins website:
    “Pidgin 2.7.7 completely fixes the MSN certificate issue, enables multiple MSN logins, and fixes the AIM SSL Handshake Failure error.”

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