When a certificate's private key is marked as "not exportable" in the Windows certificate store, it's a security measure designed to protect the private key and prevent it from being copied or moved to another system. This setting is often used for high-security certificates, such as those used for code signing or sensitive data encryption.
The "not exportable" flag is a critical security control. Bypassing this restriction is not a standard procedure and involves significant security risks. It's generally not recommended to attempt to export a key that has been deliberately marked as non-exportable due to the potential for unauthorized access and misuse.
In situations where you anticipate needing to use a certificate and its private key on multiple systems or for backup purposes, the recommended approach is to ensure that the "Allow private key to be exported" option is selected when the certificate is initially requested or generated. This allows you to create a password-protected export (typically a .pfx file) that can be safely transferred and imported on other machines as needed. Planning for exportability from the outset is the most secure and straightforward method for managing certificates across different environments.
If you are facing a situation where you have a non-exportable key and need to migrate or recover it for a legitimate purpose, it's essential to understand the security implications and potential risks involved. Exploring alternative solutions or consulting with a security professional may be necessary to find a safe and appropriate course of action that aligns with your organization's security policies and requirements.