Charles setup and root certificate installation

Charles Setup

Installation

1. Download an up-to-date version for your system on charlesproxy.com/download/
    
2. Launch the installation process with respect to your operational system;
    
3. Follow the instructions till completion of the installation process.

First launch

NOTE:in order to use Charles, user’s PC or Laptop should have WiFi network module (in other words – should be compatible to connect to internet via WiFi). If you use a PC without WiFi network module, you should upgrade your hardware respectively. E.g. install WiFi PCI card or WiFi USB adapter.

1. If you are connected to internet via WiFi go to the next step.
If not (e.g. you’re connected via Ethernet), please connect to WiFi either. You may keep both Ethernet and WiFi. When properly connected on Windows you see similar situation:

         

2. Launch the Charles.

NOTE: right after the launching Charles will try to catch interactions between operational system and external network. User will not be able to see any data in Charles because a certificate is not installed yet. At the same time user will not be able to use internet.
To avoid such a situation, turn off windows proxy for a while. To do so use combination Ctrl+Shif+P or click on Proxy in toolbar and untick Windows Proxy:

          

3. In order to log and see any exchange thrown via Charles, we need to proxy all possible locations.
Go to Proxy / SSL Proxying Settings, click on Add, type Wildcard * for both Host and Port fields. Click OK in Edit Location popup and OK again in SSL Proxying Settings popup.

         

Setup root certificate

1. Go to Help / SSL Proxying / Install Charles Root Certificate:
   
2. Click on Install Certificate…, keep Current User as a Store Location, click on Next:
   
3. Keep Automatically select the certificate store… as a location and click on Next;
4. Click on Finish in Completing the Certificate Import Wizard;
5. Click on OK in The import was successful popup.