Save the key file password in Visual Studio

When you have already set up the project signing of the C# application for ClickOnce deployment, and move the solution to another workstation you may get the following error message when you build the solution:

Severity Code Description Project File Line Suppression State
Error Cannot import the following key file: .....pfx. The key file may be password protected. To correct this, try to import the certificate again or manually install the certificate to the Strong Name CSP with the following key container name: VS_KEY_....

We get this message, because the new workstation does not know the key file password. To solve this problem, we have to save the key file password on the new workstation.

To make your solution work again

• Open the Visual Studio project properties window,
• On the Signing tab click the pull down that shows the name of the key file.
• Select Browse,
• Select the key file,
• Enter the password in the Password text box.