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Trace Eagle needs a trusted capture certificate on a target device only when you use proxy-based HTTPS decryption. Direct NIC capture, capture of a specific program, and app-layer plaintext capture are documented certificate-free alternatives. The right setup therefore depends on how you capture—not simply on whether the traffic uses HTTPS.
When does Trace Eagle require a capture certificate?
HTTPS traffic is encrypted by default. Trace Eagle says its software can decrypt traffic when it has the relevant session keys; for proxy-based decryption, the target device must trust a capture certificate. The TLS Decryption guide, last updated July 29, 2026, describes installing that certificate on the target once for proxy capture. Trace Eagle TLS Decryption guide.
Other documented capture paths do not require a certificate: direct NIC capture, targeting a specific program, and app-layer plaintext capture. These are alternatives when proxy setup is unsuitable, though they do not necessarily provide the same capture scope or proxy-specific capabilities. Trace Eagle says proxy capture supports rewriting and replay; its documentation does not establish that every alternative offers those functions.
Choose a capture method
| Method | Capture certificate | What the documentation establishes |
|---|---|---|
| Proxy-based HTTPS decryption | Required on the target | Enables proxy decryption when the target trusts the capture certificate; supports rewriting and replay. |
| Direct NIC capture | Not required | Captures network traffic without installing a proxy certificate. |
| Specific-program capture | Not required | Targets a program without the proxy certificate route. |
| App-layer plaintext capture | Not required | Documented alternative for pinned or custom-encryption apps; app signing may be a separate prerequisite on iOS. |
These distinctions come from Trace Eagle’s TLS Decryption guide and its iOS and Android guidance. The sources describe method capabilities, not a guarantee that every program or connection can be decrypted.
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Configure proxy capture on iOS or Android
Trace Eagle’s mobile documentation describes a common proxy workflow: point the phone’s Wi-Fi proxy at the computer running Trace Eagle, then scan a QR code to install the capture root certificate. The QR flow and proxy instructions are documented for mobile platforms, but the available guidance does not establish the exact menus or trust-store screens for every operating-system version.
- Set the phone’s Wi-Fi proxy to the computer. Use the mobile setup guidance for the relevant platform: iOS setup or Android setup.
- Scan the displayed QR code to install the capture certificate. The target must trust the certificate for proxy HTTPS decryption to work.
- Start capture before opening or reconnecting the app’s HTTPS session. A connection already in progress may not be decryptable because key material is obtained at connection establishment.
Trace Eagle’s FAQ also describes a certificate wizard for different environments, but the available documentation does not establish its precise desktop selections or platform-specific removal clicks. Follow the current product wizard and platform guide rather than assuming a particular sequence of screens. See the Trace Eagle FAQ.
Android trust limitations
Trace Eagle warns that newer Android versions do not trust user-installed certificates by default and calls out Android 14 as stricter. If an app will not accept the proxy certificate, a certificate-free capture method may be more appropriate; app-layer capture is the documented alternative for pinning or custom encryption. The guidance does not establish that a proxy certificate alone will override Android or an app’s trust policy.
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Trace Eagle documents system-level, NIC, and app-layer capture paths on iOS that do not require a proxy certificate. App-layer use may have separate app-signing prerequisites. Consult the current iOS guide for its supported setup options.
Why is HTTPS still encrypted?
If a capture contains traffic but the HTTPS content remains ciphertext, work through these checks:
- Confirm the capture method. The certificate applies to proxy-based HTTPS decryption, not to every capture mode. Certificate-free methods have their own scope and prerequisites.
- Check that the target trusts the certificate. For proxy capture, merely installing a certificate is not enough if the device or app does not trust it.
- Reconnect after capture starts. Trace Eagle notes that a session already underway may not be decryptable because the necessary key material is obtained when the connection is established.
- Consider certificate pinning or custom encryption. An app that pins certificates may reject the proxy even when the certificate is installed. Trace Eagle recommends app-layer plaintext capture for pinned or custom-encryption apps.
- Allow for unavailable keys. Trace Eagle notes that a few programs may expose no usable keys; in those cases, only raw encrypted traffic is available.
These limitations and suggested checks are in Trace Eagle’s TLS Decryption guide.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Use and remove the certificate safely
A capture certificate changes what the target can trust during testing. Trace Eagle’s FAQ advises: “Only trust a capture certificate on devices you own or are authorized to test, and remove it when you’re done.” Apply that guidance to the phone or computer where you install it, and do not use certificate-based interception on someone else’s device or traffic without authorization. Trace Eagle FAQ, last updated July 15, 2026.
Removal is part of the cleanup, but the available Trace Eagle guidance does not specify a universal click-by-click removal path. Use the device’s current certificate-management settings or the instructions for its operating-system version; do not assume the same screen or steps apply across platforms.
What the documentation does—and does not—promise
Trace Eagle’s product guidance explains the certificate requirement, mobile QR-based installation flow, certificate-free capture alternatives, and common decryption obstacles. It does not establish that all apps can be decrypted, provide exact trust-store and removal steps for every platform, or independently validate the security design of the capture certificate. Platform behavior and product instructions can change, so use the current in-product wizard and official platform guide for version-specific steps.
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