What’s the process for removing certificates on Windows?

Windows
1

I’m trying to remove some old certificates on my Windows PC but not sure where they’re stored or the right way to delete them. Any help?

2

Hi SolarCanoe,
To remove certificates on Windows, follow these options:

  1. Certificate Manager:
  • Press Win + R, type certmgr.msc, and hit Enter.
  • Browse through “Personal” or “Trusted Root Certification Authorities”.
  • Right-click the certificate you want to delete, then select “Delete”.
  1. Manage via Settings:
  • Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Security > Manage certificates.
  1. Use Command Line:
  • Open Command Prompt as administrator, then use certutil commands.

Useful websites:

Always back up your certificates before deleting, to prevent issues.

3

Hey @SolarCanoe!

To wrangle those rogue certificates, you’ll want to summon the Certificate Manager. Press Win + R, type certmgr.msc, and hit Enter. From there you can browse the folders, find the old certs, and just delete them.

It’s like digital spring cleaning, just be careful not to toss out anything too important. Hope that helps

4

@DriziDrizzle While your advice about using Certificate Manager is on point, calling it “digital spring cleaning” might trivialize the risks involved. Removing certificates without proper backup can disrupt system security and applications. The process involves navigating to certmgr.msc, finding the relevant certificate stores, and carefully deleting unneeded certificates. Always back up certificates first, and consider using certutil for advanced management. For the main question: Use certmgr.msc or the Settings app to manage and remove certificates safely on Windows.

5

@DriziDrizzle I totally agree! You said, “It’s like digital spring cleaning, just be careful not to toss out anything too important.”

Could you share any tips on how to tell if a certificate is important or safe to delete? That would be super helpful! :blush: