SSL certificates authenticate website identity and provide security for online communications. Without these small information files, your site won't function properly and become vulnerable to human being-in-the-middle attacks. Managing your certificates efficiently is a task you shouldn't take lightly. From following the best installation practices to renewing them on fourth dimension, you should regularly bank check your SSL installation for potential errors.

Sometimes, you need to remove a certificate because it'due south been compromised or stolen. But in most cases, you lot have to become rid of it before information technology expires to avert encryption outages and keep sensitive data prophylactic. Either style, no matter what server you use, there isn't a single "delete" button to uninstall your certs. That'due south why in this article, nosotros'll show how to remove SSL certificates from Windows x. If you're looking for instructions on how to install an SSL cert on Windows, check this comprehensive IIS SSL installation guide instead.

Before we begin, nosotros encourage yous to fill-in your certificates, as whatever modifications to root and intermediate certs may lead to unexpected errors. Follow the steps beneath to remove your certificate from Windows 10.

  1. Launch the Microsoft Management Console (MMC) by clicking the Windows icon on the taskbar and searching for "MMC".
  2. In the MMC, click the File button in the top-left corner and select Add/Remove Snap-in .
  3. Click Certificates in the left cavalcade, and so click Add together to movement it to the right column. Click OK to continue.
  4. From the Certificates Snap-in window, select Computer business relationship to view certificates for all users on this motorcar and and then click Adjacent .
  5. On the next window, select Local computer (the figurer this console is running on ).
  6. Click Finish , and and so OK to close the snap-in director screen. You should and so run into a list of certificates on your local machine in the left-mitt column of MMC.
  7. At present, you need to find the cert that you want to remove. Use the folder list on the left side to locate the certificate. Click the Third-Party Root Certification Authorities folder, then select Certificates .
  8. Find the certificate you want to remove and right-click on it. Select Backdrop . And then, in the General tab, in the section chosen Document purposes , select the Disable all purposes for this certificate radio button and so click Employ .
  9. Restart your server. And that should exist it.

Every fourth dimension you need to remove an SSL document from your server ensure you know exactly what files to disable. Deleting a wrong root or intermediate cert may cause SSL connection errors. The method we've provided is efficient when you're dealing with a small number of certs. But if your company is deploying dozens of certificates for various needs, it's amend to automate the process and use SSL management tools.