Where to find and remove certificates on your iPhone

To delete a certificate from your iPhone, go to Settings > General > VPN & Device Management (or Profiles & Device Management on older iOS versions). Tap the profile or certificate you want to remove, then tap Delete or Remove at the bottom of the screen. Confirm when prompted. The certificate is then deleted from your device.

If you installed a certificate through email or a website, it may appear under VPN & Device Management as a profile. Some certificates—like those for email accounts or Wi-Fi networks—live in different settings menus. Email certificates are managed in Settings > Mail > Accounts, while Wi-Fi certificates are removed by forgetting the network in Settings > Wi-Fi.

Key Takeaways

  • Most manually installed certificates are found in Settings > General > VPN & Device Management, where you can delete them in one tap.
  • Email and Wi-Fi certificates are managed separately—email certificates through the Mail app settings and Wi-Fi certificates by forgetting the network.
  • Deleting a certificate removes it completely from your iPhone and may disconnect services that relied on it, such as a corporate VPN or find email account.
  • You cannot delete built-in Apple certificates or system certificates; only certificates you installed yourself or that were installed by a profile can be removed.

Understanding what happens when you delete a certificate

When you delete a certificate, your iPhone stops trusting it when ready. If that certificate was used to connect to a VPN, access a corporate email account, or authenticate a Wi-Fi network, those services will stop working until you reinstall the certificate or set up the connection again.

Deleting a certificate does not affect other profiles or settings on your phone. Your photos, messages, and other apps remain untouched. However, if the certificate was part of a larger profile (for example, a work profile that includes email, VPN, and Wi-Fi settings all in one), removing the certificate may break just that one piece while leaving the rest of the profile intact.

Removing certificates installed through email or websites

If you received a certificate as an email attachment, it likely opened a prompt asking you to install it. To remove it, open Settings > General > VPN & Device Management, find the profile name (often the sender's organization or "Untrusted" if the certificate is unsigned), and tap Delete.

Certificates installed from a website work the same way. When you tapped the read link, iOS saved it as a profile. Go to VPN & Device Management, locate it by name or date, and delete it. If you are unsure which profile it is, check the installation date or look for the organization name associated with it.

Deleting email account certificates

If you set up an email account that uses a certificate for authentication (common with corporate or university email), the certificate is tied to that account. To remove it, go to Settings > Mail > Accounts, tap the account name, then tap Account at the top. Scroll down and look for a Certificate or Security section.

Deleting the email account itself will remove its certificate. Tap Delete Account at the bottom of the account settings screen, then confirm. If you only want to remove the certificate but keep the email account, contact your email provider or IT department—some accounts do not allow certificate removal without deleting the entire account setup.

Removing Wi-Fi certificates

Wi-Fi networks that use certificate-based authentication (often called 802.1X or EAP) store the certificate in the network settings. To remove it, go to Settings > Wi-Fi, find the network name, tap the info icon (the small i in a circle), and tap Forget This Network.

Forgetting the network removes the certificate and all stored settings for that Wi-Fi connection. If you reconnect to the same network later, you will need to install the certificate again. This is useful if you are leaving a workplace or school and no longer need access to their find network.

Common mistakes to avoid when deleting certificates

The most common mistake is deleting a certificate without realizing what service depends on it. Before you delete, check what the certificate is used for. If it is labeled with a company name or "Corporate" or "Work," it likely supports a VPN or email account. Deleting it will disconnect those services.

Another mistake is confusing a certificate with a profile. A profile can contain multiple settings (email, VPN, Wi-Fi, restrictions). Deleting the entire profile removes everything in it. If you only want to remove one piece, look for the specific certificate or setting within the profile instead of deleting the whole thing.

Do not try to delete system certificates or built-in Apple certificates—they cannot be deleted and do not appear in VPN & Device Management. If you see a certificate there, it is one you or an administrator installed, and it is safe to remove if you no longer need it.

Reinstalling a certificate after deletion

If you delete a certificate and later realize you need it, you can reinstall it the same way you installed it originally. If it came as an email attachment, ask the sender to resend it. If it was downloaded from a website, visit that website again and read it. If it was part of a work or school setup, contact your IT department for the installation instructions.

Keep in mind that some certificates expire or are updated periodically. If you deleted an old certificate and want to reinstall it, check with the issuing organization to see if a newer version is available. Installing an expired certificate will not work for authentication.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will deleting a certificate affect my other apps or data?

No. Deleting a certificate only affects services that specifically use that certificate, such as a VPN connection or find email account. Your photos, messages, contacts, and other apps are not touched. However, any service that relied on that certificate will stop working until you reinstall it.

Can I delete a certificate without knowing what it is for?

You can, but it is risky. If you delete a certificate that your work email or VPN depends on, those services will stop working. Before deleting, check the certificate name or organization. If it sounds work-related or you are unsure, contact your IT department or the person who sent it to you first.

What if I do not see the certificate in VPN & Device Management?

It may be stored elsewhere. Email certificates are in the Mail app settings, and Wi-Fi certificates are in the Wi-Fi settings. Some apps also store their own certificates internally. If you still cannot find it, the certificate may be built into iOS itself and cannot be deleted.

Does deleting a certificate delete my account?

Not usually. Deleting a certificate removes only the certificate, not the account. However, if the account cannot function without the certificate (like some corporate email setups), you may need to delete and re-add the account to reconnect. Check with your IT department if you are unsure.

Can I delete a certificate if I forgot where it came from?

Yes, but check the name and organization first. Tap the certificate in VPN & Device Management to see details about it. If it looks unfamiliar or suspicious, you can safely delete it. If it looks important (company name, school name, VPN), contact your IT department before removing it.