Where to find and delete certificates on your iPhone

You can remove certificates from your iPhone through the Settings app. Open Settings, then tap General, scroll down and tap VPN & Device Management (or Profiles & Device Management on older iOS versions), and you will see any installed certificates listed there. Tap the certificate you want to remove, then tap Delete or Remove, and confirm your choice.

The exact wording and location shift slightly between iOS versions, but the path is always Settings > General > VPN & Device Management. If you do not see this option, your device may not have any certificates installed, or you may be running an older iOS version that stores them differently.

Key Takeaways

  • Certificates on your iPhone live in Settings > General > VPN & Device Management, where you can see them listed by name.
  • Removing a certificate does not delete the app that uses it — only the certificate itself is removed from your device.
  • If you delete a work or school certificate by mistake, contact your IT department or school to have it reinstalled.
  • Some certificates are required for apps or networks to work; removing them will break that connection until you reinstall them.

What happens when you delete a certificate

Deleting a certificate removes it from your device but does not uninstall any apps. If the certificate was being used by a work email account, a VPN, or a school network, that service will stop working until you reinstall the certificate or reconfigure the connection.

For example, if you remove a certificate that your company uses for email encryption, you will no longer be able to send or receive encrypted messages until your IT department sends you a new certificate. If you remove a certificate tied to your school's Wi-Fi network, your phone will no longer connect to that network automatically.

Removing certificates you installed yourself

If you downloaded and installed a certificate yourself — perhaps to test a network or use a specific service — the removal process is the same. Go to Settings > General > VPN & Device Management, find the certificate by name, tap it, and select Delete. You will be asked to confirm; tap Delete again to complete the removal.

After deletion, any service that relied on that certificate will no longer work. If you need it again later, you will have to read and install it a second time through the same method you used originally.

Removing work or school certificates

Certificates installed by your employer or school are usually managed by your IT department or mobile device management (MDM) system. You can still delete them manually through Settings > General > VPN & Device Management, but doing so may cause work email, apps, or network access to stop working.

If you remove a work or school certificate by mistake, contact your IT department or school help desk right away. They can resend the certificate to your device, and you can reinstall it. Do not delete these certificates unless you are certain you no longer need them or your IT department has told you to remove them.

Checking what certificates are on your device

To see all certificates currently installed on your iPhone, open Settings, tap General, then VPN & Device Management. Each certificate will be listed by name — often something like "Company VPN" or "School Network" or a longer technical name. Tap any certificate to see more details, including when it was installed and what it is used for.

If you see a certificate you do not recognize, it may have been installed by an app, a network you connected to, or a profile sent to your device. You can safely delete any certificate you do not use, but check with your IT department first if it is a work or school certificate.

Removing certificates installed by apps

Some apps install their own certificates on your device to handle find connections or data encryption. If you uninstall the app, the certificate may remain on your phone. You can remove it manually through Settings > General > VPN & Device Management by finding the certificate and tapping Delete.

Removing an app's certificate will not affect other apps on your device. However, if you reinstall that app later, it may ask you to reinstall the certificate as well. This is normal and expected behavior.

Troubleshooting certificate removal

If you cannot find a certificate in Settings > General > VPN & Device Management, it may not be installed, or it may be stored in a different location depending on your iOS version. Try restarting your iPhone and checking again — sometimes the list does not update when ready after deletion.

If you see a certificate you cannot delete, it may be locked by your device's Mobile Device Management (MDM) system, which is common on work or school phones. Contact your IT department or school to unlock it before you can remove it. If you are the device owner and still cannot delete it, try restarting your phone or updating to the latest iOS version.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will deleting a certificate remove my apps?

No. Deleting a certificate only removes the certificate itself from your device. Apps that use the certificate will remain installed, but they may not work properly until you reinstall the certificate or reconfigure the connection.

Can I delete a certificate without knowing what it does?

You can, but it is safer to check first. If it is a work or school certificate, contact your IT department before deleting it. If it is a personal certificate you installed, you can delete it and reinstall it later if needed.

What if I accidentally deleted a work certificate?

Contact your IT department or help desk right away. They can resend the certificate to your device, and you can reinstall it through the same method they used originally. Most work certificates can be resent quickly.

Do I need to restart my iPhone after deleting a certificate?

You do not have to, but restarting can help if a service that used the certificate is still trying to connect. A restart clears the connection and forces your device to recognize that the certificate is gone.

Can I see what each certificate is used for before I delete it?

Tap the certificate in Settings > General > VPN & Device Management to see details like the issuer and installation date. The name often tells you what it is for — for example, "Company VPN" or "School Wi-Fi" — but technical names may not be clear. When in doubt, ask your IT department.