---
name: "sq-key-delete"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "sequoia-sq"
version: "1.4.1-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/sq-key-delete"
---

# sq-key-delete(1)

Delete a certificate's secret key material

## NAME

sq-key-delete - Delete a certificate's secret key material

## SYNOPSIS

**sq key delete** \[*OPTIONS*\]

## DESCRIPTION

Delete a certificate's secret key material.

## OPTIONS

### Subcommand options

- **--cert**=*FINGERPRINT\|KEYID*

  Delete secret key material from the key with the specified fingerprint or key ID

- **--cert-email**=*EMAIL*

  Delete secret key material from the key where a user ID includes the specified email address

- **--cert-file**=*PATH*

  Delete the secret key material from the key read from PATH

- **--cert-userid**=*USERID*

  Delete secret key material from the key with the specified user ID

- **--output**=*FILE*

  Write the stripped certificate to the specified file

### Global options

See [**sq**(1)](/sq/1.md) for a description of the global options.

## EXAMPLES

Delete any secret key associated with Alice's certificate.

```
sq key delete --cert EB28F26E2739A4870ECC47726F0073F60FD0CBF0
```

Delete any secret key associated with Alice's certificate selected by user ID.

```
sq key delete --cert-email=alice@example.org
```

## SEE ALSO

[**sq**(1)](/sq/1.md), [**sq-key**(1)](/sq-key/1.md).

For the full documentation see \<https://book.sequoia-pgp.org/\>.

## VERSION

1\.4.1