Updated on 2024-03-27 GMT+08:00

Deleting One or More CMKs

Before deleting the CMK, confirm that it is not in use and will not be used. You can check the key usage in either of the following ways:

  • Check the CMK permission to determine its possible usage scope. For details, see Querying a Grant.
  • Check audit logs to determine the actual usage.

Prerequisites

  • The key to be deleted is in Enabled, Disabled, or Pending import status.

Constraints

  • A key will not be deleted until its scheduled deletion period expires. You can set the period to a value within the range 7 to 1096 days.

    Before the specified deletion date, you can cancel the deletion if you want to use the CMK. Once the scheduled deletion has taken effect, the CMK will be deleted permanently and you will not be able to decrypt data encrypted by the CMK. Exercise caution when performing this operation.

  • Default keys created by KMS cannot be scheduled for deletion.
  • A CMK in pending deletion status does not incur charges. If you cancel deletion, the charging resumes from the time when the CMK was scheduled to be deleted.

Procedure

  1. Log in to the management console.
  2. In the row containing the target CMK, click Delete in the Operation column.
  3. On the key deletion dialog box, enter the deletion delay time.

    • A key will not be deleted until its scheduled deletion period expires. You can set the period to a value within the range 7 to 1096 days. Before the specified deletion date, you can cancel the deletion if you want to use the CMK.
    • A CMK in pending deletion status does not incur charges. If you cancel deletion, the charging resumes from the time when the CMK was scheduled to be deleted.

  4. Select I understand the impact of deleting keys and click YesOK.

To schedule the deletion of multiple CMKs at a time, select them and click Delete in the upper left corner of the list.