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How to Delete Digital Signature Certificates and Restart Setup
Question details
The user needs to remove a digital signature certificate that was created by mistake and restart the setup process to generate new credentials.
- Product
- WPS Office / Certificate Manager
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- A digital ID was generated with incorrect information, requiring the user to delete the existing certificate and configure a new one from scratch.
- Observed behavior
- The incorrect certificate is saved in the system or application, preventing the use or creation of the correct digital credentials.
Before deleting any digital signature, ensure you have backed up any certificate files you might need for validating older documents, as deleting a private key is permanent.
Remove Certificates via Operating System Manager
Use your system's built-in certificate manager to locate and delete the incorrect digital signature and its associated private keys.
Most desktop applications, including document editors, rely on the operating system's trusted certificate store. Deleting the certificate directly from the OS ensures it is entirely removed.
Search for and open the Certificate Manager application on your device (e.g., typing 'certmgr.msc' in the Windows search bar).
Navigate to the 'Personal' folder, then click on 'Certificates' to view all user-generated digital IDs.
Right-click the incorrect digital signature certificate and select 'Delete' to remove it and its associated private key from your system.
Open your document application and trigger the digital signature process again to create a new digital ID with the correct credentials.
Revoke Third-Party Certificates
If your digital ID was issued by an external Certificate Authority (CA), you must contact them directly to revoke the certificate.
Easily Manage and Apply Digital Signatures with WPS Office
WPS Office offers comprehensive PDF security tools, allowing you to seamlessly create, manage, and verify digital signatures without relying on complex external software.
- 1. Open Your PDF: Launch WPS Office and open the PDF document you need to sign.
- 2. Navigate to Protect Tools: Click on the 'Protect' tab located on the top ribbon menu.
- 3. Access Signature Manager: Select 'Sign Document' to open the digital signature interface.
- 4. Create a New ID: Choose the option to 'Create New ID' to start a fresh certificate setup process and fill in your correct credentials.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recover a digital signature certificate after deleting it?
Once a digital certificate and its private key are permanently deleted from your system, they cannot be recovered unless you created a backup file (such as a .pfx or .p12 file) beforehand.
Will deleting my certificate invalidate documents I already signed?
Documents signed before the deletion will still display the signature. However, depending on the validation method and whether the certificate was officially revoked, the signature may show as 'untrusted' or 'invalid' to others viewing the document.
How do I create a self-signed certificate directly in my document editor?
Most advanced document editors, including WPS Office, will prompt you to 'Create a New Digital ID' when you select the 'Sign Document' tool. This launches a wizard where you can input your name, email, and organization to generate a new local certificate.
