Dropping a Database Encryption Key

To drop the database encryption key, use the drop encryption key command.

The syntax is:
drop encryption key key_name
This command deletes the database encryption key from the sysencryptkeys table in the master database.
Note: This command fails if the database encryption key you are dropping is still being used to encrypt a database.
Parent topic: Creating the Database Encryption Key
Related concepts
Changing a Database Encryption Key
Back Up the Database Encryption Key
Related tasks
Creating the Database Encryption Key
Related reference
create encryption key
drop encryption key