drop-master-key-transact-sql.md

title	DROP MASTER KEY (Transact-SQL) | Microsoft Docs
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ms.date	03/06/2017
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DROP MASTER KEY (Transact-SQL)

[!INCLUDEtsql-appliesto-ss2008-xxxx-asdw-pdw_md]

Removes the master key from the current database.

Transact-SQL Syntax Conventions

Syntax

-- Syntax for SQL Server, Azure SQL Data Warehouse, Parallel Data Warehouse  
  
DROP MASTER KEY  

Arguments

This statement takes no arguments.

Remarks

The drop will fail if any private key in the database is protected by the master key.

Permissions

Requires CONTROL permission on the database.

Examples

The following example removes the master key for the AdventureWorks2012 database.

USE AdventureWorks2012;  
DROP MASTER KEY;  
GO  

Examples: [!INCLUDEssSDWfull] and [!INCLUDEssPDW]

The following example removes the master key.

USE master;  
DROP MASTER KEY;  
GO  

See Also

CREATE MASTER KEY (Transact-SQL)
OPEN MASTER KEY (Transact-SQL)
CLOSE MASTER KEY (Transact-SQL)
BACKUP MASTER KEY (Transact-SQL)
RESTORE MASTER KEY (Transact-SQL)
ALTER MASTER KEY (Transact-SQL)
Encryption Hierarchy