---
title: "CLOSE MASTER KEY (Transact-SQL) | Microsoft Docs"
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---
# CLOSE MASTER KEY (Transact-SQL)
[!INCLUDE[tsql-appliesto-ss2008-all-md](../../includes/tsql-appliesto-ss2008-all-md.md)]

  Closes the master key of the current database.  
  
 ![Topic link icon](../../database-engine/configure-windows/media/topic-link.gif "Topic link icon") [Transact-SQL Syntax Conventions](../../t-sql/language-elements/transact-sql-syntax-conventions-transact-sql.md)  
  
## Syntax  
  
```  
CLOSE MASTER KEY  
```  
  
## Arguments  
 Takes no arguments.  
  
## Remarks  
 This statement reverses the operation performed by OPEN MASTER KEY. CLOSE MASTER KEY only succeeds when the database master key was opened in the current session by using the OPEN MASTER KEY statement.  
  
## Permissions  
 No permissions are required.  
  
## Examples  
  
```  
USE AdventureWorks2012;  
CLOSE MASTER KEY;  
GO  
```  
  
## Examples: [!INCLUDE[ssSDWfull](../../includes/sssdwfull-md.md)] and [!INCLUDE[ssPDW](../../includes/sspdw-md.md)]  
  
```  
USE master;  
OPEN MASTER KEY DECRYPTION BY PASSWORD = '43987hkhj4325tsku7';  
GO   
CLOSE MASTER KEY;  
GO  
```  
  
## See Also  
 [CREATE MASTER KEY (Transact-SQL)](../../t-sql/statements/create-master-key-transact-sql.md)   
 [OPEN MASTER KEY (Transact-SQL)](../../t-sql/statements/open-master-key-transact-sql.md)   
 [Encryption Hierarchy](../../relational-databases/security/encryption/encryption-hierarchy.md)