Configure root certificate clean up: registry value RootCertificateCleanupOptionComputerHKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CertProp

Policy ID: CertPropRootCleanupString
Scope: Computer Configuration
Supported on: At least Windows Vista
Source: Administrative Templates (.admx) for Windows 11 2026 Update (26H2) (version 1.0)
Category: Windows Components › Smart Card

Registry

RootCertificateCleanupOption

REG_DWORDComputer

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CertProp Current key

Enabled value: Depends on the option value
Element: Root certificate clean up options

Options
Item	Stored value
No cleanup	0
Clean up certificates on smart card removal	1
Clean up certificates on log off	2

Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell

.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CertProp]

; Options (use only one)
; No cleanup
"RootCertificateCleanupOption"=dword:00000000
; Clean up certificates on smart card removal
"RootCertificateCleanupOption"=dword:00000001
; Clean up certificates on log off
"RootCertificateCleanupOption"=dword:00000002

CMD

:: Options (use only one)

:: No cleanup
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CertProp" /v "RootCertificateCleanupOption" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
:: Clean up certificates on smart card removal
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CertProp" /v "RootCertificateCleanupOption" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
:: Clean up certificates on log off
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CertProp" /v "RootCertificateCleanupOption" /t REG_DWORD /d 2 /f

PowerShell

# Common: create the key
New-Item -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CertProp' -Force | Out-Null

# Options (use only one)
# No cleanup
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CertProp' -Name 'RootCertificateCleanupOption' -PropertyType DWord -Value 0 -Force | Out-Null
# Clean up certificates on smart card removal
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CertProp' -Name 'RootCertificateCleanupOption' -PropertyType DWord -Value 1 -Force | Out-Null
# Clean up certificates on log off
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CertProp' -Name 'RootCertificateCleanupOption' -PropertyType DWord -Value 2 -Force | Out-Null