'\" t
.\"     Title: cryptsetup-lukskillslot
.\"    Author: [see the "AUTHOR(S)" section]
.\" Generator: Asciidoctor 2.0.20
.\"      Date: 2025-08-20
.\"    Manual: Maintenance Commands
.\"    Source: cryptsetup 2.8.1
.\"  Language: English
.\"
.TH "CRYPTSETUP\-LUKSKILLSLOT" "8" "2025-08-20" "cryptsetup 2.8.1" "Maintenance Commands"
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.SH "NAME"
cryptsetup-luksKillSlot \- wipe a keyslot from the LUKS device
.SH "SYNOPSIS"
.sp
\fBcryptsetup \fIluksKillSlot\fP [<options>] <device> <number>\fP
.SH "DESCRIPTION"
.sp
Wipe the keyslot with the number from the LUKS device.
.sp
Except running in batch\-mode (\-q), a remaining passphrase must be supplied, either interactively or via \-\-key\-file.
This command can remove the last remaining keyslot, but requires an interactive confirmation when doing so.
Removing the last passphrase makes a LUKS container permanently inaccessible.
.sp
If you read the passphrase from stdin (without further argument or with \*(Aq\-\*(Aq as an argument to \-\-key\-file), batch\-mode (\-q) will be implicitly switched on and no warning will be given when you remove the last remaining passphrase from a LUKS container.
Removing the last passphrase makes the LUKS container permanently inaccessible.
.sp
If no passphrase is provided (on stdin or through \-\-key\-file argument) and batch\-mode (\-q) is active, the keyslot is removed without any other warning.
.sp
This operation removes only the key in a particular keyslot; it does not wipe any encrypted data.
.sp
\fB<options>\fP can be [\-\-key\-file, \-\-keyfile\-offset, \-\-keyfile\-size, \-\-header, \-\-disable\-locks, \-\-type, \-\-verify\-passphrase, \-\-timeout].
.SH "OPTIONS"
.sp
\fB\-\-batch\-mode\fP, \fB\-q\fP
.RS 4
Suppresses all confirmation questions.
Use with care!
.sp
If the \-\-verify\-passphrase option is not specified, this option also switches off the passphrase verification.
.RE
.sp
\fB\-\-debug\fP or \fB\-\-debug\-json\fP
.RS 4
Run in debug mode with full diagnostic logs.
Debug output lines are always prefixed by \fB#\fP.
.sp
If \-\-debug\-json is used, additional LUKS2 JSON data structures are printed.
.RE
.sp
\fB\-\-disable\-locks\fP
.RS 4
Disable lock protection for metadata on disk.
This option is valid only for LUKS2 and is ignored for other formats.
.sp
\fBWARNING:\fP Do not use this option unless you run cryptsetup in a restricted environment where locking is impossible to perform (where /run directory cannot be used).
.RE
.sp
\fB\-\-header\fP \fI<device or file storing the LUKS header>\fP
.RS 4
Use a detached (separated) metadata device or file where the LUKS header is stored.
This option allows one to store the ciphertext and LUKS header on different devices.
.sp
For commands that change the LUKS header (e.g., \fIluksAddKey\fP), specify the device or file with the LUKS header directly as the LUKS device.
.RE
.sp
\fB\-\-help\fP, \fB\-?\fP
.RS 4
Show help text and default parameters.
.RE
.sp
\fB\-\-key\-file\fP, \fB\-d\fP \fIfile\fP
.RS 4
Read the passphrase from the file.
.sp
If the name given is "\-", then the passphrase will be read from stdin.
In this case, reading will not stop at newline characters.
.sp
See section \fINOTES ON PASSPHRASE PROCESSING\fP in \fBcryptsetup\fP(8) for more information.
.RE
.sp
\fB\-\-keyfile\-offset\fP \fIvalue\fP
.RS 4
Skip \fIvalue\fP bytes at the beginning of the key file.
.RE
.sp
\fB\-\-keyfile\-size\fP, \fB\-l\fP \fIvalue\fP
.RS 4
Read a maximum of \fIvalue\fP bytes from the key file.
The default is to read the whole file up to the compiled\-in maximum that can be queried with \-\-help.
Supplying more data than the compiled\-in maximum aborts the operation.
.sp
This option is useful to cut trailing newlines, for example.
If \-\-keyfile\-offset is also given, the size count starts after the offset.
.RE
.sp
\fB\-\-timeout\fP, \fB\-t\fP \fIseconds\fP
.RS 4
The number of seconds to wait before a timeout on passphrase input via terminal.
It is relevant every time a passphrase is asked.
It has no effect if used in conjunction with \-\-key\-file.
.sp
This option is useful when the system should not stall if the user does not input a passphrase, e.g., during boot.
The default is a value of 0 seconds, which means to wait forever.
.RE
.sp
\fB\-\-type\fP \fItype\fP
.RS 4
Specifies required device type, for more info, read the \fIBASIC ACTIONS\fP section in \fBcryptsetup\fP(8).
.RE
.sp
\fB\-\-usage\fP
.RS 4
Show short option help.
.RE
.sp
\fB\-\-verify\-passphrase\fP, \fB\-y\fP
.RS 4
When interactively asking for a passphrase, ask for it twice and complain if both inputs do not match.
Ignored on input from file or stdin.
.RE
.sp
\fB\-\-version\fP, \fB\-V\fP
.RS 4
Show the program version.
.RE
.SH "REPORTING BUGS"
.sp
Report bugs at \c
.MTO "cryptsetup\(atlists.linux.dev" "cryptsetup mailing list" ""
or in
.URL "https://gitlab.com/cryptsetup/cryptsetup/\-/issues/new" "Issues project section" "."
.sp
Please attach the output of the failed command with \-\-debug option added.
.SH "SEE ALSO"
.sp
.URL "https://gitlab.com/cryptsetup/cryptsetup/wikis/FrequentlyAskedQuestions" "Cryptsetup FAQ" ""
.sp
\fBcryptsetup\fP(8), \fBintegritysetup\fP(8) and \fBveritysetup\fP(8)
.SH "CRYPTSETUP"
.sp
Part of \c
.URL "https://gitlab.com/cryptsetup/cryptsetup/" "cryptsetup project" "."