diff --git a/src/lib/shared/repo-predicates.ts b/src/lib/shared/repo-predicates.ts
index aef2f53..728d0ff 100644
--- a/src/lib/shared/repo-predicates.ts
+++ b/src/lib/shared/repo-predicates.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,22 @@ export function isLocalRepo(repository: string): boolean {
 	return repository.startsWith('/') || repository.startsWith('./');
 }
 
+/**
+ * Whether a backup destination's TLS-certificate fields (CA / client cert) are
+ * meaningful for a given backend type. Only backends that can be self-hosted over
+ * HTTPS with a private/self-signed CA qualify: `s3` (MinIO/Ceph) and `rest`. A
+ * local path has no network, and `b2`/`azure`/`gs` are managed clouds served from
+ * public CAs, so the TLS fields are noise there. When editing a destination that
+ * already has a cert stored, return true regardless so its data is never hidden.
+ */
+export function backendSupportsTls(
+	backendType: string,
+	opts?: { isEditing?: boolean; hasStoredCert?: boolean }
+): boolean {
+	if (backendType === 's3' || backendType === 'rest') return true;
+	return !!(opts?.isEditing && opts?.hasStoredCert);
+}
+
 /** An environment reachable over the network (hawser or direct-with-host). */
 export function isRemoteEnvironment(env?: { connectionType?: string | null; host?: string | null } | null): boolean {
 	if (!env) return false;
diff --git a/src/routes/settings/backups/DestinationModal.svelte b/src/routes/settings/backups/DestinationModal.svelte
index 5c04525..7d77ff2 100644
--- a/src/routes/settings/backups/DestinationModal.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/settings/backups/DestinationModal.svelte
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 	import { FieldLabel } from '$lib/components/ui/field-label';
 	import { toast } from 'svelte-sonner';
 	import { focusFirstInput } from '$lib/utils';
+	import { backendSupportsTls } from '$lib/shared/repo-predicates';
 
 	interface Destination {
 		id: number;
@@ -265,6 +266,12 @@
 	const repoFields = $derived(selectedBackend.fields.filter(f => !f.envKey));
 	const credentialFields = $derived(selectedBackend.fields.filter(f => f.envKey));
 
+	// TLS certs only apply to backends self-hostable over HTTPS with a private CA
+	// (S3/REST); hidden for local/B2/Azure/Google Cloud. See backendSupportsTls.
+	const showTlsSection = $derived(
+		backendSupportsTls(formBackendType, { isEditing, hasStoredCert: hadCacert || hadTlsClientCert })
+	);
+
 	// A field is mandatory unless it opts out (optional) or is a toggle (skipHostKey).
 	function fieldRequired(f: FormField): boolean {
 		return !f.optional && f.key !== 'skipHostKey';
@@ -727,10 +734,11 @@
 			</div>
 		</div>
 
-		<!-- TLS certificates: for any backend that speaks TLS with a private CA (self-hosted
-		     rest-server, MinIO/S3, rclone-over-https). Optional; blank = use the system trust
-		     store, no client cert. Shown for all backend types (someone may run MinIO with a
-		     private CA). PEM content, uploaded or pasted. -->
+		<!-- TLS certificates: only for backends that can be self-hosted over HTTPS with a
+		     private CA - S3 (MinIO/Ceph) and a REST server. A local path has no network, and
+		     B2/Azure/Google Cloud are managed clouds with public CAs, so the section is hidden
+		     there. Optional; blank = use the system trust store. PEM content, uploaded or pasted. -->
+		{#if showTlsSection}
 		<div class="border-t pt-3 mt-2 space-y-3">
 			<span class="text-xs font-medium text-muted-foreground uppercase tracking-wide">TLS certificates (optional)</span>
 			<p class="text-xs text-muted-foreground -mt-1">
@@ -783,6 +791,7 @@
 				</div>
 			</div>
 		</div>
+		{/if}
 
 
 		<!-- Policies section -->
diff --git a/tests/repo-predicates.test.ts b/tests/repo-predicates.test.ts
index 27e9f85..0067312 100644
--- a/tests/repo-predicates.test.ts
+++ b/tests/repo-predicates.test.ts
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
  * now advisory-only for the UI hint.
  */
 import { describe, test, expect } from 'bun:test';
-import { isLocalRepo, isRemoteEnvironment, localRepoNeedsSameHost } from '../src/lib/shared/repo-predicates';
+import { isLocalRepo, isRemoteEnvironment, localRepoNeedsSameHost, backendSupportsTls } from '../src/lib/shared/repo-predicates';
 
 describe('isLocalRepo', () => {
 	test('absolute and relative filesystem paths are local', () => {
@@ -55,3 +55,33 @@ describe('localRepoNeedsSameHost (#1316 advisory)', () => {
 		expect(localRepoNeedsSameHost(localDest, undefined)).toBe(false);
 	});
 });
+
+describe('backendSupportsTls (destination TLS fields visibility)', () => {
+	test('s3 and rest support TLS (self-hostable over HTTPS with a private CA)', () => {
+		expect(backendSupportsTls('s3')).toBe(true);
+		expect(backendSupportsTls('rest')).toBe(true);
+	});
+
+	test('local path and managed clouds do NOT show TLS fields', () => {
+		expect(backendSupportsTls('local')).toBe(false);
+		expect(backendSupportsTls('b2')).toBe(false);
+		expect(backendSupportsTls('azure')).toBe(false);
+		expect(backendSupportsTls('gs')).toBe(false);
+	});
+
+	test('editing a non-TLS backend that already has a cert stored still shows the section', () => {
+		// A destination created before this filter that carries a CA must not have its
+		// stored cert hidden on edit.
+		expect(backendSupportsTls('gs', { isEditing: true, hasStoredCert: true })).toBe(true);
+		expect(backendSupportsTls('local', { isEditing: true, hasStoredCert: true })).toBe(true);
+	});
+
+	test('editing without a stored cert keeps the section hidden for non-TLS backends', () => {
+		expect(backendSupportsTls('gs', { isEditing: true, hasStoredCert: false })).toBe(false);
+		expect(backendSupportsTls('azure', { isEditing: true, hasStoredCert: false })).toBe(false);
+	});
+
+	test('creating (not editing) never shows TLS for a non-TLS backend regardless of flags', () => {
+		expect(backendSupportsTls('local', { isEditing: false, hasStoredCert: true })).toBe(false);
+	});
+});