The dynamic surface chemistry and stabilization of cesium lead halide perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) remain principal challenges for the use of these materials in many applications. Here, trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate (Me 3 SiOTf) was used as a Lewis acidic reagent for quantitative and irreversible silylation and removal of anionic ligands from colloidal oleate-and oleylamine-capped CsPbBr 3 and CsPbCl 3 NCs. 1 H NMR and FTIR spectroscopies, combined with elemental analysis, show strong binding of a population of anionic ligands to the NC surfaces. Surface anion exchange for trifluoromethanesulfonate also results in an increase in photoluminescence quantum yields. For CsPbCl 3 NCs, Me 3 SiOTf treatment abstracts chlorides and destabilizes the NC lattice. The thermodynamic differences between these reactions and their implications are discussed.