According to Apple, in-house apps will stop working once the Distribution Certificate expires:
iOS Distribution Certificate (in-house, internal use apps)
Users will no longer be able to run apps that have been signed with
this certificate. You must distribute a new version of your app that
is signed with a new certificate.
My question is:
Is it the same for apps built with an iOS Development Certificate? My guess is yes, but I would like to know for sure...
Please note: I'm not asking what will happen to apps in the App Store, I know they are not affected.
Yes, your assumption is correct.
Related
One of my developer is asking me to export my Apple Distribution certificate and key from my Keychain and send it to him. He claims he need this to run the app we are developing on his device. I am concerned about sharing this certificate. what should I do? is there an alternative way which does not involve sharing the certificate?
Developer will need the Apple Development Certificate to run and debug the application in the device. You can use TestFlight for Testing purpose but for development one will need the certificate.
If the functionalities of the application doesn't require device then the app can be used in the simulators as well.
Our team had published App on Apple Appstore 2 year ago. After that we lost its code due mac hardware issue. Now we have made new App and want to replace existing app on Apple store. However provisioning profile (distribution) certificate with which app was submitted 2 years ago is expired. Can I submit App update with new distribution certificate???
When your certificate expires, the provisioning profiles using that certificate will become invalid. On App Store, the app will still work as long as you’re enrolled in the development program. All the ad hoc builds signed with that certificate won’t work anymore. When revoking a distribution certificate the below scenarios will occur for your users:
When you revoke a certificate that means that any app that is not deployed onto a device (not hosted by AppStore) will no longer be valid. Existing users can continue to use the app.
When you revoke a certificate and your App is being hosted on the AppStore; users that have already installed the app will not be affected. New users that go to install the app will not be affected.
When you revoke a certificate and your App is being hosted in-house (internally) and users download it via OTA; users that have already installed the app will not be affected. New users that go to install the app will not be able to install it. Please note this is based off of behavior we have experienced from Apple.
Revoking a certificate will not affect the ability to update existing apps regardless of whether they are AppStore or in-house apps.
Good morning, this is my first time dealing with an expiring iOS distribution certificate, so please pardon my noob question :(
I have personal unreleased apps running on my phone and Apple TV that are using this certificate. I was curious if theres a way to renew/create a new certificate that will not require me to reinstall these apps to my phone/Apple TV?
What is the normal process you do when your certificate is expiring?
Thank you in advance!
The apps don't use the certificate, the distributions certificates are only necessary to validade when sending an app. Your certificate can be revoked/expired and nothing will happen with your installed application or even ( if is the case ) your application on AppStore.
The only certificate that you need to care more is the PushNotification one, because if this one get expired/revoked your push server can't send notifications.
I just lost my private key with OS reinstallation so will have to create new Certificate Signing Requests.. I wanted to know if revoking my Distribution Certificate will have any effect on my existing applications on App Store especially when one of my applications is waiting for approval ( In Review ) build from old distribution certificate.
Should i wait for the app to be
accepted by the Apple or revoking the
distribution certificate won't have any
affect on the application?
I know this is an ancient question, but since it hasn't been answered... According to Apple support, you can revoke the certificate immediately after submitting an app for review and the app won't be affected. Apps already on the app store will not be affected either.
Related SO threads to support the above:
If I revoke an existing distribution certificate, will it mess up anything with existing apps?
iOS Provisioning and Certifcates - Will Revoke/Renew effect App Store Apps?
Often developers face this question and stay away from revoking a certificate. Possible thoughts are if it affect the app in the store, or will the same certificate be required for the next update etc.
But there are no any issues like that.
An Appstore and Adhoc production certificates are used for the App store submission process only. It needs to check the private key public key pair to validate that the ipa is code signed by a valid signing authority. Once the app goes to app store you need not have to bother about the certificate used.
The next time for creating an update, you can codesign using a different certificate, but you need to use the same app id.
As per my experience and according to Apple support, revoking certificate will not have any effect on the already uploaded build on iTunes either for review or on live.
Hope this helps!!
There will not be any affect on your current uploads. As the bundle identifier and app id for your application will remain same, it will not affect any of your push notification service too. This is the only reason we are able to replace PEM or p.12 certificates to web developers if the current certificate of any live app has expired.
From the apple docs:
https://developer.apple.com/support/technical/certificates/
iOS Distribution Certificate (App Store)
If your iOS Developer Program membership is valid, your existing apps on the App Store will not be affected. However, you will no longer be able to submit new apps or updates to the App Store.
My app is not released yet, so you couldn't find it in the App Store. But it is being used by a group of private beta users (through the iOS TestFlight service). And it is hitting my production server, which is the reason for the question.
In the situation described above, what .p12 do I use? the Dev certificate or the Distribution certificate? I am asking because I am not clear on whom the distinction is for. As far as my server is concerned I don't care which one is used. I just need to send push notifications, and as long as the users get them, I am happy. And since I am using my production server, I figure I should use the production/distribution certificate. But I have a suspicion that my server -- dev or production -- has nothing to do with it. And which certificate I use may entirely have to do with the App Store. So will someone please clarify for me? Thanks.
From http://www.raywenderlich.com/32960/apple-push-notification-services-in-ios-6-tutorial-part-1
Development If your app is running in Debug mode and is signed with the Development provisioning profile (Code Signing Identity is “iPhone Developer”), then your server must be using the Development certificate.
Production Apps that are distributed as Ad Hoc or on the App Store (when Code Signing Identify is “iPhone Distribution”) must talk to a server that uses the Production certificate. If there is a mismatch between these, push notifications cannot be delivered to your app.