When I add my provisioning profile to Xcode through the Organizer, I can see that the profile is set to 3 month duration only.
My question is, if I deploy an app to the test device using the above profile. And after 3 months of the app installed on the device, if I open the app would it work or the app will fail to load due to the expired profile?
How does it usually work?
The app will fail to launch due to the expired profile. You will need to renew the provisioning profile and install that renewed profile on the device; or rebuild and reinstall the app with another non-expired profile. A developer also has to keep their $99 developer enrollment from expiring in order to keep being able to renew or create new provisions.
Ad Hoc profiles have longer expiration dates. But if you want an app that doesn't expire, the only alternative for stock OS iOS devices is to have it approved by Apple and then download it from the App store. After you download the app, you have the option of removing it from sale.
Related
From experience I have found that an app distributed with enterprise distribution certificate and provisioning profile will fail to launch when the provisioning profile expires, even if the distribution certificate is still valid. Why is this not the case for App Store apps?
This question is very similar to the following posts, but to my best knowledge there is no question that explains why this is true. I was unable to find this information in the current Apple Developer documentation.
Related Questions:
Expiring App Store Provisioning Profile
How can I update my App in the App Store if the Distribution Provisioning Profile expired?
Renew Provisioning Profiles (Distribution) and keep current Appstore Apps working
App Store apps are signed by Apple and therefore don't include a provisioning profile from the developer.
If a developer doesn't renew their program membership, then they can no longer update or sell apps on the App Store, but the apps need to keep working for people who have purchased/downloaded them, otherwise the user will have a bad experience. To make this happen the provisioning of those apps is signed by Apple, not the developer.
Also, a developer may not release a new version for a long period of time. Again, if app executing was dependent on a provisioning profile from the developer, then the app would stop working giving a bad experience.
In the case of Enterprise Apps, Apple is not involved in the app distribution, and the provisioning profile is tied to the Enterprise program membership. Requiring period replacement of the provisioning profiles ensures that the membership is kept current. It also provides an additional element of "safety" where an enterprise app that is installed on a device that is no longer under the control of the enterprise or no longer has access to updates will stop working after a period of time.
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.
I have an app in the App Store that's distribution provisioning profile has expired yesterday. I already submitted today the update with the new profile, but it would be good to know, that the existing version will work or stop working? I downloaded the app today and it works, but it would be really useful for me if somebody could give me an exact answer.
The app in the app store doesn't depend on its provisioning profile to run on user devices as it's signed by Apple. Just that you won't be able to run it on your provisioned test devices.
I have published my app first time this year on app store. Now I have received email that Distribution Profile and Distribution Certificate which I used for app publication are about to expires. So my query is whether it will affect my current published app if I will not revoke both certificate and profile.
Let's say my profile and certificate get expired and some user tries to download my app from app store then will it work?
Yes, there is no need to worry about Distribution Profile and Distribution Certificate (Production Certificate) which are used earlier for publishing app on app store. You just need to generate new certificate when you want to upload new version of application.
Nothing happens.
Previous submitted apps will be working fine. No need to worry about it. Because there is no link between a distribution's certification status and use of apps by customers. But if you want to submit new version of app or new app in appstore you have to revoke it.
You can get more info from here.
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.
I have developed an iPad app very specific to my needs, it is tailored just for me and therefore isn't applicable to be submitted to the app store. Every few months I can't get into my app because the provisioning profile has expired.
Is there an easy way (besides jailbreaking the device, or submitted it to Apple) that I can use the app indefinitely without having to generate a new provisioning profile every few months?
Ad Hoc profiles seem to have a long lifetime. So instead using a Dev Profile, an Ad Hoc profile might serve your needs better. My latest Ad Hoc profile created in May expires together with my current certificate next year.
Nope. Provisioning is working exactly as it's designed to work in this case.