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Quick reference

iOS Code Signing & Provisioning Profiles Cheatsheet

A quick reference guide for Apple iOS code signing: Certificate Signing Requests (CSR), Development, Ad-hoc, and App Store provisioning profiles.

· Published

iOS code signing links cryptographic certificates, bundle identifiers, and device UUIDs to ensure authentic executable deployment on Apple hardware.

Profile Types Comparison

Dimension Development Ad-hoc Distribution App Store Distribution
Primary Purpose Local debugging via Xcode Internal testing / TestFlight App Store submission
Requires Device UDIDs Yes Yes (up to 100 per device class) No
Requires CSR & Certificate Yes (Development Cert) Yes (Distribution Cert) Yes (Distribution Cert)
Push Notifications Enabled Development Sandbox Production APNs Production APNs

Core Workflow Steps

1. Generating a Certificate Signing Request (CSR)

  1. Open Keychain Access.app on macOS.
  2. Select Keychain Access → Certificate Assistant → Request a Certificate From a Certificate Authority...
  3. Enter your developer email address in User Email Address.
  4. In Common Name, enter your name or team name.
  5. Leave CA Email Address blank.
  6. Select Saved to disk, then click Continue.

2. Downloading & Installing Certificates

  1. Visit Apple Developer Portal: Certificates.
  2. Click + and choose Apple Development or Apple Distribution.
  3. Upload the .certSigningRequest file saved from Keychain.
  4. Download the generated .cer file and double-click to install it into macOS Keychain Access.

3. Collecting Device UDIDs

  • Via Finder / Music: Connect iPhone via USB; click the device serial number until the UDID appears; right-click to copy.
  • Via Xcode: Press Cmd + Shift + 2 (Devices & Simulators) and copy the Identifier string.

4. Packaging .ipa for Distribution

  1. In Xcode, select Product → Archive.
  2. Open the Organizer window (Cmd + Shift + 2 → Archives).
  3. Select your archive build and click Distribute App.
  4. Select Ad Hoc (or App Store Connect) and complete signing export.

References

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