Demystify code signing and its importance in app development. Get help troubleshooting code signing issues and ensure your app is properly signed for distribution.

All subtopics
Posts under Code Signing topic

Post

Replies

Boosts

Views

Activity

Terminal command to show team for signing identity
In our local test configurations, a developer can sign test apps for device installation using any key associated with the company team. However, if a developer accidentally chooses an identity from some other team, installation fails with no information about the problem. It just mentions that no provisioning profile could be found, leaving everyone in the dark about what is wrong. Instead, we would like to pre-validate the selected signing identity by checking the team name or id. This could be done, for example, by extracting the x509 certificate from the signing identity and checking the "OU" field (which is set to the team id). However, none of the apple commands will divulge the x509 certificate from a developer id. So far our best options is to create a fake app, sign the app, then use command: codesign --display --extract-certificates This solution seems excessively serpentine. Is there no direct command that will accept the sha of a signing identity and return a nice .pem containing the associated certificate chain? Or, better yet, is there a command that takes the signing identity and simply returns the name or id of the associated team?
1
0
315
Sep ’25
"Application damaged and can't be opened' error prompt on 15.6.1 Sequoia
We have an application which keeps throwing the error "application is damaged and cannot be opened. You should move it to Trash" I have already referred to the documentation: https://developer.apple.com/forums/thread/706379 and https://developer.apple.com/forums/thread/706442 I have checked the following possible root causes: Codesign of the application using the codesign command Notarization of the application using the spctl command Executable permissions Checked for the presence of "com.apple.quarantine" flag for the application using xattr -l <path to executables" Checked the bundle structure None of the above listed items seemed to be a problem and are as expected. Can you please help us understand what could cause this issue and how to resolve this without recommending an uninstall/reinstall of the application?
16
0
1.5k
Oct ’25
Possible bug in Capability Requests tab
Hello, Recently our team requested the "Notification (NSE) filtering" capability. Our request was rejected but we sent a new request with a more detailed explanation of our need. However if we go check the status of the request in the Capability Requests tab the status is "No requests". We sent the new request yesterday. Is it even possible to request a capability after a rejected request? We really need the capability and the absence of it is blocking our progress.
1
0
249
Sep ’25
Certificate Revocation Impact
Background We are using a Developer ID application certificate to sign our application. We lost the private key and we need to revoke it before we can receive a new one. Per documentation (https://developer.apple.com/support/certificates/), I know that previously installed applications will still be able to run, but new installations will not be able to work. I want to confirm what will happen when we revoke the certificate so we know how to prepare customers for this upcoming change. Questions Will existing installations of the application receive a notice that the certificate has been revoked? Will previously installed applications be able to launch again after they are closed? What will the user see when they try to install the application with the revoked certificate?
5
0
3.2k
Aug ’25
Running iOS app on MacOS error: This app cannot be installed because its integrity could not be verified.
The attached file bellow contains the full error error I clone this repo to my mac, change team id and group, and run it in Xcode: https://github.com/protonpass/ios-pass There's no issue when I ran it with the Debug configuration, but when I go to Product > Scheme > Edit Scheme and change the iOS target build configuration to Release then I got that error above. I have tried Archive and export the ipa, verify that the provisioning profile contains my Mac UDID, but when double clicking the ipa to install, I also got the error This app cannot be installed because its integrity could not be verified.
1
1
270
Jul ’25
Notarization service issue
This has been going on for at least a couple of hours for us: notarizing doesn't complete. Our last job ran for over 90 minutes before CircleCI timed it out. We're using xcrun notarytool submit with the --wait option; it contined to say "Current status: In Progress" for, as I said, 90 minutes or so. (Normally it takes about 70 seconds.) https://developer.apple.com/system-status/ says everything is normal. This does not seem to be the case for us. 😄
17
1
1.2k
Jan ’25
Is a LaunchCodeRequirement Time-Of-Check/Time-Of-Use protected?
In the LightweightCodeRequirements framework, there is a LaunchCodeRequirement object which can be used as a requirement object for a Process for example. What I don't understand (I admit my macOS low-level knowledge is limited) is that how can this be used in a secure way that doesn't fall victim of a Time-of-Check/Time-of-Use issue. e.g. I specify a LaunchCodeRequirement via Process.launchRequirement for my process, let's say /usr/local/bin/mycommandlinetool. The LaunchCodeRequirement specifies my development team and a developer ID certificate. The process must be started in some form, before a SecCode/SecTask object can be created, rather than a SecStaticCode object (which only guarantees its validity checks to be intact as long as the file is not modified). But if the process was started, then I have no tools in my set to prevent it from executing its initialization code or similar. Then, by the time I'm able to check via SecCode/SecTask functions the LaunchCodeRequirement, I might have already ran malicious code - if mycommandlinetool was maliciously replaced. Or does the operating system use a daemon to copy the executable specified for Process to a secure location, then creates the SecStaticCode object, assesses the LaunchCodeRequirement and if passed, launches the executable from that trusted location (which would make sure it is immutable for replacement by malicious actors)? I have a hard time understanding how this works under the hood - if I remember correctly these are private APIs.
3
1
174
Aug ’25
unzip identifier is not unique?
In Swift I'm using unzip by launching a Process to unzip a file. I added a launchRequirement to the process in order to make sure the executable is code signed by Apple and the identifier is com.apple.unzip. After testing out my code on another machines (both physical and virtual), I found out that in some the identifier is actually com.apple.zipinfo, which broke the SigningIdentifier requirement. It's safe to assume that /usr/bin/unzip can be trusted since it's in a System Integrity Protection (SIP) location, but I'm wondering why this executable has different identifiers?
4
1
152
Aug ’25
Notarization stuck for days
It's been over 24h and it's still in progress. Is there a timeout for a failed notarization? or do we just wait for days.. weeks.. moths? Successfully received submission info createdDate: 2025-06-25T09:52:03.153Z id: 2ae713a5-c2e3-432f-84ee-e5d3d4aed621 name: slideshow-city-1.1.0-arm64.dmg status: In Progress
3
1
219
Jun ’25
Basic question: How to renew certificate before it expires
Hello there, Apologies for this most basic question!. We have an iOS application and no developers left to work on it. That is fine as we are not planning on making any changes to the app for a long time, however, we have just received an email stating that our "iOS Distribution Certificate" is due to expire soon. We have looked through the documentation but it is very technical. Firstly, what I am trying to understand is: The only options we have under "Certificates, Identifiers & Profiles" on the Apple Developer web site are "Download" and "Revoke". Do we have to "Revoke" the certificate before creating a new one? If so, won't this stop the released app from working? Is it possible to just re-create the certificates from the Apple Developer web site without re-releasing the iOS app? Or do you have to sign the app with the new certificates in XCode and re-release it? Many thanks!
2
0
9.6k
Jan ’25
Notary service down again?
Is the Notary service unavailable again? The system-status page shows it as being green but I am back to receiving the same error as previously which fixed itself once the notary service went green again and I am unable to notarize and staple my Distribution PKG.
7
0
446
Nov ’25
Implications of an expired distribution certificate
I received an email saying this: Your iOS Distribution Certificate will no longer be valid in 30 days. To generate a new certificate, sign in and visit Certificates, Identifiers & Profiles. If I don't correct that situation, what will be the consequences for my apps' users? The Apple documentation is vague on this, because they seem to automatically assume that I plan to comply and renew the cert. However I don't own a Mac at present, nor an iOS device. My apps are monetarily free, so no financial incentive exists to buy either. If I don't renew the distribution cert again (maybe by borrowing a Mac), will my apps' existing users be adversely affected? FWIW, my apps don't support iCloud in any way. I would also note that the "Certificates, Identifiers & Profiles" section isn't visible anywhere; I'm using Firefox.
2
0
2.7k
Jan ’25
How do you renew distribution certificates and create a cert request
I received this email and i cannot for the life of me figure out how to renew a distritbution certificate and create a request for signature certificate. This is all so confusing and not easy to follow at all. Please help, my distribution certificates expires on October 27th. Dear Daniel, Your Distribution Certificate will no longer be valid in 30 days. To generate a new certificate, sign in and visit Certificates, Identifiers &amp; Profiles. Certificate: Distribution Team ID: M96UCKJQHT To learn more about expired certificates, visit the certificates support page. Best regards, Apple Developer Relations
3
0
9.9k
Jan ’25
Unable to install Audio App Extension on iOS Device
I keep getting this error when trying to install Audio app extension. Everything is reviewed from certificates to profiles, for some reason CreatingCustomAudioEffects sample is deployed correctly but when Creating new Project (Audio Extension App) from new project Option, it doesn't work at all. If I remove Extension from Frameworks and deploy app, then no problem but then App crashes as extension is missing. Something wrong with Xcode? I am pretty sure it used to build new projects but not anymore. Failed to verify code signature of /var/installd/Library/Caches/com.apple.mobile.installd.staging/temp.0k1RXy/extracted/AudioUnitsAppExtensionTest.app : 0xe8008015 (A valid provisioning profile for this executable was not found.) Please ensure sure that your app is signed by a valid provisioning profile. If this issue persists, please attach the following when sending a report to Apple: A sysdiagnose from this Mac A sysdiagnose from the device failing installation An IPA of the app failing installation
4
1
636
Feb ’25
After deploying our app, we encountered an issue where the app fails to launch properly on certain devices.
Hello, After deploying our app, we encountered an issue where the app fails to launch properly on certain devices. To rule out potential code issues, we created a new clean project and tested it with the basic setup (certificate, bundle ID, and team). The app installs and runs fine on most devices, but it fails to open immediately on specific models. (The affected model is listed below.) Version: iOS 18.3.1 Model: iPhone 14 Pro After reviewing the console logs, we found an issue related to the app launching process. Could this issue be related to the app's configuration or the provisioning profile? We would appreciate any insight into why this issue occurs only on certain devices. Thank you for your help!
1
1
421
Feb ’25
Team is not yet configured for notarization. Please contact Developer Programs Support at developer.apple.com under the topic Development and Technical / Other Development or Technical Questions
I had submitted my app for notarization and it shows the below error - "status": "Rejected", "statusSummary": "Team is not yet configured for notarization. Please contact Developer Programs Support at developer.apple.com under the topic Development and Technical / Other Development or Technical Questions.", "statusCode": 7000, I have raised a ticket in the support but no reply yet. Kindly help ASAP
6
1
661
Apr ’25
App Packaging: Error: HTTP status code: 403
Coming from Windows, I'm finding Mac app packaging farcically complicated, to the level of a Python sketch. I mastered Windows packaging, via Inno, in an hour or so, but it has taken me, on and off, the best part of a week to get to the point I am at with the Mac OS, and I'm nowhere near finished (rather, it hasn't finished with me). Every time I surmount one hurdle, another pops up, seemingly just for the jollies. I'm currently stuck at: 'Error: HTTP status code: 403. A required agreement is missing or has expired. This request requires an in-effect agreement that has not been signed or has expired. Ensure your team has signed the necessary legal agreements and that they are not expired.' My account lists no agreements in this category. I understand the need for security, but not the labyrinthine nature of the process. An inner-party member in the former Soviet Union overheard a drunken Stalin say, “I trust no one; not even myself". Apple trusts no one, but has true contempt for developers. Is there a simple way to work through the packaging process? Let me rephrase that: please God, let there be a simpler way of working through the process! Regards, in extremis, Richard
3
0
1.2k
Oct ’25
"Signing certificate" and post-installation assignment fail due to IOPCIPrimaryMatch
I'm having trouble configuring the "IOPCIPrimaryMatch" entitlement. I'm currently developing using "sign to run locally" and have been able to confirm the expected behavior. I was considering signing with "Developer ID Application" for future distribution to customers, but after finding the following forum, I'm now aiming to sign with "Apple Development." https://developer.apple.com/forums/thread/743021 I'm currently having trouble with the IOPCIPrimaryMatch value. The "signing certificate" status in Xcode changes depending on the value, as follows: Successful if the value is as follows: IOPCIPrimaryMatch 0xFFFFFFFF&0x00161916 An error occurs if the value is as follows: IOPCIPrimaryMatch 0xFFFFFFFF&0x00161916 So I tried building and installing using "0xFFFFFFFF&0x00161916", but this time the driver was not assigned to the PCI device. By the way, when I used "sign to run locally", both the installation and assignment were successful with the following: IOPCIPrimaryMatch 0xFFFFFFFF&0x00161916 Could you please tell me the correct way to write this?
13
0
1.3k
1w
Can't Provision A Device
Hi First, I hope I'm in the right place, I'm not certain. I'm having my first attempt at IOS development and want to see the progress I've made on my phone. I plugged it in to my Mac and selected it as a preview device and got the following messages in the Signing & Capabilities screen: Your team has no devices from which to generate a provisioning profile. Connect a device to use or manually add device IDs in Certificates, Identifiers & Profiles. https://developer.apple.com/account/ No profiles for '...' were found: Xcode couldn't find any iOS App Development provisioning profiles matching '...'. My account and personal team are shown in the Xcode settings, but it says 0 Provisioned Devices. I also tried restarting, and enabled developer mode on the phone. I checked the provided link, but saw nowhere to add a device ID. Clearly I don't understand what I'm doing. Can anyone help me make sense of this?
2
0
243
4w