How to Code Sign iOS Applications? Steps and Guide to Follow

Home » A Detailed Guide on How to Code Sign iOS Apps on Apple Developer Program?

All iOS applications have to be digitally signed before they can be installed on real devices or published to the App Store. This is a security measure implemented by Apple for verification of the developer’s identity and to make sure that the app has not been subjected to any kind of modification in any way.

Code signing iOS apps is an important process that ensures the authenticity and integrity of the app and is a requirement for distributing the app through the App Store.

Code signing iOS apps is a process that involves obtaining a code signing certificate from Apple, developing an App ID and then a provisioning profile, and then using Xcode to sign the app. This process is necessary to ensure the authenticity and integrity of the app and that it can be tested and distributed through the App Store.

A few things are needed for code signing an iOS app. Let’s find out what they are.

What is Needed for Code Signing iOS Apps?

These are some of the things that are needed for code-signing iOS apps.

Code Signing Certificate:

This digital certificate is used to sign the app. It can be obtained from Apple by enrolling in the Apple Developer Program and creating a certificate signing request (CSR) in the developer portal. You can do this using the Keychain Access application on your Mac.

An App ID:

This unique identifier identifies your app and associates it with your code signing certificate. It can be created in the developer portal.

A Provisioning Profile:

This collection of digital assets is required to sign, test, and distribute your app. It can be created in the developer portal and associated with your App ID and code signing certificate.

Xcode:

This is a development tool that is used to sign the app. It can be downloaded from the Mac App Store.

Mac:

A mac is required to sign the iOS app because the signing process requires a macOS and Xcode.

A Developer Account:

A developer account is required for accessing the developer portal and downloading the necessary code-signing assets.

Keep in mind that you need to renew the provisioning profile and the developer certificate at least once a year. In case of app development for a client, you should provide them with the appropriate code-signing assets and instructions on how to use them.

Here’s a detailed guide on how to code sign iOS apps.

What are the Steps to Code Sign iOS Apps?

These are the steps to create Code Sign iOS apps.

Step-1: Obtain a Code Signing Certificate

After registering with the Apple Developer Program, an access to the developer portal will be given where you can manage your code signing certificates.

Once you have enrolled, you will need to create a certificate signing request (CSR) file.

To generate a CSR in an iOS app, use of Keychain Access application on a Mac computer must be done Here are the general steps to generate a CSR:

Open the Keychain Access application on your Mac.

In the top menu, select ‘Keychain Access’ > ‘Certificate Assistant’ > ‘Request a Certificate from a Certificate Authority.’

In the ‘User Email Address’ field, enter the email address associated with your Apple developer account.

In the ‘Common Name’ field, enter a name for your app.

In the ‘Request is’ group, select ‘Saved to disk.’

Click on ‘Continue’ and then specify a location to save the CSR file on your computer.

Once the CSR is generated, it will be saved as a .certSigningRequest file.

Submit the CSR to the Apple Developer portal, where you can request a code signing certificate.

After you’ve requested a certificate, Apple will verify your identity and your application details, if approved, you will receive the certificate you can use to sign your application.

Always remember that the generation of CSR may vary depending on the version of Xcode and Keychain Access you are using, and you should refer to the official documentation for the most up-to-date instructions.

The next step is to log in to the developer portal and navigate to the Certificates, Identifiers & Profiles section.

In the Certificates section, click the plus button to create a new certificate.

Click on the App Store and Ad Hoc option and then click Continue.

For uploading your CSR file and generating your code signing certificate, you have to follow the instructions.

Step 2: Create an App ID

Creating an App ID is an important step in the process of developing and deploying an iOS app.

Here is how you can make an App ID for your iOS app code sign:

Navigate to the ‘Certificates, Identifiers & Profiles’ section.

Select ‘App IDs’ under the ‘Identifiers’ section.

For creating a new App ID, select the plus (+) button.

Fill in the ‘Description’ field with a name for your app.

In the ‘Bundle ID’ field, a unique identifier for your app must be specified. This should be in reverse-DNS format, such as ‘com.example.myapp’.

Select the services you want to enable for your app, such as In-App Purchases or push notifications.

Click on ‘Continue’ and then ‘Register’ to create the App ID.

Once the App ID is created, it will appear in the App ID list in the Apple Developer portal.

It’s important to note that the Bundle ID you specify must match the Bundle Identifier of your app in Xcode. If you are developing a distribution version of your app, you will also need to create a distribution certificate and provisioning profile that match the App ID you have created.

You can use the App ID to sign your app, and it will be used to identify your app when it is submitted to the App Store or when it is deployed to devices.

Step 3: Create a Provisioning Profile

A provisioning profile file code signs an iOS app and specify the capabilities and permissions of the app.

Here is the process of creating a provisioning profile for your iOS app code signing:

Navigate to the ‘Certificates, Identifiers & Profiles’ section.

Under the ‘Provisioning Profiles’ section, select ‘All.’

Click on the ‘+’ button to create a new provisioning profile.

Select the provisioning profile type that needs to be created, such as ‘iOS App Development’ or ‘iOS App Store.’

Click on the App ID created earlier that matches your app.

Select the certificate you want to use for code signing.

Choose the devices you want to deploy the app to, or use an existing device group if you have one.

Give the profile a name, and click on ‘Generate’ to create the profile.

Download the provisioning profile and add it to your Xcode project.

In Xcode, go to the project’s general settings, and under the ‘Signing & Capabilities’ section, select the freshly created provisioning profile for signing your app.

Note that one has to renew the provisioning profile every year, or it will expire, and you will need to create a new one. Also, you will need to create different provisioning profiles for different stages of development, such as development, testing and production, but the steps to create a provisioning profile are similar in each stage.

Step 4: Sign your Application

Open your project in Xcode.
Go to the ‘General’ tab and select your provisioning profile from the ‘Signing’ section.
Build your app and then test it on a device using the provisioning profile.

Step 5: Test and Distribute your Application

After signing your app, it can be tested on a device using the provisioning profile.
Once the app is good to go, it can be submitted to the App Store and then distributed.

Always remember that you need to renew the provisioning profile and the developer certificate at least once a year. In addition, if an app is being created for a client, you should provide them with the appropriate code signing assets and instructions on how to use them.

This process helps to ensure that all apps on the App Store are from a known and trusted source, which helps to protect users from malicious software and other security threats.

So this is how iOS apps are code-signed. But do you know why code signing in iOS apps is important? Let’s find out.

Reasons Why Code Signing in iOS Apps Important

Here are a few reasons why code signing iOS apps is important:

Validation

By signing your code, Apple can validate that the app was developed by a registered developer and that the code has not been tampered with. This helps to prevent malicious code from being distributed through the App Store.

Security

Code Signing Certificate helps to ensure that the app is secure and can only be run by authorized users. It ensures that the app has not been subjected to any kind of modification or tampering in any way since the developer signed it.

Distribution

Only signed apps can be distributed through the App Store. This ensures that the app is secure and a verified developer has developed it.

User Trust

When an app is signed, it provides a level of trust and confidence to the end user that the app is legitimate and has not been tampered with. This can increase the number of downloads and improve user satisfaction.

Protection

Code signing helps to protect the developer’s intellectual property rights and assures that the app can only be run on authorized devices. This can help to prevent piracy and unauthorized distribution of the app.

So, signing your code for an iOS app is important!

Get Your iOS App Code-Signed!

Code signing is an important security feature for iOS and iPadOS apps. It ensures that the app has not been subjected to any kind of modification or tampering in any way since the developer signed it. We hope the above-mentioned steps help you code sign the iOS app efficiently.