The certificate, a code-signing certificate, is a public/private key pair identifier. This identifier is needed to assure that the correct user and/or team has access to the application during development and testing.
An Apple Developer certificate can be created through Xcode or the Apple Developer portal. Instructions for both methods are listed below.
Create a Developer Certificate with Xcode
To create an iOS Developer Certificate through Xcode:
- Launch Xcode.
- Click on the Xcode dropdown menu, select Preferences.
- Select Accounts.
- On the Sign in with your App ID dialog, enter log in credentials and click Sign In.
- On the bottom left of the Apple IDs panel, click the + (plus) button.
- On the Select which type of account you want to create dialog, select Apple ID and click Continue.
- If prompted, sign in with Apple ID credentials.
- Click on Manage Certificates.
- On the Signing certificates for "User's Name", click the + (plus) button and from the dropdown menu select iOS Development.
Xcode will create the iOS Development Certificate and add it to the Certificates page on the Apple Developer Program. - The certificate will automatically be loaded to the Keychain Access app. To confirm, click login and check that the iPhone Developer:Name(Certificate Number) is present.
Create a Developer Certificate with Apple Developer Program
Create a Certificate Signing Request
The CSR contains information needed to create the iOS Development Certificate.
- Launch Keychain Access.
- From the Keychain Access dropdown, select Certificate Assistant > Request a Certificate from an existing CA.
- On the Certificate Assistant dialog, fill the following fields:
- User Email Address: User email address
- Common Name: User's name
- CA Email Address: Leave empty
- Request is: Saved to Disk
- Click Continue.
- Select a location to save and click Save.
To create an iOS Development Certificate through the Apple Developer Account:
- Log into your developer.apple.com account and click on Certificates, Identifiers & Profiles.
- On the left, select Certificates.
- Click the blue plus button.
- On the top right, click the + (plus) button.
- On the Create a New Certificate page, under Software select iOS App Development and click Continue.
- Upload the Certificate Signing Request (CSR) and click Continue.
- On the Download your certificate page, Download the certificate and double click the .cer file to upload it to Keychain Access.
The certificate will also be added the Certificates list on the Apple Developer Account.
Once the certificate is created, through Xcode or the Apple Developer Program verify:
- On Keychain Access, verify that a small green circle with a check mark followed by This certificate is valid is listed among the certificate's details.
- A disclosure triangle is present to the left of the certificate. If the triangle is not visible, the private key is missing.
