Creating iOS certificates for your App

In this article we describe how to create necessary certificates to publish the App with your Apple Developer Account.

You will need to login in the Apple Developer Portal with your Apple Id and access to Certificates, IDs & Profiles

What you have to send us

After doing all the steps, remember that you have to send us the Push notifications pem file so we can send Push Notifications to the users of your application.

Steps

1. Create the Application App Id 

In Identifiers/App IDs, create the main App Id, with the Bundle Id we will have provided you, similar to xxx.xxxxxxxx.xxxxxxx. Please put something descriptive of the App in App ID Description and the Bundle Id inside "Bundle ID" field inside "Explicit App ID".

It is mandatory to enable the following Services:

  • Data Protection, with the value Complete Protection
  • Push Notifications

2. Create the Push Notification extension App Id

In Identifiers/App IDs, create the App Id for the Push Notification Extension, with another Bundle Id that we will provide you, similar to xxx.xxxxxxxx.xxxxxxx.NotificationServiceExtension. So it's the same Bundle Id than previous section but adding NotificationServiceExtension at the end. Please put something descriptive of the App in App ID Description and the Bundle Id inside "Bundle ID" field inside "Explicit App ID".

It is not needed to enable any services for this App Id, apart from the ones that will be enabled by default.

We use this extension to customize Push Notifications, and Apple requires that it has a separate App Id.

3. Create the Distribution Certificate

In Certificates, if you don't have a Distribution certificate yet, you have to create a new Production certificate of type Apple Distribution (in-house if you are using an Enterprise account). Follow the instructions provided by Apple, and remember to store the private key and its certificate, as both are needed to sign the Application.

4. Create the Provisioning Profiles

In Provisioning Profiles you need to create two, one for each AppId previously created. You may create them as App Store (in-house if you are using an Enterprise account).

5. Create the Application in iTunes Connect (only for distribution through Apple App Store)

If you are going to publish your App in the Apple App Store you may go to iTunes Connect to create the App profile. 

Inside “My Apps”, click on New App and fill the form fields:

  • Platforms. Only “iOS”.
  • Company. This field is only asked when you create your first App and it’s not possible to change later. Be very sure of the value you provide.  It’s your company name that will be shown on the App Store.
  • Name. Title of the App on Apple.
  • Main language. The main language of your App.
  • PackId. Choose the first AppId that we created.
  • SKU. The same BundleId of the first AppId.

6. Create the Push Notifications certificate 

In Certificates, you have to create a new certificate of type Apple Push Notification service SSL (Sandbox & Production) and related to the first App ID that we created.

The instructions are detailed in this article.

You have to send us the Push Certificate downloaded from the Apple Developer Portal and the Private Key, which will use to send Push Notifications to the users of your application