What happens if my distribution certificate expires?

ios certificate app-store code-signing certificate-expiry
Timur Mustafaev picture Timur Mustafaev · Sep 8, 2013 · Viewed 41.6k times · Source

My certificate will expire in 4 days, and I've uploaded for submission new app version with the new certificate. What happens if the old certificate expires? Will users be available do download my app with old certificate, or will Apple remove my app until the new certificate is provided?

Answer

9to5ios picture 9to5ios · Sep 8, 2013

What happens if my certificate expires or has been revoked?

Apple Push Notification Service Certificate

You can no longer send push notifications to your app.

Pass Type ID Certificate (Passbook)

If your certificate expires, passes that are already installed on users' devices will continue to function normally. However, you will no longer be able to sign new passes or send updates to existing passes. If your certificate has been revoked, your passes will no longer function properly.

iOS Distribution Certificate (App Store)

If your iOS Developer Program membership is valid, your existing apps on the App Store will not be affected. However, you will no longer be able to submit new apps or updates to the App Store.

iOS Distribution Certificate (In-house, Internal Use Apps)

Users will no longer be able to run apps that have been signed with this certificate. You must distribute a new version of your app that is signed with a new certificate.

Mac App Distribution Certificate and Mac Installer Distribution Certificate (Mac App Store)

If your Mac Developer Program membership is valid, your existing apps on the Mac App Store will not be affected. However, you will no longer be able to submit new apps or updates to the Mac App Store.

Developer ID Application Certificate and Developer ID Installer Certificate (Mac Applications)

If your certificate expires, users can still download, install, and run versions of your Mac applications that were signed with this certificate. However, you will need a new certificate to sign updates and new applications. If your certificate has been revoked, users will no longer be able to install applications that have been signed with this certificate.

Original Source Apple Doc

Related questions

Xcode 6 App Store submission fails with "Your account already has a valid iOS distribution certificate"

I'm using the latest XCode (6.1) and I need to submit the app as soon as possible, but I can't seem to get around the "Your account already has a valid iOS distribution certificate" error. I have the client's provisioning profile …

Read More
How do third party iOS AppStores (tongbu,sibche, etc.) sign & install Apps?

I've recently evidenced a set of third party illegal appstores that re-distibute iOS apps. These online stores are able to install free Appstore apps (i.e. Facebook, Google Map, etc.) or their own apps on non-jailbroken devices. Regarding the fact …

Read More
How can I deploy an iPhone application from Xcode to a real iPhone device?

How can I deploy an iPhone application from Xcode to real iPhone device without having a US$99 Apple certificate?

Read More