Search code examples
iphoneiosxcodeipadxcode4

Certificates, App ID and Provisioning Profile

For submitting an iPhone app to the App Store, we need to create Certificates, App ID and Provisioning Profile.

I often get confused whith these things (even after reading the Apple documentation on http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/ToolsLanguages/Conceptual/DevPortalGuide/Introduction/Introduction.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40011159-CH1-SW1)

So could someone please explain me these things in simple terms.

  1. Can the same certificate be used for multiple apps (and both for dev/distribution) ?
  2. Also I guess App Id is unique for each app. But can the same App ID be used for both dev/distribution ?
  3. For Provisioning Profile, I think we need to create 1 each for Dev/distribution. Correct?

Please explain in simple terms. Thank you.

Solution

  • 1. Can the same certificate be used for multiple apps (and both for dev/distribution) ? No, distribution certificates can't be used for development, especially the App Store profile which can only be used to submit an app.

    2. Also I guess App Id is unique for each app. But can the same App ID be used for both dev/distribution ?

    Yes you can use the same app id for the development, ad-hoc and AppStore.

    3. For Provisioning Profile, I think we need to create 1 each for Dev/distribution. Correct?

    No, you can create a wildecard development profile * as the app bundle id. You can even create a wildcard AppStore profile. Only apps signed with this profile will not be able to use pushnotifications or InApp purchases.