How to Resolve Apple Distribution Certificate Issues

Introduction

The common issues with Apple Distribution Certificates are expiration warnings or generation errors. By following the instructions, you will learn how to clear your certificates on your Apple Developer account, delete the current signing certificates, and generate new ones.

Clear Certificates on Your Apple Developer Account

1. Visit your Apple Developer Account and log in.
2. Navigate to the Certificates, Identifiers & Profiles section.
3. Follow the instructions provided in the video guide to clear existing certificates.
   • Reference: Video Tutorial on Clearing Certificates
     

Delete Current Signing Certificates

1. In the Certificates, Identifiers & Profiles section, locate your current distribution certificates.
2. Delete the existing signing certificates to remove the outdated or pending requests.
   

Create New Distribution Certificates

1. Follow the documented process to generate new distribution certificates.
2. Ensure you adhere to all guidelines provided by Apple during certificate creation.
3. Refer to the detailed article on certificate renewal for complete step-by-step instructions.
   

Verify Impact on Live and Test Builds

1. Note that any live apps will remain unaffected by the new certificate.
2. Existing test builds will need to be recreated to reflect the new certificate.

Note: You can refer to this Article for the complete steps on how to do it.

Troubleshooting and FAQs

Q: What error messages might I encounter with distribution certificates?
A: Common errors include:

• “Your Distribution Certificate will no longer be valid in 30 days. To generate a new certificate, sign in and visit Certificates, Identifiers & Profiles.”
  
• “There was a problem generating your release app signing certificate: There is a problem with the request entity. You already have a current Distribution certificate or a pending certificate request.”
  

Q: What should I do if clearing certificates does not resolve the issue?
A: Ensure you have properly deleted the current signing certificates and then follow the certificate creation process accurately. Review Apple’s documentation and the referenced tutorial for further guidance.