Understanding Code Sign Errors: A Deep Dive into Provisioning Profiles

Introduction

When working with iOS or macOS projects, it’s common to encounter errors related to code signing. One such error is the “Code Sign error: No unexpired provisioning profiles found that contain any of the keychain’s signing certificates” message. This issue can be frustrating, especially when trying to submit projects to the App Store. In this article, we’ll delve into the world of provisioning profiles and explore why this error occurs.

What are Provisioning Profiles?

A provisioning profile is a digital certificate that allows developers to distribute their apps on iOS or macOS devices. It’s essentially a map between the developer’s team ID and the app’s bundle identifier. When you create an app, you need to obtain a provisioning profile from Apple Developer, which contains your team ID and other necessary information.

Understanding Bundle Identifiers

A bundle identifier is a unique string that identifies an app or library on a device. It’s used by iOS and macOS to distinguish between apps or libraries with the same name but different functionalities. When you create an app, you need to specify a unique bundle identifier in your project settings.

The Role of Provisioning Profiles and Bundle Identifiers

When it comes to code signing, the provisioning profile and bundle identifier are closely related. The provisioning profile contains information about the developer’s team ID, which is associated with the app’s bundle identifier. This association allows iOS or macOS to authenticate the app and ensure that it meets certain security standards.

Why Do We Get the “No Unexpired Provisioning Profiles” Error?

The error message indicates that no unexpired provisioning profiles were found that contain any of the keychain’s signing certificates. To understand this, let’s take a closer look at what happens during code signing:

When you try to code sign an app, Xcode uses your Keychain to retrieve a certificate that corresponds to the app’s bundle identifier.
The provisioning profile associated with the Keychain contains information about the developer’s team ID and other relevant details.
During the code signing process, Xcode verifies that the provisioning profile matches the bundle identifier specified in the project settings.

If no unexpired provisioning profiles are found that contain any of the keychain’s signing certificates, it means that either:

The provisioning profile is expired or has been revoked
The Keychain does not have a valid certificate associated with the app’s bundle identifier
There are multiple provisioning profiles installed on your system, but none match the app’s bundle identifier

How to Fix the “No Unexpired Provisioning Profiles” Error

To resolve this issue, follow these steps:

1. Check Your Provisioning Profile Settings

Ensure that you’re selecting the correct provisioning profile for your project.

Open Xcode and navigate to the Project navigator.
Click on the General tab in the project settings.
Look for the Provisioning Profile section and verify that it matches the one specified in the Keychain.

2. Verify Your Bundle Identifier

Double-check that your bundle identifier is correct and matches the one specified in the provisioning profile.

Open Xcode and navigate to the Project navigator.
Click on the Signing & Capabilities tab in the project settings.
Look for the Bundle Identifier field and verify that it matches the one specified in the provisioning profile.

3. Update Your Provisioning Profile

If you’ve installed a new provisioning profile, make sure to update your project settings to reflect the changes.

Open Xcode and navigate to the Project navigator.
Click on the General tab in the project settings.
Look for the Provisioning Profile section and verify that it’s updated with the latest version.

4. Remove Duplicate Provisioning Profiles

If you have multiple provisioning profiles installed on your system, remove any duplicates to avoid conflicts.

Open the Keychain Access app (located in Applications/Utilities) on your Mac.
Navigate to Certificates and look for duplicate certificates that match your team ID.
Delete any unnecessary certificates to resolve potential conflicts.

5. Verify Keychain Configuration

Ensure that your Keychain is configured correctly by verifying the presence of a valid certificate associated with your app’s bundle identifier.

Open Xcode and navigate to the Project navigator.
Click on the Signing & Capabilities tab in the project settings.
Look for the Certificates section and verify that it contains a valid certificate associated with your team ID.

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the “Code Sign error: No unexpired provisioning profiles found that contain any of the keychain’s signing certificates” message.

Last modified on 2024-02-23