Background: I have some existing apps in the App Store and I have just renewed my Apple Developer Program membership.
Appreciate if someone can help with these questions:
Is it necessary to release an update for each of my apps, compiled with a new distribution profile and signed with a new distribution certificate?
If I don't do the above (1), will my apps expire and disappear from the App Store?
Will a user who has previously downloaded my app, but have yet to install the update, be able to use my app even after its distribution profile has expired?
I found a related question, but it doesn't specifically address the above questions: How can I update my App in the App Store if the Distribution Provisioning Profile expired?
Distribution Certificates Must Be Renewed Periodically A distribution certificate is valid for one year from date of issue. After it expires, you won't be able sign and install apps on your devices although this will not affect any existing apps in the App Store.
If your certificate expires, passes that are already installed on users' devices will continue to function normally. However, you'll no longer be able to sign new passes or send updates to existing passes. If your certificate is revoked, your passes will no longer function properly.
Go to “developer.apple.com”, login to your account, select “Certificates, IDs & Profiles”. Select "App Store and Ad Hoc" from the Production options and click Continue. Now you'll get the option to upload the CSR file you generated. Select that file and click on generate.
First off, yes, you do still need an Apple Developer account if you want to distribute your app in the App Store. Sorry to get your hopes up, but there's no getting around it. The good news is that you can develop and test your apps on your iOS device without a paid Apple Developer account.
Click Apple Push Certificates portal. In the new tab, sign in to the Apple portal with the Apple ID and password you used when you created the certificate. Next to the certificate you want to renew, click Renew and accept the terms of use.
1. No, your apps are there to stay on the app store. Distribution profiles do not expire until you force them to. Even then, the expiration only keeps you from submitting new apps with that certificate. It does not effect pre-existing applications.
2. Nope! Jeez, that'd suck...
3. Yes. Apple actually applies their own certificate to your app once it is submitted. Your distribution certificate only goes as far as Apple's verification process.
You're good friend. No need to freak out. The provisioning/signing/profile process is a pain in the a**, but fortunately for us we don't have to worry about things like this.
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