Private Key

Create an .ipa-File from an unsigned archive

Prerequisite: Active membership of the „Apple Enterprise Developer Program“ ($299 per year).

The following steps are required for creating a deployable and signed ipa-file out of an unsigned archive:

  • Certificate of the Apple Developer Account
  • Private key of the certificate
  • Distribution Provisioning Profile
  • Xcode
  • The following section will provide you a step-by-step guide to create the .ipa-file:
    1. Login to your developer account under https://developer.apple.com
    2. Navigate to the Developer Member Center under the section „Certificates, Identifiers & Profiles“ to create your developer certificate (public/private key pair) that is needed for signing the archive
    3. Create a „In-House and ad-Hoc“ certificate by creating a CSR file (Certificate Signing Request) using the KeyChain-Access tool on your Mac
    4. Create a Distribution Provisioning Profile for your certificate and the app that should be deployed
    5. Open Xcode and check if the Distribution Provisioning Profile is installed correctly
    6. Import the unsigned archive into Xcode – the archive should be visible under Window Organizer Archives
    7. Create the .ipa-file by clicking on the „Distribute“ button. Make sure that „Save for Enterprise of Ad-Hoc Deployment“ is selected as the distribution method
    8. Select your certificate under „Code Signing Identity“
    9. Accept the access attempt to your private key from the KeyChain tool
    10. Save the .ipa-file for distribution by selecting „Save for Enterprise Distribution“ and specify an URL and title

    Create RSA Private Key via command line

    Type this line into your consoel:
    openssl genrsa -des3 -out private.key 1024

    The output you will get will look like:
    Generating RSA private key, 1024 bit long modulus
    .........................................................++++++
    ........++++++
    e is 65537 (0x10001)
    Enter PEM pass phrase:

    For the pass phrase you must type in 4 to 1023 characters.

    Now you have to verify your pass phrase:
    Verifying password - Enter PEM pass phrase:

    After this steps your RSA private key has been successfully generated.

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