Apple iOS Distribution

Setting up iOS distribution requires an Apple Developer account and several signing files. Follow each step in order.

Before starting, make sure you’ve completed the shared Prerequisites in App Configuration.

1. Enroll in the Apple Developer Program

If you haven’t already, enroll at developer.apple.com/programs. The annual membership ($99/year) is required to distribute apps on the App Store.

2. Create an App ID

An App ID (bundle identifier) uniquely identifies your app on the App Store.

Go to developer.apple.com/account/resources/identifiers
Click the + button to register a new identifier
Select App IDs and click Continue
Select App as the type and click Continue
Enter a Description (e.g., “My Streaming App”) and an Explicit Bundle ID (e.g., com.yourcompany.yourapp)
Click Register

3. Create a Distribution Certificate

A distribution certificate signs your app binary so Apple can verify it came from you.

Go to developer.apple.com/account/resources/certificates
Click the + button to create a new certificate
Select Apple Distribution and click Continue
You’ll need a Certificate Signing Request (CSR). On your Mac, open Keychain Access → Certificate Assistant → Request a Certificate from a Certificate Authority
Enter your email, leave CA Email blank, select Saved to disk, and click Continue
Upload the .certSigningRequest file to the Apple Developer portal and click Continue
Download the generated .cer file and double-click it to install in Keychain Access

Export as .p12

The build system needs the certificate in .p12 format (which includes the private key).

Open Keychain Access on your Mac
In the login keychain, find your distribution certificate under My Certificates (it will say “Apple Distribution: Your Name”)
Right-click the certificate and select Export
Choose Personal Information Exchange (.p12) as the format
When prompted for a password, leave the password field blank and click OK. The build system expects a .p12 exported with no password.
Save the .p12 file

4. Create an App Store Connect API Key

The API key allows the build system to upload your app to App Store Connect and manage TestFlight.

Go to appstoreconnect.apple.com/access/integrations/api
Click the + button to generate a new key
Enter a name (e.g., “CI Build Key”) and select the App Manager role
Click Generate
Download the .p8 key file immediately — you can only download it once
Note the Key ID (shown in the keys list) and the Issuer ID (shown at the top of the page)

5. Upload iOS Assets

Upload your signing files to the platform:

In the admin panel, go to App Studio → Distribution → iOS
Upload the following files:

File	Description
`.p12`	Distribution certificate
`.p8`	App Store Connect API key

6. Configure iOS Build Settings

In App Studio → Distribution → iOS, enter the following settings:

Setting	Value	Example
Bundle ID	The bundle identifier registered in step 2	`com.yourcompany.yourapp`
Development Team ID	Your Apple Developer team ID (10-character alphanumeric)	`WUZNCH97X6`
API Key ID	The Key ID from step 4	`ABC1234DEF`
API Key Issuer ID	The Issuer ID from step 4	`12345678-...`

Troubleshooting

”Bundle ID is required for Apple distribution”

The Bundle ID has not been set. Go to App Studio → Distribution → iOS and enter your Bundle ID (e.g., com.yourcompany.yourapp). This must match the App ID registered in your Apple Developer account. See step 2 above.

”Unable to authenticate with App Store Connect”

The API key credentials are incorrect. Double-check:

The API Key ID and Issuer ID in App Configuration
The uploaded .p8 file matches the key ID
The API key has the App Manager role in App Store Connect