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HomeSwipecartPublish App / Apple-Specific ArticlesHow to generate an Apple Push Notification service (APNs) Identifier & certificate in iOS?

  • How to generate an Apple Push Notification service (APNs) Identifier & certificate in iOS?

    Learn how to generate an Apple Push Notification certificate to enable sending push notifications to the user’s Apple devices from your app.

    Video Tutorial of Apple Push Notification service



    What is Apple Push Notification service in iOS?

    • Apple Push Notification service (APNs) is a cloud service that allows your app to send push notifications to the user’s Apple devices over a secure connection.
    • An Apple Push Notifications Certificate of your app is required to enable this feature.
    • Let’s see how to generate an APNs certificate in iOS for your app.
    • But before this, you need to create the iOS provisioning profiles.

    Steps to create certificates and provisioning profiles for iOS

    Find your app’s bundle ID

    • Log in to your Apple Developer account.
    • Click on Certificates under Certificates, Identifiers & Profiles in the Program Resources section.

    • Next, click on Identifiers in the sidebar.

    • On the page that opens, copy your app’s explicit Bundle ID.

    • Click on All Identifiers to go back.

    How to register your app’s explicit bundle id for notifications

    • Click on the + button next to Identifiers to create a new Identifier.

    • Check the App IDs and click Continue

    • Select App as a type and again click Continue

    • Now, paste the explicit Bundle ID of your app in the Bundle ID text box. Add the text “.ImageNotification” immediately where the ID ends. Copy this entire text.
    • Paste this explicit Bundle ID text in the Description box.


    💡 Note: Keep the Explicit option checked.


    Scroll down and check these two options

    1. Associated Domains


    2. Push Notifications


    Click on Continue -> Register.


    How to create a Provisioning Profile of Type iOS App Development

    • Click on Profiles in the sidebar. Click on the + button next to Profiles.

    • Check iOS App Development under the Development section and click Continue

    • Select your explicit App ID from the drop-down list (the one which contains Image Notification text attached to the Bundle ID) and click Continue

    • Check the Select All option under Select Certificates and click on Continue

    • Check the Select All option under Select Devices, enable the Include Mac Devices toggle switch, and click Continue.

    • Type “iOS APP Distribution Notification” in the Provisioning Profile Name text box and click on Generate.

    • Click on Download.

    Your provisioning profile for the iOS App Development type is now downloaded.



    How to create the Provisioning Profile of Type App Store

    • Click on All Profiles. Click on the + button next to Profiles.

    • Check App Store under the Distribution section and click Continue.

    • Select your explicit App ID from the drop-down list (the one which contains Image Notification text attached to the Bundle ID) and click Continue

    • Check the latest certificate (by date) and click Continue

    • Type “App store Certificate notification” in the Provisioning Profile Name text box and click Generate.

    • Click Download.

    Your provisioning profile for the App Store type is now downloaded.


    • Email these two provisioning certificates to support@rentechdigital.com. We’ll now use these certificates to generate your app’s APNs.
    • If you still have other questions? Please contact us and we would be pleased to assist you!