What to Do When Receiving a Distribution Certificate Expiration Message from Apple

You may occasionally receive the following message from Apple:

Subject: Action Needed: Distribution Certificate Expires in 30 Day

Dear XXX,

Your Distribution Certificate will no longer be valid in 30 days. To generate a new certificate, sign in and visit Certificates, Identifiers & Profiles.

Certificate: Distribution
Team ID: YGJ8M4XXX

To learn more about expired certificates, visit the certificates support page.

Best regards,
Apple Developer Relations

Receiving an expiration message for your Apple Distribution Certificate may cause concern. However, understanding the implications and taking appropriate action is crucial for a seamless app experience on the App Store. This guide provides essential steps to address the issue effectively.

Solution:

Ignoring the Expiration Message

The iOS distribution certificate allows apps to be published live on the App Store. If your Apple Developer Program membership is valid, your existing app on the App Store will not be affected by an expired certificate. However, uploading new apps or updates signed with the expired or revoked certificate will no longer be possible. Don't worry, we will automatically generate a new certificate during your app's next update. The key point is to maintain an active Apple Developer Program membership and promptly accept any updated agreements.

Note:

To ensure a smooth app publishing process, it is important to address any outstanding agreements and keep your Apple Developer Program membership active.
To avoid any app disruptions, consider enabling auto-renew on your Apple account by following the instructions found here.

Conclusion:

When you receive an expiration message for your Distribution Certificate, rest assured that your existing app on the App Store will remain unaffected. We will handle the generation of a new certificate during your app's next update. Simply focus on maintaining an active Apple Developer Program membership and promptly accepting updated agreements. If you need further assistance, feel free to reach out to our support team.

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