SOLVED -- Invalid Provisioning File, Missing Code Signing Certificate, Problems with Bundle name

Cruncher · February 2014

Guys, I'm a complete beginner when it comes to the app stuff and at last I sorted mine (and yours!) problems out and I'm happy to share with you my solution as learning & figuring out how to successfully upload an app to the AppStore cost me many hours.

First of all you need to check if your Development and Distribution certificates are correct. I learned it is essential to create the request using the email address and the Name Surname used while registering for the developer account with Apple. I had a mistake there and that's one of the reasons why I couldn't upload my app (for advice how to do it, check GS's cookbook: -- all works).

When you get this error "Missing Code Signing Certificate" while trying to upload your app, it basically means that the right certificate is not installed on your mac. When right means belonging to the person who has the Apple Developer account.
So one more time - please log in to and check your account settings (email + name used).

The next step is creating provisioning profiles based on the correct certificates. You also do it here: , as explained in the CookBook (this same link as above).
If the certs are incorrect, you won't be able to sign your app as the prov. profiles also will be incorrect!

When the certs and profile are set up, you need to download and install them (give them a click and that's it; but you have to have Xcode).

Now you can go to your GameSalad portfolio and click "generate app" (after choosing the device from the left hand side menu).
When you are prompted to sign the app, choose from the list the newly created DISTRIBUTION certificate. All should be fine provided you did set up your certs and profiles correctly.

Launch the Application loader and select the app you want to send. The app information has to be already in the your iTunes connect account - there's a chapter in the CookBook how to do it. You won't be able to upload the app if this information is not there. Click next and voila!

The only problem was a warning I got, but I'll contact GS about it:

And lastly - if you also had a problem with the bundle ID - you need to make sure that the one you set up in the web publisher
():

is exactly the same as the one set up in your :

Good luck, let me know if it helped you!

FuzzBuzz · February 2014

Man... i'm still stuck i get "missing code signing certificate", how do i get that ?

Cruncher · February 2014

Hi FuzzBuzz, I know it can be irritating when it comes to all this error messages, I went through it all. First I'd suggest removing all the currently installed certs (do it through keychain) so you won't be confused when you install the correct ones. Then go to your and create new app ID - it had to have this same bundle ID you created in GS. Then create new provisioning profiles - for development and distribution. GS say that you can create one for all the future apps but it didn't work for me so I create new profiles for every app. While creating the profiles you'll be asked about the app ID - that's why you need to create if first. Then just download the new profiles, click them (that's enough to install), and make sure you choose correct distribution profile while signing your app. And that's really it. If you're still getting the error msg it only means that there's a problem either with the certs you created (so you have to do it again paying attention) or that you chose the wrong distribution cert while signing the app.
Good luck!

Cruncher · February 2014

and the certificate - sorry; make sure they are up to date in , with all data valid, then download and install them (again - remove the old ones from your computer before doing it). This has to be done before provisional profiles are created as this all is linked together. Hope it helps.

FuzzBuzz · February 2014

Thanks a ton Cruncher ! But i'm a little confused about this :
- I've created my app on the itunes manage your app and it's in " waiting for upload "
- When i try to create a new certificate the button " iOS App Development " in unclickable
i can only choose " Apple Push Notification service SSL (Sandbox) " or the production choices.
Why is that ?

FuzzBuzz · February 2014

i'm afraid that if i delete the last cert that i won't be able to create another one...

Cruncher · February 2014

I know what you mean - I went through this as well! Am I right guessing that you currently have more than 4 certs in your ? I discovered there's only a limited amount of certificates you can have but believe me - two (dev & dist) are absolutely enough. So remove these you don't need, or even all of them and create fresh ones again - following the instructions from GS's tutorial I mentioned in my post - they are good and detailed. FuzzBuzz - now I see before I asked you to go to itunnes connect to do this stuff - I meant , sorry for that, I've amended the previous comments!

FuzzBuzz · February 2014

ok don't worry about that

And for my certs i've only got ONE in my certificates, ONE in my identifiers app id and ONE in my provisioning profile under development. So if i understand correctly, i'm missing a few. But if i can't create anymore this looks like bad news...

Cruncher · February 2014

ok, so that's the answer to your problem - you need 2 certificates - 1 for development and 1 for distribution - you're missing the distribution one. The provisioning profiles also have to be for dev & dist, you can create many of them.

Cruncher · February 2014

remember that you sign your app with a DISTRIBUTION profile - you need to have it.

FuzzBuzz · February 2014

yeah i though so... but the problem is that they bring me back to the " What certificate de you need " page but i can't click on developer, here take a look

Cruncher · February 2014

do you already have a dev iOS certificate created? If so, you might not be able to create a new one; you need to update the existing one or remove it and start fresh

FuzzBuzz · February 2014

ok so i'll just star fresh. do i have to delete all the certs in my keychain access as well?

Cruncher · February 2014

it's better to do so, they say

FuzzBuzz · February 2014

it's not possible ! I've erased EVERYTING and made all the new certs and provisioning profiles like you said and i still get that stupid message ! I can't see a way out of this mess ! I feel like all the work i've done was for nothing. This is ridiculous... Do you know if apple has got a Phone Contact number cause e-mailing them is getting me nowhere. Thanks for all the help anyway Cruncher I really appreciated it

Cruncher · February 2014

oh, sorry to hear that. I created loads of these certs and profiles before I got it right - you really have to make sure there's no mistake while creating them... I don't know the phone number.

Cruncher · February 2014

any luck, FuzzBuzz?

FuzzBuzz · February 2014

No... no luck for the moment...

I'll try calling them tomorrow

FuzzBuzz · March 2014

Finally found the problem !!!

i was uploading the wrong app id when getting signing my game on game salad lol what a relief hahaha. Cause they both had the name of my game so i didn't even question it. Thanks again for the tips Cruncher

Cruncher · March 2014

Good to hear it and good luck with your app!

PhilipCC · March 2014

@Cruncher‌ After I renewed my Apple Developer Membership, I renewed my Developer Certificate and Distribution Certificate, but neglected to download the Distribution Certificate.

So, when I tested AdHoc builds in GameSalad I used bogus App IDs and signed with my Developer Profile or Team profile which was fine for testing.

But, when I tried to complete an App Store build with an App ID created in the Provisioning Portal, and with a Distribution Profile (xxx.mobileprovision file) installed in Xcode, also set up in iTunes Connect, GS it kept rejecting it.

Then I tried signing with my Developer Profile and Application Loader rejected the upload. Error ITMS–9000: "Invalid Provisioning Profile…..[Missing code-signing certificate.]

Your post helped quite a bit in sorting this out, except that since the the Provisioning Profile Menu was deleted in Xcode 5, I could not find a way to check what certificates I had that were valid and installed in Xcode.

Keychain Access showed that I had valid Developer and Distribution Certificates, but it does not show Provisioning Profiles.

The Provisioning Portal showed valid Developer and Distribution Certificates, and a bunch of current AdHoc and Store Provisioning Profiles, including the one I was trying to use?

I have been going in circles for days repeating the GS CookBook instructions, watching Tshirt Booth's and Braydon's videos, reading the Apple Developer Guidelines and searching the forums.

Finally today I found your post just by chance and a link from LumpApps in another post about Mavericks.

What the link LumpApps post amounts to guys is this:

Launch Xcode and follow the path Preferences>Accounts (which displays your Developer info) > View Details (your Signing Identities and Provisioning Profiles will all be displayed).

HERE IS THE TRICK - Hit the refresh button in the bottom left corner and Xcode will update everything you have set up in the Provisioning Portal.

In my case it added the missing master Distribution Certificate.

App now successfully uploaded and waiting review.

Cruncher · June 2014

I also noticed that creating Wildcard App IDs DO NOT work (at least for me!); it's necessary to create unique IDs for each app...

SOLVED -- Invalid Provisioning File, Missing Code Signing Certificate, Problems with Bundle name

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