iOS App Signing, Re-Signing, and Test Installation

After an IPA file is compiled or modified, it must be re-signed to be installed on test devices or submitted to the App Store for review.

Ipaguard provides cross-platform signing and re-signing capabilities, running on Windows, macOS, and Linux. After IPA obfuscation and protection, the app can be signed and directly installed on a test device to verify the obfuscation effect.

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Testing Phase vs. Release Phase

Phase 1: Testing and Configuration

• After configuring the content to obfuscate, click Process to install on the device
• Use a development testing certificate and test provisioning profile
• The provisioning profile must include the test device’s UDID to allow installation

Phase 2: Release

• After testing is successful, replace the test certificate and provisioning profile with the release certificate and release provisioning profile
• Click Process to generate the final IPA
• Release IPA cannot be directly installed on devices; it must be submitted to the App Store

⚠️ Note: The provisioning profile’s Bundle ID must match the IPA’s Bundle ID

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Open the IPA File to Process

Enter the path of the IPA to be re-signed (you can select import and export paths).

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Configure Signing Certificate and Provisioning Profile

Steps:

• Use a development certificate for testing phase to easily install on devices
• Use a release certificate and release provisioning profile for App Store submission
• Special permissions can be set using entitlement profiles
• Check Install to Device, connect the iPhone via USB, and the device will be automatically recognized
  • If not recognized, install iTunes or iOS drivers first

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Start iOS IPA Re-Signing

Steps:

• Click Start Processing
• Ipaguard will attempt to install the IPA on the device automatically
• If using a release certificate with the install option checked, installation may fail, but the IPA will still be generated for App Store submission