Set up APNs push certificates

Last updated 10/02/2026

1. Create an app

1.1 Go to the Apple Developer portal

Go to the Apple Developer website and sign in with your developer account.

1.2 Open the certificate management page

1.3 Create a new app

If you already have an app, skip this step.

The app is created.

2. Method 1: Authenticate with a .p12 certificate

2.1 Create a push certificate

Select the App ID you created above.

Upload the CSR file generated by Certificate Assistant on your computer.

Choose Keychain Access > Certificate Assistant > Request a Certificate From a Certificate Authority...

Set a password for the exported certificate, and export the certificate to your desktop.

3. Method 2: Authenticate with an APNs Auth Key

The Auth Key method works in both development and production environments and does not expire. All App IDs under the same developer account can share one key.

3.1 Create an Auth Key

Note: The key file can be downloaded only once, so make sure to keep it safe.

The downloaded file has a .p8 extension.

Note:

• A .p8 file is usually used together with the Bundle ID of a specific project.
• The part after the underscore in the default name of a .p8 file is the Key ID of the current key.