iPhone Developer Certificate is Not Trusted in Keychain

If you’re an iOS developer, you may have encountered the frustrating issue where your iPhone developer certificate is not trusted in Keychain. This problem can cause significant delays and interruptions in your development workflow, especially when you're in the middle of a project. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the causes of this issue, provide detailed troubleshooting steps, and offer solutions to help you resolve it effectively.

Understanding the Issue

The iPhone developer certificate is a crucial part of the iOS development process. It is issued by Apple and is used to sign applications so they can be installed and tested on physical devices. When you receive an error stating that your developer certificate is not trusted, it typically means that Keychain, the macOS password management system, does not recognize the certificate or its associated trust settings.

Key Points to Consider:

• Certificate Expiry: Developer certificates have a validity period, and if they expire, they will no longer be trusted.
• Incorrect Installation: Sometimes the certificate might not be installed correctly in Keychain.
• Trust Settings: Trust settings for certificates can sometimes be misconfigured, leading to trust issues.
• System Updates: Changes in macOS or Xcode updates might affect certificate trust settings.

Causes and Solutions

Here are the most common causes of the issue and their respective solutions:

1. Certificate Expiry

Cause: Developer certificates are valid for a specific period, usually one year. After this period, the certificate needs to be renewed. If the certificate has expired, it will no longer be trusted.

Solution: Check the expiration date of your certificate. To do this:

1. Open Keychain Access.
2. Locate your developer certificate under the "My Certificates" category.
3. Check the expiration date.

If the certificate is expired, you need to renew it through your Apple Developer account:

1. Log in to the Apple Developer portal.
2. Navigate to "Certificates, Identifiers & Profiles."
3. Select the expired certificate and follow the instructions to create a new certificate.
4. Download and install the new certificate.

2. Incorrect Installation

Cause: Sometimes, certificates might not be installed correctly or might not be fully trusted due to improper installation.

Solution: Reinstall the certificate:

1. Open Keychain Access.
2. Delete the problematic certificate by right-clicking on it and selecting "Delete."
3. Re-download the certificate from your Apple Developer account.
4. Double-click the certificate file to add it to Keychain.
5. Make sure it is added to the "login" keychain and not any other keychain.

3. Trust Settings Misconfiguration

Cause: Trust settings for the certificate may be incorrectly configured, causing Keychain to not recognize it as valid.

Solution: Configure trust settings:

1. Open Keychain Access.
2. Locate the developer certificate and double-click on it.
3. In the certificate details window, expand the "Trust" section.
4. Set the "When using this certificate" option to "Always Trust."
5. Close the window and enter your Keychain password to save the changes.

4. System Updates

Cause: Updates to macOS or Xcode can sometimes affect certificate trust settings or introduce compatibility issues.

Solution: Ensure that your system and Xcode are up to date:

1. Open the Mac App Store and check for macOS updates.
2. Open Xcode and check for updates.
3. Restart your computer after updating to ensure that all changes take effect.

Additional Troubleshooting Tips

1. Verify Keychain Integrity: Occasionally, Keychain itself may have issues. You can use the Keychain First Aid tool in Keychain Access to verify and repair your Keychain.

   • Open Keychain Access.
   • Go to "Keychain Access" in the menu bar and select "Keychain First Aid."
   • Run the verification and repair process.

2. Check Developer Account Status: Ensure that your Apple Developer account is active and in good standing. Sometimes issues with your account can affect certificate validity.

3. Consult Documentation and Support: If you continue to face issues, refer to the Apple Developer Documentation or contact Apple Developer Support for further assistance.

Conclusion

Dealing with an untrusted iPhone developer certificate in Keychain can be a significant obstacle, but with the right troubleshooting steps, you can resolve the issue effectively. By understanding the common causes and applying the appropriate solutions, you can get back to developing and testing your iOS applications without unnecessary delays. Remember to keep your certificates updated and properly configured to avoid similar issues in the future.

Summary

By following the steps outlined above, you can address the issue of an untrusted iPhone developer certificate in Keychain. Whether the problem is due to an expired certificate, incorrect installation, misconfigured trust settings, or system updates, each solution provides a pathway to restore proper certificate trust. Maintaining an updated and correctly configured development environment is crucial for a smooth development process.