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Apple Account

Create an Apple account​

In case you don't have an Apple ID, you would need to create an Apple account:

  • Go to Apple website to Create Your Apple ID
  • Fill all the details and then select Continue
  • Verify the email used and the phone number that you have used
  • After you have successfully verified the details you will be directed to the manage account screen

Create an Apple developer account​

To create an Apple account you would need to follow the steps below

Enroll Program
  • You will be directed to the next screen which will give details of What You Need To Enroll
  • After reading What You Need To Enroll instructions and making a decision if you need to enroll as an Individual or an Organization, click on Start Your Enrollment
  • You can download Apple developer app on the App Store to continue with the sign up on iPhone/iPad or you can Continue enrollment on the web
  • You will be required to fill out the personal information then select Continue.
  • Select the entity type for the developer account you wish to create then click Continue.
  • On the legal agreement between your organization and Apple screen you can read the agreement.
  • After reading and you agree to be bound by the Apple Developer Program License Agreement, you can tick the checkbox and click Continue
  • On the Purchase the membership screen, confirm the details of the membership period and the membership amount then click Purchase
  • After clicking Purchase you will be directed to Complete Your Order Screen where you will fill out your card details and address details and click Continue
  • You will successfully create a developer account.

Generate APNS certificate for iOS Push Notifications​

Apple Push Notification Service (commonly referred to as Apple Notification Service or APNS) is a platform service created by Apple Inc. that enables third party application developers to send push notifications to iOS users. You must have a Paid Apple Developer account to create certificates. Below are the steps to create .p12 certificate required to send push notifications.

Create an App ID​

  • Log in to your Apple Developer account
  • Click Certificates, Identifiers and Profiles you will be directed to Certificates, Identifiers and Profiles screen
APNs step 1
  • Select iOS, tvOS, watchOS from the dropdown
APNs step 2
  • Select App IDs from the side menu and create a new App ID by clicking the add icon
APNs step 3
  • Enter the App name, Bundle ID and select Push Notifications, then Continue
APNs step 4
  • After being directed to the next screen click Register, then Done to complete app registration
APNs step 5
  • Now, you can see the app listed in App IDs

Generate a Certificate from Keychain Access​

Generating a certificate from Keychain Access requires macOS

  • Open Spotlight by pressing Command ⌘+Space
  • Search for Keychain Access and press on the app that pops up
  • Launch the Keychain Access application in your macOS
  • After Keychain Access application opens up, on the Menu bar select Keychain Access > Certificate Assistant > Request a Certificate From a Certificate Authority
Keychain step 1
  • Enter your email in the User Email Address field, check the Saved to disk option, then click Continue
Keychain step 2
  • On the Save As dialog that opens, confirm where to save and click Save
Keychain step 3

Generate a Development Certificate​

  • Go back to developer account and select app from App IDs and click Edit
Dev cert step 1
  • Scroll down to Development SSL certificates and click Create Certificate
Dev cert step 2
  • On the Add iOS "Certificate" screen, click on Continue
Dev cert step 3
  • Choose certificate file created from Keychain Access in previous section and click Continue
Dev cert step 4
  • Download Development Certificate and click Done to finish the process
Dev cert step 5

Generate APNS .p12 certificate​

Double-click the Development certificate generated in the previous step to add it to Keychain Access.

  • Go to Keychain Access, select login keychain and My Certificate from side menu. Find app certificate and right-click to export it
P12 1
  • Enter certificate name and click Save
P12 2
  • Enter Password for certificate and click OK
  • Enter your computer admin password or fingerprint to finish the process
  • The development .p12 certificate can be used to send push notifications.