Introduction

Xcode archive validation checks that the app's code signing, provisioning profiles, and entitlements are correctly configured for distribution. When validation fails, the app cannot be submitted to App Store Connect. Common causes include expired certificates, mismatched bundle identifiers, missing entitlements, or provisioning profiles that do not include the Distribution certificate.

Symptoms

  • Invalid Code Signing Entitlements in validation email from Apple
  • No profiles for 'com.example.app' were found during archive
  • Provisioning profile does not include signing certificate
  • Archive succeeds but validation fails before upload
  • App Store Connect email reports validation errors after upload

Error in Xcode Organizer: `` Validate Failed - Invalid Code Signing Entitlements. Your application's code-signing entitlements file contains an invalid key 'com.apple.developer.team-identifier'. - Missing beta report capacity. Beta App Review requires this entitlement.

Common Causes

  • Distribution certificate expired or revoked
  • Provisioning profile created with wrong certificate type
  • Bundle identifier does not match App ID in Apple Developer portal
  • Entitlements file includes capabilities not enabled for the App ID
  • Push Notifications or other service entitlements not configured

Step-by-Step Fix

  1. 1.Regenerate provisioning profile with correct certificate:
  2. 2.```bash
  3. 3.# In Xcode:
  4. 4.# 1. Xcode > Settings > Accounts > Select Apple ID > Manage Certificates
  5. 5.# 2. Delete expired Apple Distribution certificates
  6. 6.# 3. Click + to create new Apple Distribution certificate
  7. 7.# 4. Go to developer.apple.com > Certificates, IDs & Profiles
  8. 8.# 5. Delete old provisioning profiles
  9. 9.# 6. Create new App Store Distribution profile
  10. 10.# 7. Download and double-click to install

# Verify profile installation: ls ~/Library/MobileDevice/Provisioning\ Profiles/ ```

  1. 1.Fix entitlements file to match App ID capabilities:
  2. 2.```xml
  3. 3.<!-- YourApp.entitlements -->
  4. 4.<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
  5. 5.<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN"
  6. 6."http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
  7. 7.<plist version="1.0">
  8. 8.<dict>
  9. 9.<!-- Only include entitlements you actually use and have enabled -->
  10. 10.<key>aps-environment</key>
  11. 11.<string>production</string>
  12. 12.<!-- Remove if Push Notifications not enabled in App ID -->

<key>com.apple.security.application-groups</key> <array> <string>group.com.example.app</string> </array> <!-- Must match App Group ID in Apple Developer portal --> </dict> </plist> ```

  1. 1.**Configure build settings for automatic signing":
  2. 2.`
  3. 3.# In Xcode Build Settings:
  4. 4.Code Signing Identity: Apple Distribution
  5. 5.Code Signing Style: Automatic
  6. 6.Provisioning Profile: Automatic
  7. 7.Development Team: Your Team ID

# In Xcode Signing & Capabilities tab: - Ensure "Automatically manage signing" is checked - Verify the Bundle Identifier matches App ID - Check all enabled capabilities have corresponding entitlements ```

  1. 1.**Validate archive before uploading":
  2. 2.```bash
  3. 3.# After archiving, validate from command line
  4. 4.xcrun altool --validate-app \
  5. 5.-f /path/to/YourApp.ipa \
  6. 6.-t ios \
  7. 7.-u your@email.com \
  8. 8.-p @keychain:AC_PASSWORD

# Or use the newer notarytool xcrun notarytool submit /path/to/YourApp.ipa \ --keychain-profile "AC_PASSWORD" \ --wait ```

  1. 1.**Fix common validation errors programmatically":
  2. 2.```bash
  3. 3.# Check IPA contents
  4. 4.unzip -l YourApp.ipa | grep -E "entitlements|embedded"

# Verify signing codesign --verify --verbose /path/to/YourApp.app

# Check entitlements codesign --display --entitlements - /path/to/YourApp.app

# Verify profile security cms -D -i /path/to/YourApp.app/embedded.mobileprovision ```

Prevention

  • Keep Distribution certificates valid (renew before expiration)
  • Use automatic signing in Xcode to prevent profile mismatches
  • Enable required capabilities in Apple Developer portal before adding entitlements
  • Validate archive immediately after building, before uploading
  • Add a CI step that builds and validates the archive
  • Document all required App Store Connect capabilities and entitlements