Apple Distribution is the certificate that proves a build came from your team and is allowed to be distributed. It is the modern, unified replacement for the older, platform-specific iOS Distribution and Mac App Distribution certificates. One Apple Distribution certificate signs builds for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, watchOS, and visionOS.
What it signs
- TestFlight builds (internal and external testers).
- App Store submissions for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, watchOS, and visionOS.
- Ad Hoc builds for the specific devices listed in an Ad Hoc provisioning profile.
- Mac App Store submissions when paired with a Mac Installer Distribution certificate for the .pkg.
What it does not sign
- Builds installed outside the App Store on Mac (use a Developer ID Application certificate).
- Enterprise In-House builds (use an Apple Developer Enterprise Program certificate, which is technically a different distribution certificate type tied to the Enterprise Program).
- Daily debugging on the developer's own devices (use an Apple Development certificate).