Do I need my UDID before buying an Apple Developer certificate?

Yes. For standard Apple Developer certificate sideloading, the iPhone or iPad UDID must be registered so the signed IPA can install on that device.

What should I check if a signed IPA will not install?

Check that the IPA was signed with the correct .p12 certificate, matching mobileprovision profile, correct password, and a provisioning profile that includes your device UDID.

iPhone sideloading and IPA signing guides

Q: What are CertDrop guides for?

CertDrop guides explain Apple Developer certificates, iPhone UDID lookup, IPA signing, sideloading, ESign, Feather, and common install errors.

Learn how Apple Developer certificates, UDID registration, .p12 files, mobileprovision profiles, ESign, Feather, and signed IPA installs fit together.

Use this hub to choose the right next step

If you are new to sideloading, start with the certificate and UDID guides. If you already have certificate files, use the IPA signing and install guides. If something fails, the error guide covers the usual provisioning, password, and verification problems.

Start here

Understand certificates, UDIDs, and the sideloading flow before ordering or signing an IPA.

What is an Apple Developer certificate?

A simple explanation of Apple Developer certificates and how they relate to IPA signing.

How to find your iPhone UDID

Find the correct UDID before ordering an Apple Developer certificate for sideloading.

Developer certificate vs Enterprise certificate

The practical differences, risks, and use cases for developer and enterprise certificates.

Sign and install IPA files

Follow the practical steps for signing IPA files and installing them on iPhone or iPad.

How to sign IPA files

Learn how to sign IPA files online with a .p12 certificate, mobile provisioning profile, and password, plus common install issues and fixes.

How to install IPA files

A practical guide for installing signed IPA files on iPhone or iPad.

How to sideload apps on iPhone

Understand what sideloading means on iPhone and what you need before installing IPA files.

Fix common problems

Troubleshoot provisioning, password, import, install, and verification errors.

IPA signing compatibility checklist

Check certificate, provisioning profile, device, bundle ID, entitlement, and expiry matches before signing again.

Common iOS sideloading and IPA signing errors

Troubleshoot install, verification, provisioning profile, password, and signer import errors.

Need certificate files for iPhone sideloading?

CertDrop sells 360-day Apple Developer certificate files for iPhone and iPad, delivered with the .p12 certificate, mobileprovision profile, password, and install links.

Guide FAQ

What are CertDrop guides for?

They explain Apple Developer certificates, iPhone UDID lookup, IPA signing, sideloading apps, ESign, Feather, and common install errors.

Do I need my UDID before buying?

Yes. The device UDID is needed so the provisioning profile can include your iPhone or iPad before IPA files are signed.

What if a signed IPA will not install?

Check the certificate password, provisioning profile, UDID registration, app bundle compatibility, and whether the signed app was trusted on the device.