Xcode fails with "Code Signing" Error

Question

Alternate Titles

(to aid search)

• Xcode 'CodeSign error: code signing is required'
• Xcode: iPhone app codesign error
• /usr/bin/codesign failed with exit code 1
• Jenkins fails with Code Sign error
• Command-line build fails with "provisioning profiles not found"
• Archiving Xcode project fails with provisioning error
• Missing signing certificates in Xcode

Symptoms

The issue manifests it's self in one of several ways:

• Running your app on a device results in an error referencing "code signing" or "expired signing certificates"

• Building from the command line (or using a continuos integration system, such as Jenkins) fails with a error similar to this:

    Check dependencies
    Code Sign error: No unexpired provisioning profiles found that contain any of the keychain's signing certificates
  

• Archiving an app fails with "code signing" or "expired signing certificates" where a run or build work correctly.

Often the project may have several configurations and sometimes only a subset will fail. Deleting and regenerating provisioning profiles has no effect.

Answer 1

CODE_SIGN_IDENTITY verification script.

Often in set ups that use version control the project.pbxproj can be merged in such a way that two CODE_SIGN_IDENTITY lines can be inserted. This seems to cause Xcode problems under certain situations (like command-line builds or archiving).

A tell-tail sign is lines similar to this in the project.pbxproj file (right-click on the project and select "Show Package Contents…")

"CODE_SIGN_IDENTITY[sdk=iphoneos*]" = "iPhone Developer";
CODE_SIGN_IDENTITY = "iPhone Distribution";

Deleting one of these lines will let you select the correct value in Build Settings and the project should once again build correctly.

I have created simple script to help diagnose this issue it can be found here: https://github.com/rjstelling/Xcode-Project-Validate

Answer 2

I got this code sign error with an Open Source Github project which I only wanted on my own device (not in store or anything) and I don't have a paid membership account.

In that case it's meanwhile (since XCode 7) possible to configure and allow your app as unsigned but trusted.

It's all explained here: https://stackoverflow.com/a/4952845/828184

Answer 3

I had a similar problem which I could solve after a lot of wasted hours. So writing my solution here in case it helps someone.

My iOS app, which I have been developing and deploying/updating regularly for past 5 years, recently ran into a similar issue where final "Distribute App" via XCode Organizer started showing an error "Code Signing for MyAppName.app failed - see distribution logs for more information". The distribution logs have no information whatsoever.

After a lot of trial-and-error, I found that the certificate used for code signing had somehow gone corrupt. I deleted the certificate and it fixed the problem. Hope this helps someone.