### [Guide to Creating iOS APNs Certificate](https://www.pushengage.com/documentation/guide-to-creating-ios-apns-certificate/)

**Published:** December 4, 2023
**Author:** Ayushi Dubey

**Content:**

Apple Push Notification service (APNs) is a platform notification service that enables third-party application developers to send notification data to applications installed on Apple devices. iOS applications that use APNs need to have a certificate. This section explains how to generate an APNs certificate for your application.

### **Create a Certificate Signing Request (CSR) from Keychain**

1\. Open **Keychain Access** and navigate to **Certificate Assistant** on your MacOS device.

2\. Select **Request a Certificate from a Certificate Authority**. Selecting this option directs you to the Certificate Assistant.

![](https://cdn-std.droplr.net/files/acc_1121161/PZa3Ni)

3\. Select **Request is »** **Saved to Disk** and leave the email address blank as shown below. Click **Continue** to save the file.

![](https://cdn-std.droplr.net/files/acc_1121161/K5MQcv)

### Download an APNs certificate from Your Account

1\. Log in to [Apple’s Developer Website](https://developer.apple.com/), navigate to the **Member Center,** and select **Certificates, IDs & Profiles.**

2\. Click on the + icon beside the **Certificates**.

3\. Here, you must choose **Apple Push Notification service SSL (Sandbox & Production)** then click **Continue** and select the **Application ID** for which you want to create the certificate.

![](https://cdn-std.droplr.net/files/acc_1121161/8L7tD8)

![](https://cdn-std.droplr.net/files/acc_1121161/gBay8K)

4\. Upload the CSR file created on the first step download the certificate you generated, and then click on continue.

### Convert the .cer File to a .p12 Certificate

1\. Open the .cer file you downloaded, It will open in **Keychain Access.**

![](https://cdn-std.droplr.net/files/acc_1121161/x0W5XK)

2\. From Keychain Access, select the Apple Push Services certificate, then navigate to

**File » Export Items » Select file format as. p12 » Save.**

Please enter a password for the file and save it somewhere safe, as later it is required in the PushEngage dashboard.

### Uploading the .p12 Certificate to the PushEngage Dashboard

You can now upload the certificate to the PushEngage dashboard and double-click on it. The Entitlement file will be created in your application, and your application will be ready to communicate to the APNs server.

In the PushEngage dashboard, navigate to **Site Settings » Installation**

Choose the iOS setup tab and enter the p12 Certificates details here.

![](https://cdn-std.droplr.net/files/acc_1121161/TZ4CvA)

Now you are ready to complete your iOS set up for app push notifications.

If you run into any issues, please [**contact us**](https://www.pushengage.com/contact-us/?utm_source=website&utm_medium=helpdocs&utm_campaign=contact-us) by clicking here. Our support team will be able to help you.

**Doc Categories:** Getting Started, Mobile App Push, Web Push

---