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Documentation Index

Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.asccli.sh/llms.txt

Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

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Profiles

Manage provisioning profiles
Create, download, and manage provisioning profiles for app development and distribution.

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Overview

Provisioning profiles bind your app’s bundle ID, certificates, and (for development) devices together, allowing your app to run on devices or be distributed through various channels.

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List Profiles

List all provisioning profiles or filter by type: 
# List all profiles
asc profiles list

# Filter by profile type
asc profiles list --profile-type IOS_APP_STORE

# List multiple types
asc profiles list --profile-type IOS_APP_DEVELOPMENT,IOS_APP_STORE

# Fetch all pages automatically
asc profiles list --paginate

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Pagination Options

  • --limit - Results per page (1-200)
  • --next - Fetch next page using a links.next URL
  • --paginate - Automatically fetch all pages

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Get Profile Details

Retrieve a specific profile by ID: 
asc profiles view --id "PROFILE_ID"

# Include related resources
asc profiles view --id "PROFILE_ID" \
  --include bundleId,certificates,devices
Available includes:
  • bundleId - Bundle identifier details
  • certificates - Signing certificates in the profile
  • devices - Registered devices (development/ad hoc profiles only)

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Profile Types

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iOS Profile Types

App Store: 
asc profiles list --profile-type IOS_APP_STORE
  • Used for: App Store submission
  • Requires: iOS Distribution certificate
  • Devices: Not required
Development: 
asc profiles list --profile-type IOS_APP_DEVELOPMENT
  • Used for: Running apps on development devices
  • Requires: iOS Development certificate
  • Devices: Required (up to 100 devices)
Ad Hoc: 
asc profiles list --profile-type IOS_APP_ADHOC
  • Used for: Testing outside TestFlight
  • Requires: iOS Distribution certificate
  • Devices: Required (up to 100 devices)
In-House (Enterprise): 
asc profiles list --profile-type IOS_APP_INHOUSE
  • Used for: Enterprise internal distribution
  • Requires: iOS Distribution certificate
  • Devices: Not required
  • Requires: Apple Developer Enterprise Program

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tvOS Profile Types

  • TVOS_APP_STORE - tvOS App Store
  • TVOS_APP_DEVELOPMENT - tvOS development
  • TVOS_APP_ADHOC - tvOS Ad Hoc
  • TVOS_APP_INHOUSE - tvOS Enterprise

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macOS Profile Types

  • MAC_APP_STORE - Mac App Store
  • MAC_APP_DEVELOPMENT - macOS development
  • MAC_APP_DIRECT - Direct distribution (Developer ID)
  • MAC_CATALYST_APP_STORE - Mac Catalyst App Store
  • MAC_CATALYST_APP_DEVELOPMENT - Mac Catalyst development
  • MAC_CATALYST_APP_DIRECT - Mac Catalyst direct

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Create Profile

Create a new provisioning profile: 
# App Store profile (no devices needed)
asc profiles create --name "My App Store Profile" \
  --profile-type IOS_APP_STORE \
  --bundle "BUNDLE_ID" \
  --certificate "CERT_ID"

# Development profile (devices required)
asc profiles create --name "My Dev Profile" \
  --profile-type IOS_APP_DEVELOPMENT \
  --bundle "BUNDLE_ID" \
  --certificate "CERT_ID_1,CERT_ID_2" \
  --device "DEVICE_ID_1,DEVICE_ID_2"

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Required Parameters

  • --name - Profile name (descriptive, for your reference)
  • --profile-type - Profile type (see Profile Types)
  • --bundle - Bundle ID resource ID
  • --certificate - Certificate ID(s), comma-separated

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Optional Parameters

  • --device - Device ID(s), comma-separated (required for development/ad hoc)

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Finding Resource IDs

Bundle ID: 
asc bundle-ids list --output json | grep -A2 "com.example.app"
Certificate IDs: 
asc certificates list --certificate-type IOS_DISTRIBUTION --output json
Device IDs: 
asc devices list --platform IOS --output json

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Download Profile

Download a provisioning profile: 
asc profiles download --id "PROFILE_ID" \
  --output "./profile.mobileprovision"
The downloaded .mobileprovision file can be:
  • Installed in Xcode (drag and drop)
  • Copied to ~/Library/MobileDevice/Provisioning Profiles/
  • Used in CI/CD pipelines

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Install Profile

# Copy to standard location
mkdir -p ~/Library/MobileDevice/Provisioning\ Profiles
cp profile.mobileprovision ~/Library/MobileDevice/Provisioning\ Profiles/

# Or open with Xcode
open profile.mobileprovision

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Delete Profile

Delete a provisioning profile: 
asc profiles delete --id "PROFILE_ID" --confirm
Note: Deleted profiles cannot be recovered. Apps signed with deleted profiles will continue to work until the profile expires.

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Profile Relationships

View related resources for a profile: 
# Get bundle ID relationship
asc profiles links bundle-id --id "PROFILE_ID"

# Get certificates relationship
asc profiles links certificates --id "PROFILE_ID"

# Get devices relationship (development/ad hoc only)
asc profiles links devices --id "PROFILE_ID"

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Local Profile Management

Manage profiles on your local machine: 
# List locally installed profiles
asc profiles local list

# Remove expired profiles
asc profiles local clean

# Get UUID of a profile file
asc profiles local install --path ./profile.mobileprovision

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Complete Example Workflows

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Create App Store Profile

# 1. Find bundle ID
asc bundle-ids list --output json | grep "com.example.app"
# Note: BUNDLE_ID from response

# 2. Find distribution certificate
asc certificates list --certificate-type IOS_DISTRIBUTION --output json
# Note: CERT_ID from response

# 3. Create profile
asc profiles create --name "Example App Store" \
  --profile-type IOS_APP_STORE \
  --bundle "BUNDLE_ID" \
  --certificate "CERT_ID"

# 4. Download profile (from creation response)
asc profiles download --id "PROFILE_ID" \
  --output "./signing/appstore.mobileprovision"

# 5. Install profile
cp ./signing/appstore.mobileprovision \
  ~/Library/MobileDevice/Provisioning\ Profiles/

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Create Development Profile

# 1. Register your device (if not already registered)
asc devices register --name "My iPhone" \
  --platform IOS \
  --udid "00008030-001234567890ABCD"

# 2. Find resource IDs
asc bundle-ids list --output json | grep "com.example.app"
asc certificates list --certificate-type IOS_DEVELOPMENT --output json
asc devices list --platform IOS --output json

# 3. Create development profile
asc profiles create --name "Example Development" \
  --profile-type IOS_APP_DEVELOPMENT \
  --bundle "BUNDLE_ID" \
  --certificate "DEV_CERT_ID" \
  --device "DEVICE_ID_1,DEVICE_ID_2"

# 4. Download and install
asc profiles download --id "PROFILE_ID" \
  --output "./dev.mobileprovision"
cp ./dev.mobileprovision \
  ~/Library/MobileDevice/Provisioning\ Profiles/

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Update Profile with New Device

Profiles cannot be updated directly. Create a new profile: 
# 1. Register new device
asc devices register --name "New iPad" \
  --platform IOS \
  --udid "00008103-001234567890ABCD"

# 2. Get existing profile details
asc profiles view --id "OLD_PROFILE_ID" \
  --include bundleId,certificates,devices \
  --output json

# 3. Create new profile with all devices (old + new)
asc profiles create --name "Example Development v2" \
  --profile-type IOS_APP_DEVELOPMENT \
  --bundle "BUNDLE_ID" \
  --certificate "CERT_ID" \
  --device "OLD_DEVICE_1,OLD_DEVICE_2,NEW_DEVICE_ID"

# 4. Delete old profile
asc profiles delete --id "OLD_PROFILE_ID" --confirm

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Rotate Certificates in Profile

# 1. Create new certificate
asc certificates csr generate --key-out ./new.key --csr-out ./new.csr
asc certificates create --certificate-type IOS_DISTRIBUTION \
  --csr ./new.csr

# 2. Get profile details
asc profiles view --id "PROFILE_ID" \
  --include bundleId,devices \
  --output json

# 3. Create new profile with new certificate
asc profiles create --name "Example App Store v2" \
  --profile-type IOS_APP_STORE \
  --bundle "BUNDLE_ID" \
  --certificate "NEW_CERT_ID"

# 4. Download new profile
asc profiles download --id "NEW_PROFILE_ID" \
  --output "./appstore-v2.mobileprovision"

# 5. Revoke old certificate and delete old profile
asc certificates revoke --id "OLD_CERT_ID" --confirm
asc profiles delete --id "OLD_PROFILE_ID" --confirm

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CI/CD Profile Management

# GitHub Actions / CI script
#!/bin/bash
set -e

# Download profile
asc profiles download --id "$PROFILE_ID" \
  --output "./build.mobileprovision"

# Create provisioning profiles directory
mkdir -p ~/Library/MobileDevice/Provisioning\ Profiles

# Install profile
cp ./build.mobileprovision \
  ~/Library/MobileDevice/Provisioning\ Profiles/

# Get profile UUID for Xcode
PROFILE_UUID=$(asc profiles local install --path ./build.mobileprovision)
echo "PROFILE_UUID=$PROFILE_UUID" >> $GITHUB_ENV

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Profile States

Profiles can be in different states:
  • ACTIVE - Valid and ready to use
  • INVALID - Profile has issues (expired, revoked certificate, etc.)
Check profile state: 
asc profiles view --id "PROFILE_ID" --output json | grep profileState

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Profile Expiration

Profiles expire after 1 year. To renew:
  1. Create a new profile with the same configuration
  2. Download and install the new profile
  3. Delete the old profile
Profiles automatically expire when:
  • Any certificate in the profile is revoked
  • Any certificate in the profile expires
  • The bundle ID is deleted

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Troubleshooting

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Profile Invalid After Certificate Revocation

# Create new certificate
asc certificates create --certificate-type IOS_DISTRIBUTION \
  --csr ./new.csr

# Create new profile with new certificate
asc profiles create --name "Renewed Profile" \
  --profile-type IOS_APP_STORE \
  --bundle "BUNDLE_ID" \
  --certificate "NEW_CERT_ID"

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Device Limit Reached (100 devices)

Development and Ad Hoc profiles are limited to 100 devices. Solution:
  • Use TestFlight for broader testing (no device limit)
  • Remove unused devices from your account (once per year)
  • Split testing across multiple profiles if needed

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Profile Content Empty

Error: profile content is empty
The profile may be in an invalid state. Solution: 
# Check profile state
asc profiles view --id "PROFILE_ID" --output json

# If invalid, create a new profile

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Cannot Find Profile in Xcode

Profiles must be installed in the correct location: 
# Check installed profiles
ls -la ~/Library/MobileDevice/Provisioning\ Profiles/

# Re-install profile
asc profiles download --id "PROFILE_ID" --output ./profile.mobileprovision
cp ./profile.mobileprovision ~/Library/MobileDevice/Provisioning\ Profiles/

# Restart Xcode