Applecertificaten

Applecertificaten is a Dutch term that refers to a family of digital certificates used within Apple's ecosystem to establish trust and secure software distribution, device management, and services. These certificates are not a single product but PKI credentials issued to developers, organizations, and devices to verify identity and protect communications.

Key uses include code signing for apps and installers, which allows Apple and users to verify the source and integrity of software. For Mac applications, Developer ID certificates are used to sign software distributed outside the Mac App Store; iOS apps use signing certificates together with provisioning profiles to authorize deployment on devices. Notarization of Mac software also relies on these credentials, helping ensure distribution safety on newer macOS versions.

Other common uses are for push notifications via APNs certificates or provider authentication tokens, and for enterprise distribution under the Apple Developer Enterprise Program, which enables internal app deployment within an organization without the App Store. SSL or identity certificates may also be involved in securing services that communicate with Apple platforms, such as servers that support developers’ apps and services.

Management of these certificates happens through the Apple Developer account portal. A certificate signing request (CSR) is typically generated in macOS Keychain Access, uploaded to the developer portal to obtain the certificate, and then installed back in the Keychain. Certificates have expiry dates and must be renewed periodically; revocation is possible if a credential is compromised or misused. The term Applecertificaten is not an official product name but a descriptor used in Dutch-language contexts to refer to Apple’s certificate infrastructure.