PSA: Apple is Updating Old Apps With Latest Signing Certificate Ahead of iOS 14.5

by

Users may notice that a number of very old apps are receiving new App Store updates. Instead of fixing bugs or adding new features, the updates are occurring because Apple is updating developers' apps that use a legacy ‌App Store‌ code signing certificate with the latest version so that they can launch correctly in the upcoming releases of iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5.

app store blue banner
Developers of affected apps do not need to re-sign their apps themselves, since Apple will issue the update and new signing certificate itself. Apple is issuing the updates with the What's New text "This app has been updated by Apple to use the latest Apple signing certificate."

Apple alerted developers of affected apps about the required update and its purpose, and the updates have now started rolling out to users.

The change only affects apps that have not been updated at all for several years, and therefore have an outdated code signing certificate. Apple conducted a similar wave of signing certificate updates in July last year.

The updated signing certificates will allow apps to launch as expected in iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5, which are due to be released very soon.

Related Roundups: iOS 14, iPadOS 14
Related Forum: iOS 14

Top Rated Comments

Drogba11 Avatar
Drogba11
14 weeks ago

I wonder if Apple is going to update ALL of them that need updating, or is installing 14.5 going to lead to some nasty surprises?
Forbes writers rubbing their hands
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving Avatar
TheYayAreaLiving
14 weeks ago
I wonder if Apple is going to update Facebook lol
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
B4U Avatar
B4U
14 weeks ago
I was honestly surprised to see the red notification dot on the App Store of my iOS 6 device the other day!
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
alexandr Avatar
alexandr
14 weeks ago
yea, i'm seeing some apps pop up in the update field that i haven't seen in a while))
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
now i see it Avatar
now i see it
14 weeks ago
With 3.4 million apps currently in the App Store - they've got a bit of work to do
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
NMBob Avatar
NMBob
14 weeks ago
I wonder if Apple is going to update ALL of them that need updating, or is installing 14.5 going to lead to some nasty surprises?
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments

Top Stories

iOS 14

Apple Stops Signing iOS 14.4 Following Release of iOS 14.4.1

Friday March 19, 2021 1:23 pm PDT by
Following the release of iOS 14.4.1 on March 8, Apple has stopped signing iOS 14.4, the previous version of iOS 14. With the software no longer being signed, it is no longer possible to downgrade from iOS 14.4.1 to iOS 14.4 if you've already upgraded your iPhone or iPad. Apple routinely stops signing older versions of software updates after new releases come out in order to encourage...
Read Full Article • 17 comments
iOS 14

Apple Releases iOS and iPadOS 14.4.2 to Fix Actively Exploited Security Vulnerability

Friday March 26, 2021 10:01 am PDT by
Apple today released iOS and iPadOS 14.4.2, minor security updates that come close to three weeks after the release of iOS/iPadOS 14.4.1 and more than a month after the iOS/iPadOS 14.4 updates. The iOS and iPadOS 14.4.2 updates can be downloaded for free and the software is available on all eligible devices over-the-air in the Settings app. To access the new software, go to Settings >...
Read Full Article • 128 comments
iOS 14

Apple Stops Signing iOS 14.4.1 After Releasing iOS 14.4.2 With Fix for Actively Exploited Security Vulnerability

Friday April 2, 2021 12:40 pm PDT by
Following the release of iOS 14.4.2 on March 26, Apple has stopped signing iOS 14.4.1, the previously available version of iOS 14. With iOS 14.4.1 no longer being signed, it is not possible to downgrade to iOS 14.4.1 from iOS 14.4.2 if you've already updated your iPhone or iPad. Apple routinely stops signing older versions of software updates after new releases come out in order to encourage ...
Read Full Article • 27 comments
app store not updating 4

PSA: App Store Bug Hiding App Update Buttons for Some Users

Tuesday February 16, 2021 9:43 am PST by
If you've logged into the App Store this morning and have noticed that there's no update button next to apps that you want to update, you're not alone. There appears to be an App Store bug that is preventing the "Update" button that's normally displayed alongside apps from being visible, preventing apps from being updated one by one. The update button bug seems to come and go, and not all ...
Read Full Article • 35 comments
iOS 15 icon mock banner

Apple Seeds First Betas of iOS and iPadOS 15 to Developers

Monday June 7, 2021 12:02 pm PDT by
Following the conclusion of today's keynote event that saw the unveiling of new versions of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS, Apple has made the first betas of iOS and iPadOS 15 available to developers for testing purposes. Registered developers can download the profile for the first iOS and iPadOS betas from the Apple Developer Center, and once the profile is installed, beta updates...
Read Full Article • 33 comments
iOS 14 on iPhone feature emergency

Apple Seeds First Betas of iOS and iPadOS 14.6 to Public Beta Testers

Friday April 23, 2021 10:23 am PDT by
Apple today seeded the first betas of new iOS and iPadOS 14.6 updates to public beta testers for testing purposes, with the new software coming one day after the the betas were provided to developers and just ahead of when Apple plans to release iOS and iPadOS 14.5. Public beta testers who have signed up for Apple's beta testing program can download the iOS and iPadOS‌ 14.6 updates over...
Read Full Article • 40 comments
iOS 14

Apple Releases iOS and iPadOS 14.4.1 With Security Fixes

Monday March 8, 2021 10:01 am PST by
Apple today released iOS and iPadOS 14.4.1, minor security updates that comes more than a month after the release of the iOS 14.4 update. The iOS and iPadOS 14.4.1 updates can be downloaded for free and the software is available on all eligible devices over-the-air in the Settings app. To access the new software, go to Settings > General > Software Update. According to Apple's release...
Read Full Article • 72 comments
14

Apple Seeds Eighth Betas of iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5 to Developers [Update: Public Beta Available]

Tuesday April 13, 2021 10:06 am PDT by
Apple today seeded the eighth betas of upcoming iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the new beta updates coming one week after Apple released the seventh iOS and iPadOS 14.5 betas. iOS and iPadOS 14.5 can be downloaded through the Apple Developer Center or over the air after the proper profile has been installed on an iPhone or iPad. iOS 14.5 is the...
Read Full Article • 83 comments
14

Apple Stops Signing iOS 14.5 Following Bug Fix iOS 14.5.1 Release

Monday May 10, 2021 12:36 pm PDT by
Following the release of iOS 14.5.1 last week, Apple has stopped signing iOS 14.5, the previously available version of iOS 14 that was released in late April. With iOS 14.5 no longer being signed, it is not possible to downgrade to iOS 14.5 if you've already installed iOS 14.5.1. Apple routinely stops signing older versions of software updates after new releases come out in order to...
Read Full Article • 17 comments
iOS 14 on iPhone feature emergency

Apple Releases iOS and iPadOS 14.5.1 With Fixes for App Tracking Transparency Bug, WebKit Security Issues

Monday May 3, 2021 10:04 am PDT by
Apple today released iOS and iPadOS 14.5.1, minor security updates that come just a week after the release of the iOS 14.5 update. There is also a companion watchOS 7.4.1 update for Apple Watch and an iOS 12.5.3 update for older iPhone and iPad devices that don't support Apple's latest operating system versions. According to Apple's release notes, the update fixes a bug with App Tracking...
Read Full Article • 113 comments