How to register APNS Certificate for Apple Devices in SureMDM

Apple Push Notification Service, or APNS, is a platform service from Apple that enables third-party apps to send push notifications to iOS devices. SureMDM requires you to obtain and register an APNs certificate to start monitoring and managing Apple devices.

Purpose

The purpose of this knowledge  article is to monitor and manage Apple devices by registering the APNs certificate in SureMDM, thus enabling easy management of iOS and macOS devices through the SureMDM server.

Prerequisites

• Should have access to the Apple Push Certificate Portal.
• Users should note down and keep the Apple login credentials handy for annual renewal.
• Each SureMDM account should have an individual APNS certificate.
• This would be applicable for all SaaS accounts.
• For on-premise accounts, please contact the 42Gears Support Team.

 Steps

Step 1: To download the certificate.

1. Log into the SureMDM Console.
2. Click the Settings icon and go to Account Settings.
3. On the Account Settings screen, select the iOS/MacOS Settings tab and click APNS.
4. Under Push Certificate, click the Download CSR button to download a vendor-signed CSR (Certificate Signing Request) for generating the push certificate from the Apple Push Certificate Portal.

5. Now, go to the Apple Push Certificate Portal and login with your Apple ID.
6.  On the Certificates for Third-Party Servers page, click the Create a Certificate button.
7. On the Create a New Push Certificate page, upload the Certificate Signing Request (CSR) that you downloaded from the SureMDM Web Console. (Refer to step no. 4)
8. Once the CSR is successfully uploaded, a download button to download the newly created push certificate will be available. Click Download to download the push certificate.
9. Go back to the Push Certificate screen on the SureMDM Web Console and upload the push certificate.
10. Once the upload is successful, the registration process is complete.

Step 2: To renew an existing APNs certificate

1. On the SureMDM Console, navigate to Settings (the icon located at the top right of the screen) > Account Settings > iOS/MacOS Settings > APNS.
2. On the Push Certificate page, click Download.
   This will download the vendor- signed CSR (Certificate Signing Request).
3. Go to Apple Push Certificate Portal and login with your Apple ID.

Note: Use the same Apple account that was used while creating the push certificate.

4. On the Certificates for Third-Party Servers page, click Renew. 

Note: You need to select the correct certificate for the SureMDM account that is due for renewal.

5. On the Renew Push Certificate page, upload the Certificate Signing Request (CSR) downloaded from the SureMDM Web Console. (Refer to step no. 2)
6. On the confirmation page, click Download.

A new push certificate will be downloaded.

7. Go back to SureMDM  Console > Account Settings > iOS/macOS Settings > APNS.
8. On the Push Certificate screen, upload the newly created push certificate. (Refer to step no. 6)

Once the upload is successful, the APNS certificate renewal is complete.

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