What happens when my Apple Wallet Pass Type ID certificate expires?
Apple Wallet certificates are valid for exactly one year from their issue date. Apple Wallet certificates cannot be renewed, they can only be replaced with a new certificate with the same pass type ID.
Expired Apple Wallet certificate
As expected, expired Apple Wallet certificates:
- can no longer be used to create new Apple Wallet passes
- can no longer be used to update already installed Apple Wallet passes
But what exactly happens to Apple Wallet passes already installed on your customers' iPhones when an Apple Wallet certificate expires?
Apple Wallet passes already installed on your customers' iPhones:
- continue to work normally
- can receive updates (a new valid Apple Wallet certificate with the same pass type ID must be used for this)
The official documentation from Apple confirms:
If your certificate expires, passes that are already installed on users’ devices will continue to function normally. However, you’ll no longer be able to sign new passes or send updates to existing passes.
Revoked Apple Wallet certificate
Apple Wallet certificates can also be revoked by Apple during their validity, for example, due to violations of Apple's terms of use or if you report a security issue to Apple. You cannot revoke your Apple Wallet certificates yourself (for example, in your Apple developer account).
Revoked Apple Wallet certificates can no longer be used. Apple Wallet passes already installed on your customers' iPhones will no longer work.
The official documentation from Apple confirms:
If your certificate is revoked, your passes will no longer function properly.
With Passmeister
With Passmeister, everything is easier: You can manage your Apple Wallet certificates and check their validity with "Settings / Certificates". We will notify you by email before a certificate expires.
Even an expired certificate is not an issue: you can replace your certificate with a new one and send updates to all already installed passes.
updated on: 2 April 2023