signing-tauri-apps

name	signing-tauri-apps
description	Code-sign and notarize Tauri apps across Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, and Windows, including certificate generation and config. USE WHEN preparing a Tauri build for distribution, setting up signing certificates or keystores, notarizing for macOS, or resolving SmartScreen and Play Store signing requirements.
cluster	tauri
version	1.0.0

Tauri Code Signing Skill

This skill provides comprehensive guidance for code signing Tauri applications across all supported platforms.

Platform Overview

Platform	Requirement	Certificate Type
Android	Required for Play Store	Java Keystore (JKS)
iOS	Required for distribution	Apple Developer Certificate
Linux	Optional (enhances trust)	GPG Key
macOS	Required for distribution	Developer ID / Apple Distribution
Windows	Required (SmartScreen)	OV or EV Certificate

---

Android Signing

Generate Keystore

macOS/Linux:

keytool -genkey -v -keystore ~/upload-keystore.jks -keyalg RSA -keysize 2048 -validity 10000 -alias upload

Windows:

keytool -genkey -v -keystore $env:USERPROFILE\upload-keystore.jks -storetype JKS -keyalg RSA -keysize 2048 -validity 10000 -alias upload

Configuration File

Create src-tauri/gen/android/keystore.properties:

password=<your-password>
keyAlias=upload
storeFile=/path/to/upload-keystore.jks

IMPORTANT: Never commit keystore.properties to version control.

Gradle Configuration

Modify src-tauri/gen/android/app/build.gradle.kts:

import java.io.FileInputStream

// Add before android { } block
val keystorePropertiesFile = rootProject.file("keystore.properties")
val keystoreProperties = java.util.Properties()
if (keystorePropertiesFile.exists()) {
    keystoreProperties.load(FileInputStream(keystorePropertiesFile))
}

android {
    // ... existing config ...

    signingConfigs {
        create("release") {
            keyAlias = keystoreProperties["keyAlias"] as String
            keyPassword = keystoreProperties["password"] as String
            storeFile = file(keystoreProperties["storeFile"] as String)
            storePassword = keystoreProperties["password"] as String
        }
    }

    buildTypes {
        release {
            signingConfig = signingConfigs.getByName("release")
            // ... other release config ...
        }
    }
}

CI/CD Environment Variables

Variable	Description
ANDROID_KEY_ALIAS	Key alias (e.g., upload)
ANDROID_KEY_PASSWORD	Keystore password
ANDROID_KEY_BASE64	Base64-encoded keystore file

GitHub Actions Example:

- name: Setup Android signing
  run: |
    cd src-tauri/gen/android
    echo "keyAlias=${{ secrets.ANDROID_KEY_ALIAS }}" > keystore.properties
    echo "password=${{ secrets.ANDROID_KEY_PASSWORD }}" >> keystore.properties
    base64 -d <<< "${{ secrets.ANDROID_KEY_BASE64 }}" > $RUNNER_TEMP/keystore.jks
    echo "storeFile=$RUNNER_TEMP/keystore.jks" >> keystore.properties

---

iOS Signing

Prerequisites

• Apple Developer Program enrollment ($99/year)
• Bundle identifier registered in App Store Connect
• iOS code signing certificate
• Mobile provisioning profile

Automatic Signing (Recommended)

For local development, authenticate through Xcode Settings > Accounts.

For CI/CD, create an App Store Connect API key and set:

Variable	Description
APPLE_API_ISSUER	Issuer ID from App Store Connect
APPLE_API_KEY	Key ID from App Store Connect
APPLE_API_KEY_PATH	Path to the .p8 private key file

Manual Signing

Variable	Description
IOS_CERTIFICATE	Base64-encoded .p12 certificate
IOS_CERTIFICATE_PASSWORD	Password used when exporting certificate
IOS_MOBILE_PROVISION	Base64-encoded provisioning profile

Certificate Types by Distribution Method

Distribution	Certificate Type
Debugging	Apple Development or iOS App Development
App Store	Apple Distribution or iOS Distribution
Ad Hoc	Apple Distribution or iOS Distribution

Export Certificate

1. Open Keychain Access
2. Find your certificate
3. Right-click the private key
4. Select "Export" and save as .p12
5. Convert to base64: base64 -i certificate.p12

Create Provisioning Profile

1. Register App ID with matching bundle identifier
2. Create provisioning profile for your distribution method
3. Link certificate to profile
4. Download and convert: base64 -i profile.mobileprovision

---

Linux Signing (AppImage)

Generate GPG Key

gpg2 --full-gen-key

Back up the key securely.

Environment Variables

Variable	Description
SIGN	Set to 1 to enable signing
SIGN_KEY	GPG Key ID (optional, uses default if not set)
APPIMAGETOOL_SIGN_PASSPHRASE	Key password (required for CI/CD)
APPIMAGETOOL_FORCE_SIGN	Set to 1 to fail build on signing error

Build with Signing

SIGN=1 APPIMAGETOOL_SIGN_PASSPHRASE="your-passphrase" npm run tauri build

View Embedded Signature

./src-tauri/target/release/bundle/appimage/app_version_amd64.AppImage --appimage-signature

Validate Signature

Download the validate tool from AppImageUpdate releases:

chmod +x validate-x86_64.AppImage
./validate-x86_64.AppImage your-app.AppImage

Note: AppImage does not auto-validate signatures. Users must manually verify.

---

macOS Signing and Notarization

Prerequisites

• Apple Developer Program enrollment ($99/year)
• Mac computer for code signing
• Free accounts cannot notarize applications

Certificate Types

Certificate	Use Case
Apple Distribution	App Store submissions
Developer ID Application	Distribution outside App Store

Create Certificate

1. Generate Certificate Signing Request (CSR) from Keychain Access
2. Upload CSR at Apple Developer > Certificates, IDs & Profiles
3. Download and double-click .cer to install

Configuration

tauri.conf.json:

{
  "bundle": {
    "macOS": {
      "signingIdentity": "Developer ID Application: Your Name (TEAM_ID)"
    }
  }
}

Environment Variables for CI/CD

Certificate Variables:

Variable	Description
APPLE_CERTIFICATE	Base64-encoded .p12 certificate
APPLE_CERTIFICATE_PASSWORD	Password for exported certificate
APPLE_SIGNING_IDENTITY	Certificate name in keychain

Notarization - Option 1: App Store Connect API (Recommended):

Variable	Description
APPLE_API_ISSUER	Issuer ID
APPLE_API_KEY	Key ID
APPLE_API_KEY_PATH	Path to .p8 private key

Notarization - Option 2: Apple ID:

Variable	Description
APPLE_ID	Apple ID email
APPLE_PASSWORD	App-specific password
APPLE_TEAM_ID	Team identifier

Export Certificate for CI/CD

# Export from Keychain as .p12, then:
base64 -i certificate.p12 | pbcopy

Ad-Hoc Signing (Testing Only)

For unsigned distribution or testing without Apple credentials:

{
  "bundle": {
    "macOS": {
      "signingIdentity": "-"
    }
  }
}

GitHub Actions Example

- name: Import certificate
  env:
    APPLE_CERTIFICATE: ${{ secrets.APPLE_CERTIFICATE }}
    APPLE_CERTIFICATE_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.APPLE_CERTIFICATE_PASSWORD }}
  run: |
    echo $APPLE_CERTIFICATE | base64 --decode > certificate.p12
    security create-keychain -p actions temp.keychain
    security import certificate.p12 -k temp.keychain -P $APPLE_CERTIFICATE_PASSWORD -T /usr/bin/codesign
    security list-keychains -s temp.keychain
    security unlock-keychain -p actions temp.keychain
    security set-key-partition-list -S apple-tool:,apple: -s -k actions temp.keychain

---

Windows Signing

Certificate Types

Type	SmartScreen	Availability
OV (Organization Validated)	Builds reputation over time	Before June 1, 2023
EV (Extended Validation)	Immediate trust	Required after June 1, 2023

Note: Certificates obtained after June 1, 2023 require EV certificates for immediate SmartScreen trust.

Configuration

tauri.conf.json:

{
  "bundle": {
    "windows": {
      "certificateThumbprint": "A1B1A2B2A3B3A4B4A5B5A6B6A7B7A8B8A9B9A0B0",
      "digestAlgorithm": "sha256",
      "timestampUrl": "http://timestamp.sectigo.com"
    }
  }
}

Find Certificate Thumbprint

1. Open certificate details
2. Go to Details tab
3. Find "Thumbprint" field
4. Copy the hex string (remove spaces)

Common Timestamp URLs

• http://timestamp.sectigo.com
• http://timestamp.digicert.com
• http://timestamp.globalsign.com

Convert Certificate to PFX

openssl pkcs12 -export -in cert.cer -inkey private-key.key -out certificate.pfx

Environment Variables for CI/CD

Variable	Description
WINDOWS_CERTIFICATE	Base64-encoded .pfx file
WINDOWS_CERTIFICATE_PASSWORD	PFX export password

GitHub Actions Example

- name: Import Windows certificate
  env:
    WINDOWS_CERTIFICATE: ${{ secrets.WINDOWS_CERTIFICATE }}
    WINDOWS_CERTIFICATE_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.WINDOWS_CERTIFICATE_PASSWORD }}
  run: |
    echo "$WINDOWS_CERTIFICATE" | base64 --decode > certificate.pfx
    Import-PfxCertificate -FilePath certificate.pfx -CertStoreLocation Cert:\CurrentUser\My -Password (ConvertTo-SecureString -String $env:WINDOWS_CERTIFICATE_PASSWORD -AsPlainText -Force)
  shell: pwsh

Azure Key Vault Signing

For cloud-based signing with Azure Key Vault:

Variable	Description
AZURE_CLIENT_ID	Azure AD application client ID
AZURE_CLIENT_SECRET	Azure AD application secret
AZURE_TENANT_ID	Azure AD tenant ID

Configure in tauri.conf.json:

{
  "bundle": {
    "windows": {
      "signCommand": "relic sign --key azurekeyvault --file %1"
    }
  }
}

Azure Trusted Signing

For Azure Code Signing service:

{
  "bundle": {
    "windows": {
      "signCommand": "trusted-signing-cli -e <endpoint> -a <account> -c <profile> %1"
    }
  }
}

Custom Sign Command

For other signing tools or cross-platform builds:

{
  "bundle": {
    "windows": {
      "signCommand": "your-signing-tool --sign %1"
    }
  }
}

The %1 placeholder is replaced with the executable path.

---

Quick Reference: All Environment Variables

Android

• ANDROID_KEY_ALIAS
• ANDROID_KEY_PASSWORD
• ANDROID_KEY_BASE64

iOS (Manual)

• IOS_CERTIFICATE
• IOS_CERTIFICATE_PASSWORD
• IOS_MOBILE_PROVISION

iOS/macOS (API Key)

• APPLE_API_ISSUER
• APPLE_API_KEY
• APPLE_API_KEY_PATH

macOS (Certificate)

• APPLE_CERTIFICATE
• APPLE_CERTIFICATE_PASSWORD
• APPLE_SIGNING_IDENTITY

macOS (Apple ID Notarization)

• APPLE_ID
• APPLE_PASSWORD
• APPLE_TEAM_ID

Linux

• SIGN
• SIGN_KEY
• APPIMAGETOOL_SIGN_PASSPHRASE
• APPIMAGETOOL_FORCE_SIGN

Windows

• WINDOWS_CERTIFICATE
• WINDOWS_CERTIFICATE_PASSWORD

Azure (Windows)

• AZURE_CLIENT_ID
• AZURE_CLIENT_SECRET
• AZURE_TENANT_ID