Question

I have an iPad application that has been distributed using an Apple Enterprise account. The certificate has expired but the application still works on the iPad. I thought that once the certificate expires then users will not be able to open the application. Does anyone know when the application will become unusable? Thanks.

Answer 1

sounds like “3 to 7 days,” cache has to expire AND the device needs to be restarted.

From Apple:

Certificate Validation

The first time an application is opened on a device, the distribution
certificate is validated by contactingApple’s OCSP server. Unless the
certificate has been revoked, the app is allowed to run. Inability to
contactor get a response from the OCSP server is not interpreted as a
revocation. To verify the status, the devicemust be able to reach
ocsp.apple.com. See“Network Configuration Requirements”(page 9).

The OCSP response is cached on the device for the period of time
specified by the OCSP server—currently between 3 and 7 days. The
validity of the certificate will not be checked again until the device
has restarted and the cached response has expired. If a revocation is
received at that time, the app will be prevented from running.
Revoking a distribution certificate will invalidate all of the
applications you have distributed.

An app will not run if the distribution certificate has expired.
Currently, distribution certificates are valid fo rone year. A few
weeks before your certificate expires, request a new distribution
certificate from the iOS DevCenter, use it to create new distribution
provisioning profiles, and then recompile and distribute the updated
apps to your users. See “Providing Updated Apps” (page 10)