iOS Local Build Fails Due to Provisioning Profile Mismatch Without EAS

[gotoenchanter]

When building a React Native Expo app locally without using EAS, some developers encounter critical iOS build failures related to provisioning profiles and signing certificates.

• Why does the build fail even if Xcode is installed and the project seems configured correctly?
• How can we resolve issues caused by mismatched bundle identifiers, development teams, or provisioning profiles when bypassing EAS?
• What is the best approach to automate or manage iOS signing in local builds to avoid repeated errors?

[codingwizard0831]

Problem Description

When attempting a local iOS build without EAS, you may see errors like:

error: Signing for "YourApp" requires a development team. Select a development team in the Signing & Capabilities editor.
error: Provisioning profile "match AppStore com.example.app" doesn't match the bundle identifier.

Cause:

• Expo’s EAS automatically handles certificates and provisioning profiles, but local builds rely on manually installed profiles.
• A mismatch between bundle identifier, certificate type, or Apple Developer team prevents Xcode from signing the app.
• Any discrepancy immediately blocks IPA generation, making deployment impossible.

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Solution

1. Use Fastlane Match for Automation

Fastlane can synchronize certificates and provisioning profiles across development machines and CI/CD pipelines.

# Sync development and App Store profiles
fastlane match development
fastlane match appstore

2. Verify Xcode Project Settings

• Open Xcode → Target → Signing & Capabilities.
• Ensure Team is set to your Apple Developer team.
• Ensure the Bundle Identifier exactly matches the provisioning profile.

3. Automate in CI/CD (Optional but Recommended)

• Use Fastlane in a GitHub Actions or Bitrise workflow.
• Automatically fetch correct profiles, build, and deploy without manual intervention.

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Key Lessons

• When bypassing EAS, certificate and provisioning management is the critical failure point for iOS.
• Careful matching of bundle ID, team ID, and profile type is mandatory.
• Automation via Fastlane reduces human error and enables repeatable, reliable local builds.