---
title: "iOS Authentication Certificates and Tokens"
slug: "ios-authentication-certificates-and-tokens"
updated: 2024-09-13T15:01:43Z
published: 2024-09-13T15:01:43Z
canonical: "docs.mapp.com/ios-authentication-certificates-and-tokens"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.mapp.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# iOS Authentication Certificates and Tokens

There are two authentication methods for iOS mobile channels in Mapp Engage:

- Token-based - p.8 (recommended)
- Certificate-based - p.12

## Token-based authentication (p.8)

Token-based authentication is considered a best practice and is recommended over certificate-based authentication. Benefits include:

- It is faster than when using certificates since certificates have to be checked every time.
- You can use the same token for multiple apps.
- The Key ID and Team ID are automatically generated in Mapp Engage.

To apply token-based authentication, select p.8 during channel creation and upload your p.8 file. The Key ID and Team ID will be generated automatically.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/554b9b98-6720-4d8b-9919-c7b203d72648/Images/Documentation/70901d0e-9222-41f8-9132-df7259e5ef05.png)

## Certificate-based authentication (p.12)

Select p.12 during channel creation to apply certificate-based authentication and upload your p.12 file. Then, provide the certificate password.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/554b9b98-6720-4d8b-9919-c7b203d72648/Images/Documentation/9faeb63f-9185-4771-99ec-69a5b5fc9226.png)

## Switching from p.12 to p.8

1. First, obtain your token from Apple. To see how visit these Apple Developer pages:
  - [Establishing a Token-Based Connection to APNs](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/usernotifications/setting_up_a_remote_notification_server/establishing_a_token-based_connection_to_apns)
  - [Create a private key to access a service](https://developer.apple.com/help/account/manage-keys/create-a-private-key)
2. To change the authentication in your Mapp Engage channels, edit your channel and change the method in the **Configure** step.

## Expired Certificates

When certificates expire, the channel stops working, and messages cannot be sent via it. Mapp Engage displays the relevant notification during message creation.

## Related

- [Channels: Create Web Channel](/channel-creation-window.md)