Certificate validity issues with iPad apps

Question

Certificate validity issues with iPad apps

On several apps I get the "Certificate for this server is invalid" error and some websites give a similar error with the option to continue. Have tried resetting the time and date to no avail.

I am running iOS 9.3.5 (the last iOS available for this model) with 16 G.

I am wondering if Erase All content and Settings is a good or bad idea. Some of the apps I use are no longer available in a version that works on this iPad. I backed up the iPad to my Mac but I don't remember if it was before the errors started or after. If it was after the errors started, will erasing and restoring from the backup just resume the problems or might it help?

I also have a really old backup on my MacBook, which includes some truly out of date apps. It was made shortly after I got the iPad. Wondering if I used that backup to restore if there would be a possibility of finding usable versions of the apps I like online or somewhere.

This may be a fool's errand, but I thought I would see if anybody has any ideas before I jump in and Erase.

Thanks

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

iPad mini, iOS 9

Posted on Oct 11, 2021 4:17 PM

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Answer 1

Oct 26, 2021 1:05 PM in response to lindsey nagle

I found a solution for my iPad 3 from 2012 that had problems with Libby due to certificates - the AppStore says Libby is compatible with iOS 9 so I was able to download the latest version, but a change in certificates is causing a problem with the app working.

In Safari, I downloaded an updated certificate at this link - https://letsencrypt.org/certs/isrgrootx1.der

and installed it when prompted. Libby now works on my 11 year old Retina iPad.

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Answer 2

green500

Community Specialist

Oct 12, 2021 1:00 PM in response to lindsey nagle

Hello lindsey nagle,

Welcome to Apple Support Communities. We understand that you’re getting a certificate error on your iPad. We are happy to help.

Do you recall if your iPad was previously set up by your employer or school? We’re asking because there may have been certificate profiles installed. If so, please try the steps here: Trust manually installed certificate profiles in iOS and iPadOS - Apple Support

Do you get these certificate errors with any web browser you use? If you’re unsure, we recommend testing on another web browser.

If you restore from a previous backup where you had certificate issues, then you will have the same certificate issues showing.

Let us know if you have further questions.

Take care.

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Answer 3

green500

Community Specialist

Oct 18, 2021 11:31 AM in response to lindsey nagle

Hello lindsey nagle,

We understand your concern with the apps not working as expected. We recommend using the steps here to contact the developer: How to contact an app developer - Apple Support

We’d also recommend testing another another web browser to see if you get the same error.

Let us know the results.

Take care.

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Answer 4

markwmsn

Level 6

17,069 points

Oct 19, 2021 8:38 PM in response to lindsey nagle

I'm pretty sure your apps will be erased. Some that come with the system will be reinstalled, but the rest will not. Whether you can reinstall the others depends on whether they still exist in the App Store in versions that can run on the old version of iOS. Not many apps still have versions that can run on 9.3.5.

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Answer 5

Oct 12, 2021 2:22 PM in response to green500

I set up this iPad myself, not through school or employer (way back in 2014). Has been working Ok until a couple of weeks ago. I have an app that misbehaves frequently, so I deleted it and reinstalled, which I have done frequently. After the last install is when I get the certificate errors. I have tried resetting twice, to no avail. A few other apps get the same error. As far as I can tell, it doesn't affect Apple apps. The specific apps that no longer work are The Arizona Republic Print Edition, Overdrive and Libby. The AZ Republic seems to be the app that started the errors. I am using Safari, no other browser and it gets an occasional error but I can tap continue and the page loads.

So the main problem is with the 3 above-mentioned apps, which I use frequently. The latest version of the AZ Republic app and the Overdrive app won't run on my iOS version. The latest version of Libby will run, but it is buggy. I don't know if it's because of the certificate errors or because of something else.

Anyway, I'll try to restore from the previous backup. If that doesn't work, I think I would have to Erase All Content and Settings.

I assume that Apple installed apps will continue to work, but I'm not sure most others would work if I Erase All and attempt to reload third party apps.

Thanks for answering and for any more insight I may be able to get.

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Answer 6

Oct 19, 2021 8:38 AM in response to green500

Hi green500

The certificate invalid error is thrown by several apps that need to connect to the internet. They all started throwing the error at the same time, after I reinstalled an app that has been giving me trouble off and on for some time. I can no longer use those apps. As for the browser, it is Safari, so the developer is Apple. It doesn't throw the same error as the other apps, but frequently, I get a similar error when I try to access a url I haven't accessed before. Fortunately, I get the option to Continue, which I choose.

My main question is if I restore to factory settings, will I need to reinstall non-Apple apps? Will I need to reinstall Apple apps? The warning says "All of your media and other data will be erased." From this, I assume no apps will be erased, but I'd like to know for sure before I do this.

Thanks

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Answer 7

Oct 26, 2021 1:48 PM in response to Christopher Kilner1

Hi Christopher

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

This actually worked!

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Answer 8

Oct 26, 2021 2:01 PM in response to Christopher Kilner1

This also worked for the AZ Republic newspaper app that was kaputzki and the Overdrive app that had given up the ghost, too. Again, many thanks.

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Certificate validity issues with iPad apps

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