iOS build release error (is automatically signed for development, but a conflicting code signing identity iPhone Distribution has been manually specified)

For anyone still struggling, I have found a solution. The problem is in the Cordova settings.

Note this:

iPhone Distribution has been manually specified

This didn’t make any sense to me, since I had set the project to auto sign in xcode. Like you, the check and uncheck didn’t work. But then I read the last file path given and followed it. The file path is APP > Platforms > ios > Cordova > build-release.xconfig

And in the file, iPhone Distribution is explicitly set for CODE_SIGN_IDENTITY.

Change:

CODE_SIGN_IDENTITY = iPhone Distribution
CODE_SIGN_IDENTITY[sdk=iphoneos*] = iPhone Distribution

To:

CODE_SIGN_IDENTITY = iPhone Developer
CODE_SIGN_IDENTITY[sdk=iphoneos*] = iPhone Developer

It a simple thing, and the error message does make it clear that iPhone Distribution has been manually specified, but it doesn’t really say where unless you follow the path. I looked and fiddled with xcode for about three hours trying to figure this out. Hopes this helps anyone in the future.

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