Electron Desktop App Development · Lesson

Code Signing and Notarization

Understand the importance of code signing for Windows and notarization for macOS to ensure user trust and security compliance.

Code Signing and Notarization is a free Electron Desktop App Development lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 2 of 4. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the Electron Desktop App Development learning path, one of 4 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.

Building Trust with Code Signing

When you distribute your Electron app, users need to trust it. Operating systems like Windows and macOS have built-in security features to protect users from malicious software.

Code signing and notarization are essential steps to prove your app's authenticity and integrity, ensuring users feel safe installing it.

What is Code Signing?

Code signing is like attaching a digital signature to your application. It uses a cryptographic certificate issued by a trusted Certificate Authority (CA).

Authenticity: Verifies the app comes from you, the publisher.
Integrity: Confirms the app hasn't been tampered with since you signed it.

If the signature is invalid or altered, the OS will warn the user.

Trust on Windows

On Windows, unsigned applications often trigger security warnings like "Windows protected your PC" (SmartScreen filter).

A valid code signature helps your app pass these checks, giving users confidence and reducing installation friction. It also allows your app to be installed without extra administrator prompts for some operations.

Signing Windows Executables

To sign your Windows Electron app, you'll need a Code Signing Certificate. This is typically a PFX file containing your private key and certificate chain.

Tools like electron-builder simplify this process by letting you specify your certificate details in the configuration.

{
  "build": {
    "win": {
      "target": "nsis",
      "signingHashAlgorithms": ["sha256"],
      "signAndEditExecutable": true
    },
    "cscKeyPassword": "your-cert-password",
    "cscInstallerPassword": "your-cert-password",
    "cscLink": "path/to/your/certificate.pfx"
  }
}

Time-Stamping Your Signature

When code signing, it's crucial to also time-stamp your signature. This ensures that even if your signing certificate expires, the signature remains valid because it was signed when the certificate was active.

Most signing tools, including electron-builder, can automatically add a time-stamp server URL to your signing process.

macOS Notarization Explained

For macOS, Apple introduced Notarization as an additional security check. It's an automated service that scans your app for malicious content and code signature issues.

Think of it as Apple giving your app a "seal of approval" before it can run smoothly on macOS Catalina and later.

Meeting Apple's Gatekeeper

macOS's security feature, Gatekeeper, blocks unsigned or unnotarized apps from running by default. Users will see a warning that the app "cannot be opened because the developer cannot be verified."

Notarization allows your app to pass Gatekeeper checks without annoying users or requiring them to bypass security settings manually.

Getting Ready for Notarization

To notarize your Electron app, you need:

An Apple Developer ID.
An app-specific password for your Apple ID.
Your app must be signed with a Developer ID Application certificate.
Hardened Runtime enabled (a security feature).

electron-builder handles most of these configurations for you.

Notarizing with electron-builder

electron-builder simplifies the notarization process. You configure your Apple ID credentials and it handles uploading your app to Apple's notarization service.

It waits for the notarization to complete and then "staples" the notarization ticket to your app bundle.

{
  "build": {
    "mac": {
      "hardenedRuntime": true,
      "gatekeeperAssess": false,
      "entitlementsInherit": "build/entitlements.mac.plist",
      "entitlements": "build/entitlements.mac.plist"
    },
    "afterSign": "electron-builder-notarize"
  }
}

Secure & Automated Signing

Always keep your signing certificates and private keys secure. Treat them like sensitive passwords.

Integrate code signing and notarization into your Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipeline to automate the process and ensure every build is properly signed and notarized.

Check Your Knowledge

Which statements accurately describe the purpose or requirements of code signing and macOS notarization?

Recap: Trust & Security

In this lesson, we learned about the critical role of code signing for Windows and notarization for macOS in distributing your Electron applications.

These processes build user trust, ensure app integrity, and help your app run smoothly on target operating systems by satisfying their built-in security requirements.

Frequently asked questions

Is the “Code Signing and Notarization” lesson free?

Yes — the full text of “Code Signing and Notarization” is free to read here on the web, and the Electron Desktop App Development course includes 4 lessons in total. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the Electron Desktop App Development course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.

What will I learn in “Code Signing and Notarization”?

Understand the importance of code signing for Windows and notarization for macOS to ensure user trust and security compliance. You practise Electron Desktop App Development with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.

Do I need any experience to start Electron Desktop App Development?

No prior experience is required. Electron Desktop App Development on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 2 of 4, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.

How long does the “Code Signing and Notarization” lesson take?

Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.

Can I write and run code in this Electron Desktop App Development lesson?

Yes. Every Electron Desktop App Development lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.

All lessons in this course

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