"The binary you uploaded was invalid. the file was not a valid zip file" Error message uploading app to iTunes Connect

Question

Hi, I'm trying to upload an iPhone app binary to iTunesConnect and keep getting the following error message "The binary you upload was invalid. the file was not a valid zip file". I had an app upload ok recently but this app is having problems. So after a while I carefully went through the following steps trying to make sure everything was ok. Any help is appreciated.

The steps:

1. renamed the project (Project->Rename... enter name into Rename project to:) to release name making sure the name has no spaces.

2. Cleaned project

3. Make sure references in build setting reflect new app name
4. Create new app ID matching project name in iPhone Provisioning Portal
5. Destroyed old developer and distributer provisioning profiles in Provisioning Portal, in XCode and on iPhone.
6. Create new development provisioning profile using new app name.
7. Install development provisioning profile into XCode 8) Build (Release) for iPhone OS 3.1.3 (highest my phone will upgrade to, I'm assuming current released version)

8. Builds, Installs and Runs on actual iPhone: To me this implys App and developer ID's are OK.

9. Create a distributor provisioning profile using existing Distributer ID.

10. Install distributer ID into XCode
11. Clean
12. Checked that "Code Signing Identity" and "Any iPhone OS Device" lines in Build settings are set to Distributor ID
13. Build for release for OS 3.1.3
14. Check Build results to make sure code is signed with Distributor Profile
15. Reveal .app file and compress (alt click > Compress "appName.app")

16. Upload to iTunes connect

    Gives "The binary you uploaded was invalid. The file was not a valid zip file"

Answer 1

Here's some additional steps I try: Quit Xcode after clean (or clean all) then delete the Build folder. I don't "Build and Go", just "Build". The AppName.app is generally in the "App Store" folder (or whatever you name your build configuration for App Store release. I right click only that AppName.app file and choose "Compress" in the Finder.

You could also try uploading it with Safari.

It seems like your problem isn't with the provisioning profiles, but with the way the file is being zipped (or maybe uploaded). Try repeating that part, changing details.

Answer 2

Thanks for the help. It turned out the problem was to do with the fact my project folder was on an ntfs HD. As an experiment I copied it onto my macs HD and it worked perfectly. I don't really understand why this is.