# Creating an application and enabling push channels
Creating an application and enabling push channels

Before you can use AWS End User Messaging Push to send push notifications, you first have to create an application and enable the push notifications channel.

## Contextual


**Application**  
An application is a storage container for all of your AWS End User Messaging Push settings. The application also stores your Amazon Pinpoint channels, campaigns, and journeys settings.

**Key**  
A private signing key used by AWS End User Messaging Push to cryptographically sign APNs authentication tokens. You obtain the signing key from your Apple developer account.   
If you provide a signing key,AWS End User Messaging Push uses a token to authenticate with APNs for every push notification that you send. With your signing key, you can send push notifications to APNs production and sandbox environments.  
Unlike certificates, your signing key doesn't expire. You only provide your key once, and you don't need to renew it later. You can use the same signing key for multiple apps. For more information, see [Communicate with APNs using authentication tokens](https://help.apple.com/developer-account/#/deva05921840) in *Xcode Help*.

**Certificate**  
A TLS certificate that AWS End User Messaging Push uses to authenticate with APNs when you send push notifications. An APNs certificate can support both production and sandbox environments, or it can support only the sandbox environment. You obtain the certificate from your Apple developer account.   
A certificate expires after one year. When this happens, you must create a new certificate, which you then provide to AWS End User Messaging Push to renew push notification deliveries. For more information, see [Communicate with APNs using a TLS certificate](https://help.apple.com/developer-account/#/dev82a71386a) in *Xcode Help*.

## Prerequisites


Before you can use any push channel you need valid credentials for the push service. For more information on obtaining credentials, see [Getting started with AWS End User Messaging Push](getting-started.md).

## Procedure


Follow these directions to create an application and enable any of the push channels. To complete this procedure you are only required to enter an application name. You can enable or disable any of the push channels at a later time.

1. Open the AWS End User Messaging Push console at [https://console.aws.amazon.com/push-notifications/](https://console.aws.amazon.com/push-notifications/).

1. Choose **Create application**.

1. For **Application name** enter the name for your application.

1. (Optional) Follow this optional step to enable the **Apple Push Notification service (APNs)**.

   1. For **Apple Push Notification service (APNs)** select **Enable**.

   1. For **Default authentication type** choose either:

      1. If you choose **Key credentials**, provide the following information from your Apple developer account. AWS End User Messaging Push requires this information to construct authentication tokens.
         + **Key ID** – The ID that's assigned to your signing key. 
         + **Bundle identifier** – The ID that's assigned to your iOS app. 
         + **Team identifier** – The ID that's assigned to your Apple developer account team. 
         + **Authentication key** – The .p8 file that you download from your Apple developer account when you create an authentication key. 

      1. If you choose **Certificate credentials**, provide the following information:
         + **SSL certificate** – The .p12 file for your TLS certificate. 
         + **Certificate password** – If you assigned a password to your certificate, enter it here.
         + **Certificate type** – Select the type of certificate to use.

1. (Optional) Follow this optional step to enable the **Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM)**.

   1. For **Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM)** select **Enable**.

   1. For **Default authentication type** choose either:

      1. For **Token credentials (recommended)** choose **Choose files** and then choose your service JSON file.

      1. For **Key credentials** enter your key in **API key**.

1. (Optional) Follow this optional step to enable the **Baidu Cloud Push**.

   1. For **Baidu Cloud Push** select **Enable**.

   1. For **API key** enter your API key.

   1. For **Secret key** enter your secret key.

1. (Optional) Follow this optional step to enable the **Amazon Device Messaging**.

   1. For **Amazon Device Messaging** select **Enable**.

   1. For **Client ID** enter your client ID.

   1. For **Client secret** enter your client secret.

1. Choose **Create application**.