diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index c525d8208..b4f418287 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -125,6 +125,7 @@ Thumbs.db
 *.p12
 *.mobileprovision
 Secrets.xcconfig
+Local.xcconfig
 
 # Debug
 *.log
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 12c6658f5..e5df309a5 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -15,18 +15,22 @@ brew install swiftlint swiftformat
 
 ### Building with a personal Apple team
 
-To Debug-build under your own team, open `TablePro.xcodeproj`, select the `TablePro` target, then **Signing & Capabilities → Debug** sub-tab:
-
-1. **Team**: pick your personal team. If another target fails to sign later, repeat there.
-2. **Bundle Identifier**: change `com.TablePro` to something unique (e.g. `com.<yourhandle>.TablePro`).
-3. **Code Signing Entitlements** (Build Settings tab): switch Debug to `TablePro/TablePro.Debug.entitlements`. It ships in the repo and drops iCloud, which free teams don't support. Sync auto-disables at runtime.
-
-Don't commit the resulting `pbxproj` changes. They break official Release signing. Skip them locally:
+The project's signing settings are read from `Configurations/Shared.xcconfig`, which optionally includes a gitignored `Local.xcconfig` for per-developer overrides. To Debug-build under your own team, copy the example file and edit:
 
 ```bash
-git update-index --skip-worktree TablePro.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj
+cp Local.xcconfig.example Local.xcconfig
 ```
 
+In `Local.xcconfig`, uncomment and set the values you need:
+
+- `DEVELOPMENT_TEAM`: your team ID (Xcode > Settings > Accounts > Manage Certificates).
+- `PRODUCT_BUNDLE_IDENTIFIER`: make it unique under your team (e.g. `com.yourhandle.TablePro`).
+- `CODE_SIGN_ENTITLEMENTS = TablePro/TablePro.Debug.entitlements`: only if your team is free (no iCloud capability). Sync auto-disables at runtime.
+
+That's it. No pbxproj edits. `Local.xcconfig` is gitignored so your overrides stay local; the project file keeps signing for the official team.
+
+Note: free personal teams hit Apple's 10-bundle-IDs-per-7-days limit because the project signs around a dozen plugin bundles. Expect occasional waits if you re-create your team's signing identity often.
+
 To verify: save a connection password, relaunch, reopen. The password should still be there.
 
 Build:
diff --git a/Configurations/Shared.xcconfig b/Configurations/Shared.xcconfig
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f6e4043ed
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Configurations/Shared.xcconfig
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+// TablePro shared build settings.
+//
+// Wired as the project-level Configuration File for both Debug and Release
+// (Project Editor > Project > Info > Configurations).
+//
+// Defaults below match the official D7HJ5TFYCU team. Contributors override
+// per-developer values in Local.xcconfig (gitignored). See CONTRIBUTING.md.
+
+DEVELOPMENT_TEAM = D7HJ5TFYCU
+PRODUCT_BUNDLE_IDENTIFIER = com.TablePro
+CODE_SIGN_ENTITLEMENTS = TablePro/TablePro.entitlements
+
+#include? "../Local.xcconfig"
diff --git a/Local.xcconfig.example b/Local.xcconfig.example
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a945049a4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Local.xcconfig.example
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+// Copy this file to Local.xcconfig and uncomment the lines you want to override.
+// Local.xcconfig is gitignored. See CONTRIBUTING.md for details.
+
+// Your Apple Developer team ID.
+// Find it in Xcode > Settings > Accounts > select account > Manage Certificates,
+// or System Settings > Apple ID > Sign in with your Apple ID > Developer.
+// DEVELOPMENT_TEAM = ABCD123456
+
+// Your bundle identifier. Must be unique under your team.
+// PRODUCT_BUNDLE_IDENTIFIER = com.yourhandle.TablePro
+
+// Path to a custom entitlements file (relative to project root).
+// Free personal teams cannot sign the iCloud capability; point at the iCloud-free variant.
+// CODE_SIGN_ENTITLEMENTS = TablePro/TablePro.Debug.entitlements