Apple iOS 12 End of Life
Support dates and upgrade guidance — rebuilt from live data.
End of Life
Apple iOS 12 reached end of life on 26 Jan 2026. It no longer receives security fixes.
195 days without security patches
Recommended action: upgrade to Apple iOS 26. Support timeline
Official dates from the Apple iOS release process.
| Milestone | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Initial release | 17 Sept 2018 | — |
| End of life | 26 Jan 2026 | 0.5 years ago |
| Active support ended | 19 Sept 2019 | security fixes only after this |
| Latest release | 12.5.8 · 26 Jan 2026 | final |
Where to go from 12
Recommended target: Apple iOS 26.
The newest actively supported branch is Apple iOS 26 (latest release 26.6).
Frequently asked questions
Is Apple iOS 12 still safe to use?
Apple iOS 12 reached end of life on 26 Jan 2026, 195 days ago, and is no longer covered by standard support. Running it means no guaranteed security fixes.
Can I still download Apple iOS 12?
Yes — the final release (12.5.8) generally remains available from vendor archives and OS package mirrors, but installing it means running software with known, unpatched vulnerabilities.
What should I upgrade Apple iOS 12 to?
Upgrade to Apple iOS 26, the newest actively supported branch.