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.
252 days without security patches
Recommended action: upgrade to Apple iOS 27. Support timeline
Official dates from the Apple iOS release process.
| Milestone | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Initial release | 17 Sept 2018 | 8y 1mo ago |
| Active Support ended | 19 Sept 2019 | security fixes only after this |
| Security Support ended | 26 Jan 2026 | 8mo ago |
| Latest release | 12.5.8 · 26 Jan 2026 | final |
Where to go from 12
Recommended target: Apple iOS 27.
The newest actively supported branch is Apple iOS 27 (latest release 27.0.1).
Frequently asked questions
Is Apple iOS 12 still safe to use?
Apple iOS 12 reached end of life on 26 Jan 2026, 252 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 27, the newest actively supported branch.