Apple iPadOS 12 End of Life
Support dates and upgrade guidance — rebuilt from live data.
End of Life
Apple iPadOS 12 reached end of life on 24 Sept 2019. It no longer receives security fixes.
2,568 days without security patches
Recommended action: upgrade to Apple iPadOS 27. Support timeline
Official dates from the Apple iPadOS release process.
| Milestone | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Initial release | 17 Sept 2018 | 8y 1mo ago |
| Security Support ended | 24 Sept 2019 | 7y ago |
| Latest release | 12.5.8 · 26 Jan 2026 | final |
Where to go from 12
Recommended target: Apple iPadOS 27.
The newest actively supported branch is Apple iPadOS 27 (latest release 27.0.1).
Frequently asked questions
Is Apple iPadOS 12 still safe to use?
Apple iPadOS 12 reached end of life on 24 Sept 2019, 2,568 days ago, and is no longer covered by standard support. Running it means no guaranteed security fixes.
Can I still download Apple iPadOS 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 iPadOS 12 to?
Upgrade to Apple iPadOS 27, the newest actively supported branch.