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.
2,511 days without security patches
Recommended action: upgrade to Apple iPadOS 26. Support timeline
Official dates from the Apple iPadOS release process.
| Milestone | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Initial release | 17 Sept 2018 | — |
| End of life | 24 Sept 2019 | 6.9 years ago |
| Latest release | 12.5.8 · 26 Jan 2026 | final |
Where to go from 12
Recommended target: Apple iPadOS 26.
The newest actively supported branch is Apple iPadOS 26 (latest release 26.6).
Frequently asked questions
Is Apple iPadOS 12 still safe to use?
Apple iPadOS 12 reached end of life on 24 Sept 2019, 2,511 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 26, the newest actively supported branch.