Apple Extends Support for Older iPhones with iOS 12.5.8

Apple has released an updated version of iOS 12, specifically iOS 12.5.8, for older devices. This update is available for the iPhone 5s and iPhone 6. The iPhone 5s was released in September 2013, and the iPhone 6 in September 2014, marking continued support for these devices 13 and 12 years after their respective launches.

Update Purpose

According to Apple's release notes, iOS 12.5.8 extends the certificate required for functionalities such as iMessage, FaceTime, and device activation.

This extension ensures these features will continue to operate beyond January 2027.

Without this update, certificate-limited functions like device activation would have ceased upon the certificate's expiration.

Previous Support and Policy

Prior to this release, the iPhone 5s and iPhone 6 received their last software updates in January 2023, which included important security fixes.

Apple's public commitment involves providing a minimum of five years of security updates for an iPhone from its launch date. The company frequently offers vulnerability fixes for periods extending beyond this minimum.

For example, the iPhone 6s, launched 11 years ago, received a security update in September 2025 with iOS 15.8.5. This device also received an iOS 15.8.6 update, which includes the same certificate extension as iOS 12.5.8. Additionally, Apple released new versions of iOS 26.2.1, iOS 18, and iOS 16 concurrently with this update.