History of IOS 12 in Timeline
iOS 12, released on September 17, 2018, is the twelfth major iteration of Apple's iOS operating system. While maintaining a similar aesthetic to iOS 11, its primary focus shifted towards enhanced performance, quality improvements, and robust security updates. Announced at WWDC on June 4, 2018, it was succeeded by iOS 13 for iPhones and iPod Touches on September 19, 2019, and iPadOS 13 for iPads on September 24, 2019. Apple provided security updates for iOS 12 for an additional four years for older devices, with the final update, 12.5.7, arriving on January 23, 2023.
June 4, 2018: iOS 12 Announcement at WWDC
On June 4, 2018, iOS 12 was announced at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). This release focused on performance improvements, quality enhancements, and security updates rather than introducing major new features.
June 2018: Tim Cook Addresses Device Usage Concerns
In June 2018, after the announcement of the Screen Time feature, Tim Cook admitted he "was spending a lot more time than [he] should" on his phone, acknowledging concerns about excessive device usage.
June 25, 2018: First iOS 12 Public Beta Release
On June 25, 2018, Apple released the first public beta version of iOS 12, allowing a wider audience to test the new operating system.
September 17, 2018: iOS 12 Public Release
On September 17, 2018, Apple released iOS 12 to the public. This version prioritized performance and stability improvements over introducing many new features.
October 30, 2018: iOS 12.1 Release with Group FaceTime
On October 30, 2018, iOS 12.1 was released, introducing the ability to include up to 32 people in a FaceTime conversation, with hardware limitations on older devices.
January 28, 2019: Group FaceTime Temporarily Disabled
On January 28, 2019, Group FaceTime was disabled due to a software bug allowing callers to hear audio from recipients before the call was answered, raising privacy concerns.
February 7, 2019: Group FaceTime Restored with iOS 12.1.4
On February 7, 2019, the Group FaceTime functionality was restored with the release of iOS 12.1.4, which addressed the bug that had caused privacy concerns.
September 19, 2019: Succession by iOS 13 (iPhone and iPod Touch)
On September 19, 2019, iOS 13 succeeded iOS 12 for iPhone and iPod Touch devices.
September 24, 2019: Succession by iPadOS 13 (iPad)
On September 24, 2019, iPadOS 13 replaced iOS 12 for iPad devices, marking a divergence in operating systems.
2019: Completion of Apple Maps Relaunch in the US
By the end of 2019, Apple Maps had been completely rebuilt in the US, relying on first-party data for more accurate directions and route predictions.
December 14, 2020: iOS 12.5 Release with Exposure Notification API
On December 14, 2020, Apple released iOS 12.5, which included the Exposure Notification API (backported from iOS 13) to support digital contact tracing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
January 23, 2023: iOS 12.5.7 Release
On January 23, 2023, Apple released iOS 12.5.7, the final security update for devices unable to run newer iOS versions, providing continued support for older hardware.
