Alongside the release of iOS 26.2.1, Apple has rolled out a new update for older devices still operating on the legacy iOS 12 software, an impressive eight years after iOS 12 originally launched. The new update, iOS 12.5.8, is available for the iPhone 5s and iPhone 6, meaning Apple is continuing to support these aging devices 13 years and 12 years after their respective launches. The iPhone 5s debuted in September 2013, while the iPhone 6 followed in September 2014.
According to Apple’s release notes, iOS 12.5.8 extends the critical digital certificate required for core services such as iMessage, FaceTime, and device activation. Without this extension, these features would have stopped functioning once the certificate expired in January 2027. The update ensures that the key communication and activation capabilities on these older iPhones will remain operational well beyond that date.
Before this update, certificate‑dependent functions, most notably device activation, would have ceased once the existing certificate expired. Thanks to iOS 12.5.8, however, Apple has effectively prolonged the lifespan of both devices by ensuring continued compatibility for foundational system services. Prior to this release, the iPhone 5s and iPhone 6 last received updates in January 2023, when Apple issued several important security patches.
Apple has publicly committed to providing at least five years of security updates for every iPhone model starting from launch, though in practice, the company frequently extends support much longer. A notable example is the iPhone 6s, which despite being released 11 years ago, received a security update in September 2025 with the rollout of iOS 15.8.5, and again today with the release of iOS 15.8.6, which includes the same certificate extension featured in iOS 12.5.8.
In addition to these legacy updates, Apple has also released new versions of iOS 18 and iOS 16, continuing its broader ecosystem-wide software update cycle.
