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Release record

iOS 12.0

Full article
Public release
Recorded milestones
14
Beta cycle
105d
Average interval
8d
Public release
Sep 17, 2018

Release notes

Overview

Editorial synthesis with inline references and a source ledger when citations are available.

iOS 12 emphasized responsiveness across the supported device range and introduced major user-facing systems for Screen Time, grouped notifications, Siri Shortcuts, shared augmented reality, Memoji, and richer Photos discovery.[1][2]

The release also tightened Safari tracking defenses and password handling, expanded Core ML and networking capabilities for developers, and shipped a broad security bulletin covering system, app, media, web, and device-access components.[3][4][5]

Source ledger

References

Sources are linked to the claims they support. Publication and access dates are shown when available.

  1. iOS 12 Is Available Today

    Apple Newsroom · 2026-07-29 · Faster and More Responsive through Siri Shortcuts

    Back to text ↑
  2. About iOS 12 Updates

    Apple Support · 2026-07-29 · iOS 12 — Performance, Photos, Messages, Screen Time, Notifications, Siri, and Augmented Reality

    Back to text ↑
  3. iOS 12 Release Notes

    Apple Developer · Apple · 2026-07-29 · Core ML, Networking, and USB Accessories

    Back to text ↑
  4. About iOS 12 Updates

    Apple Support · 2026-07-29 · iOS 12 — Privacy and Security

    Back to text ↑
  5. About the Security Content of iOS 12

    Apple Support · 2026-07-29 · iOS 12 security content

    Back to text ↑
  6. iOS 12 Release Notes

    Apple Developer · Apple · 2026-07-29 · iOS 12 Release Notes

  7. About iOS 12 Updates

    Apple Support · 2026-07-29 · iOS 12

  8. About the Security Content of iOS 12

    Apple Support · 2026-07-29 · Released September 17, 2018

  9. iOS 12 Is Available Today

    Apple Newsroom · 2026-07-29 · September 17, 2018 availability

Documented & observed

Changes in this version

Source-linked features, fixes, known issues, removals, and community-observed behavior recorded across this version’s appearances and verified builds.

Release changes

Changed in this release

Features, fixes, removals, and regressions first observed in this release record.

developerApi · changed

Core ML model and prediction expansion

documentedconfirmed

The iOS 12 SDK expanded Core ML with compact quantized models, flexible input shapes, batch prediction, custom layers, and models trained through Create ML templates.

Recorded at Public

  1. [1] iOS 12 Release Notes · Core ML — New Features

security · introduced

Safari tracking and password protections

documentedconfirmed

Enhanced Intelligent Tracking Prevention limited tracking by embedded social controls and reduced device fingerprinting, while strong-password suggestions, reuse flags, SMS security-code AutoFill, and AirDrop password sharing strengthened account workflows.

Recorded at Public

  1. [1] About iOS 12 Updates · iOS 12 — Privacy and Security
  2. [2] iOS 12 Is Available Today · Privacy and Security

enhancement · changed

System performance improvements

documentedconfirmed

iOS 12 focused on faster everyday interactions across supported devices extending back to iPhone 5s and iPad Air, including app launches, keyboard appearance, typing, and Camera access.

Recorded at Public

  1. [1] iOS 12 Is Available Today · Faster and More Responsive
  2. [2] About iOS 12 Updates · iOS 12 — Performance

feature · introduced

Memoji and Messages camera effects

documentedconfirmed

Users could create personalized Memoji, use new Animoji characters with wink and tongue detection, and apply Animoji, filters, text, stickers, and shapes while capturing Messages photos and videos.

Recorded at Public

  1. [1] About iOS 12 Updates · iOS 12 — Messages
  2. [2] iOS 12 Is Available Today · Memoji and Fun Camera Effects

feature · introduced

Grouped notifications and expanded Do Not Disturb

documentedconfirmed

Notifications from an app could be grouped and tuned directly from the Lock Screen, including quiet delivery, while Do Not Disturb gained automatic ending conditions and a Bedtime presentation.

Recorded at Public

  1. [1] About iOS 12 Updates · iOS 12 — Do Not Disturb and Notifications
  2. [2] iOS 12 Is Available Today · Screen Time, Do Not Disturb and Notifications

feature · introduced

Screen Time

documentedconfirmed

Screen Time summarized app and website activity, notifications, and device pickups; App Limits constrained selected use, while Family Sharing let parents view reports and manage a child’s schedule.

Recorded at Public

  1. [1] About iOS 12 Updates · iOS 12 — Screen Time
  2. [2] iOS 12 Is Available Today · Screen Time, Do Not Disturb and Notifications

feature · introduced

ARKit 2 and Measure

documentedconfirmed

ARKit 2 supported shared sessions, saved experiences, moving-image tracking, and AR Quick Look in Apple apps, while Measure used augmented reality to estimate lines, surfaces, and rectangular objects.

Recorded at Public

  1. [1] iOS 12 Is Available Today · Dynamic AR Experiences
  2. [2] About iOS 12 Updates · iOS 12 — Augmented Reality and Measure

security · introduced

Locked-device USB accessory protection

documentedconfirmed

iOS 12 could block data communication and some accessory behavior over USB until the device was unlocked, with a separate accessibility setting available for assistive USB devices.

Recorded at Public

  1. [1] iOS 12 Release Notes · USB Accessories — New Features

feature · introduced

Photos discovery and sharing

documentedconfirmed

A new For You tab surfaced featured memories and effect ideas, sharing suggestions connected event participants, and search could combine intelligent terms such as people, places, businesses, and events.

Recorded at Public

  1. [1] About iOS 12 Updates · iOS 12 — Photos
  2. [2] iOS 12 Is Available Today · Photos For You and More Ways to Search

feature · introduced

Siri Shortcuts

documentedconfirmed

Supported apps gained Add to Siri actions, the system suggested shortcuts based on routines, and the Shortcuts app let users assemble multi-step voice-triggered workflows.

Recorded at Public

  1. [1] About iOS 12 Updates · iOS 12 — Siri
  2. [2] iOS 12 Is Available Today · Siri Shortcuts for iOS Apps

Milestones

Release history

Every recorded channel appearance in chronological order. Open an appearance for any available build, scope, notes, and sources.

  2. +15 days
  3. +14 days

    Developer beta

    Beta 3

    Full articleEditorially verified

    iOS 12 Beta 3 is represented by 37 Apple-documented new or resolved issue records from the dated developer PDF; cumulative known issues, community observations, and build claims are excluded.

    Availability
    available
    Sources
    47 linked
    Open this appearance
  4. +14 days
  5. +13 days
  6. +7 days
  7. +7 days
  8. +2 days
  9. +5 days
  10. +3 days
  11. +4 days
  12. +4 days
  13. +12 days
  14. +5 days

    Public release

    Public

    Source-linked recordEditorially verified

    The public iOS 12 release combined broad performance work with new photo discovery, communication, wellbeing, automation, augmented-reality, privacy, developer, and device-access capabilities.

    Availability
    available
    Sources
    21 linked
    Open this appearance

Historical context

Cycle comparison

Pace, intervals, and duration compared with earlier releases on the same platform.

Historical avg for major releases

101 days, 9.8 milestones

Based on 17 previous iOS .0 releases

Cycle vs. platform average

105d (avg: 57d)

48 days longer than the iOS average

Duration ranking

#8 of 92

Middle of the pack iOS beta cycles

Longest gap in this cycle

15 days

Between Beta 1 and Beta 2

Previous .0 releases (iOS)

Previous comparable iOS releases
VersionYearCycleMilestonesAvg. Interval
iOS 26.0202598d158d
iOS 18.0202498d129d
iOS 17.02023105d139d
iOS 16.0202298d1210d
iOS 15.02021105d1211d
iOS 14.0202086d1010d

Scroll horizontally to compare every historical field.

Official release notes