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Release appearance

iOS 12.0 Public

Source-linked record
Public release

Recorded context

About this appearance

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

Date
Sep 17, 2018
Availability
available
Revision
No

Chronology evidence

Appearance sources

These sources support the recorded date, channel, or availability. A researched release-notes article has not been added.

  1. iOS 12 Release Notes

    Apple Developer · Apple · 2026-07-29 · Core ML — New Features

  2. iOS 12 Is Available Today

    Apple Newsroom · 2026-07-29 · Dynamic AR Experiences

  3. iOS 12 Is Available Today

    Apple Newsroom · 2026-07-29 · Faster and More Responsive

  4. About iOS 12 Updates

    Apple Support · 2026-07-29 · iOS 12 — Augmented Reality and Measure

  5. About iOS 12 Updates

    Apple Support · 2026-07-29 · iOS 12 — Do Not Disturb and Notifications

  6. About iOS 12 Updates

    Apple Support · 2026-07-29 · iOS 12 — Messages

  7. About iOS 12 Updates

    Apple Support · 2026-07-29 · iOS 12 — Performance

  8. About iOS 12 Updates

    Apple Support · 2026-07-29 · iOS 12 — Photos

  9. About iOS 12 Updates

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

  10. About iOS 12 Updates

    Apple Support · 2026-07-29 · iOS 12 — Screen Time

  11. About iOS 12 Updates

    Apple Support · 2026-07-29 · iOS 12 — Siri

  12. iOS 12 Release Notes

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

  13. About iOS 12 Updates

    Apple Support · 2026-07-29 · iOS 12

  14. iOS 12 Is Available Today

    Apple Newsroom · 2026-07-29 · Memoji and Fun Camera Effects

  15. iOS 12 Is Available Today

    Apple Newsroom · 2026-07-29 · Photos For You and More Ways to Search

  16. iOS 12 Is Available Today

    Apple Newsroom · 2026-07-29 · Privacy and Security

  17. About the Security Content of iOS 12

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

  18. iOS 12 Is Available Today

    Apple Newsroom · 2026-07-29 · Screen Time, Do Not Disturb and Notifications

  19. iOS 12 Is Available Today

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

  20. iOS 12 Is Available Today

    Apple Newsroom · 2026-07-29 · Siri Shortcuts for iOS Apps

  21. iOS 12 Release Notes

    Apple Developer · Apple · 2026-07-29 · USB Accessories — New Features

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.

  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.

  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.

  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.

  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.

  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.

  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.

  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.

  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.

  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.

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