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Release record

iOS 12.1

Full article
Public release
Recorded milestones
6
Beta cycle
42d
Average interval
8d
Public release
Oct 30, 2018

Release notes

Overview

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

iOS 12.1 delivered Group FaceTime for as many as 32 participants, more than 70 emoji, Dual SIM with eSIM on the 2018 iPhone family, and real-time Depth Control in supported Portrait-mode previews.[1][2]

The update also added Screen Time authentication controls and performance management on additional iPhones, corrected several communications and reporting issues, documented an AR Quick Look compatibility issue, and carried a separate multi-component security bulletin.[3][4][5]

Source ledger

References

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

  1. iOS 12.1 Brings Group FaceTime and New Emoji to iPhone and iPad

    Apple Newsroom · 2026-07-29 · Group FaceTime, New Emoji, Depth Control, and Dual SIM

    Back to text ↑
  2. About iOS 12 Updates

    Apple Support · 2026-07-29 · iOS 12.1 — Group FaceTime, Emoji, Dual SIM support, and other improvements

    Back to text ↑
  3. iOS 12.1 Release Notes

    Apple Developer · 2026-07-29 · AR Quick Look — Known Issues

    Back to text ↑
  4. About iOS 12 Updates

    Apple Support · 2026-07-29 · iOS 12.1 — Other improvements and fixes

    Back to text ↑
  5. About the Security Content of iOS 12.1

    Apple Support · 2026-07-29 · iOS 12.1 security content

    Back to text ↑
  6. iOS 12.1 Release Notes

    Apple Developer · 2026-07-29 · iOS 12.1 Release Notes

  7. About iOS 12 Updates

    Apple Support · 2026-07-29 · iOS 12.1

  8. iOS 12.1 Brings Group FaceTime and New Emoji to iPhone and iPad

    Apple Newsroom · 2026-07-29 · October 30 availability

  9. About the Security Content of iOS 12.1

    Apple Support · 2026-07-29 · Released October 30, 2018

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.

enhancement · changed

Screen Time passcode authentication

documentedconfirmed

Screen Time added biometric authentication to the workflow for changing or resetting a child’s Screen Time passcode.

Recorded at Public

  1. [1] About iOS 12 Updates · iOS 12.1 — Screen Time passcode

security · fixed

VoiceOver lock-screen photo access fix

documentedconfirmed

Apple addressed CVE-2018-4387, a VoiceOver-related path that could expose photos through Reply With Message while the device remained locked.

Recorded at Public

  1. [1] About the Security Content of iOS 12.1 · VoiceOver — CVE-2018-4387

bugFix · fixed

Messages, voicemail, Phone, and reporting fixes

documentedconfirmed

Apple fixed conversations merged across shared Apple IDs, absent voicemails and Phone contact names, missing website activity in Screen Time, and failures adding or removing Family Sharing members.

Recorded at Public

  1. [1] About iOS 12 Updates · iOS 12.1 — Other improvements and fixes

Milestones

Release history

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

  2. +14 days
  3. +7 days
  4. +6 days
  5. +7 days
  6. +8 days

    Public release

    Public

    Source-linked recordEditorially verified

    The public iOS 12.1 release introduced Group FaceTime, new emoji, Dual SIM, live Depth Control, additional Screen Time and battery controls, and targeted reliability and security corrections.

    Availability
    available
    Sources
    14 linked
    Open this appearance

Historical context

Cycle comparison

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

Historical avg for .1 releases

48 days, 5.2 milestones

Based on 20 previous iOS .1 releases

Cycle vs. platform average

42d (avg: 58d)

16 days shorter than the iOS average

Duration ranking

#53 of 92

Middle of the pack iOS beta cycles

Longest gap in this cycle

14 days

Between Beta 1 and Beta 2

Previous .1 releases (iOS)

Previous comparable iOS releases
VersionYearCycleMilestonesAvg. Interval
iOS 26.1202542d68d
iOS 18.1202491d1010d
iOS 17.1202328d75d
iOS 16.1202240d77d
iOS 15.1202134d67d
iOS 14.12020—27d

Scroll horizontally to compare every historical field.

Official release notes