Release appearance
iOS 12.1 Public
Recorded context
About this appearance
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.
- Date
- Oct 30, 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.
- iOS 12.1 Brings Group FaceTime and New Emoji to iPhone and iPad
Apple Newsroom · 2026-07-29 · Depth Control in Camera
- iOS 12.1 Brings Group FaceTime and New Emoji to iPhone and iPad
Apple Newsroom · 2026-07-29 · Dual SIM
- iOS 12.1 Brings Group FaceTime and New Emoji to iPhone and iPad
Apple Newsroom · 2026-07-29 · Group FaceTime
- About iOS 12 Updates
Apple Support · 2026-07-29 · iOS 12.1 — Depth Control
- About iOS 12 Updates
Apple Support · 2026-07-29 · iOS 12.1 — Dual SIM support
- About iOS 12 Updates
Apple Support · 2026-07-29 · iOS 12.1 — Emoji
- About iOS 12 Updates
Apple Support · 2026-07-29 · iOS 12.1 — Group FaceTime
- About iOS 12 Updates
Apple Support · 2026-07-29 · iOS 12.1 — Other improvements and fixes
- About iOS 12 Updates
Apple Support · 2026-07-29 · iOS 12.1 — Screen Time passcode
- About iOS 12 Updates
Apple Support · 2026-07-29 · iOS 12.1
- iOS 12.1 Brings Group FaceTime and New Emoji to iPhone and iPad
Apple Newsroom · 2026-07-29 · New Emoji
- iOS 12.1 Brings Group FaceTime and New Emoji to iPhone and iPad
Apple Newsroom · 2026-07-29 · October 30 availability
- About the Security Content of iOS 12.1
Apple Support · 2026-07-29 · Released October 30, 2018
- About the Security Content of iOS 12.1
Apple Support · 2026-07-29 · VoiceOver — CVE-2018-4387
Release changes
Changed in this release
Features, fixes, removals, and regressions first observed in this release record.
enhancement · changed
Screen Time passcode authentication
Screen Time added biometric authentication to the workflow for changing or resetting a child’s Screen Time passcode.
- [1] About iOS 12 Updates · iOS 12.1 — Screen Time passcode
feature · introduced
Group FaceTime
Users could start or join a Group FaceTime session from FaceTime or a group Messages conversation, with automatic speaker prominence and support for as many as 32 participants.
- [1] iOS 12.1 Brings Group FaceTime and New Emoji to iPhone and iPad · Group FaceTime
- [2] About iOS 12 Updates · iOS 12.1 — Group FaceTime
security · fixed
VoiceOver lock-screen photo access fix
Apple addressed CVE-2018-4387, a VoiceOver-related path that could expose photos through Reply With Message while the device remained locked.
- [1] About the Security Content of iOS 12.1 · VoiceOver — CVE-2018-4387
bugFix · fixed
Messages, voicemail, Phone, and reporting fixes
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.
- [1] About iOS 12 Updates · iOS 12.1 — Other improvements and fixes
enhancement · changed
Live Depth Control preview
Depth Control became available in the live Camera preview on iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR, extending the existing post-capture adjustment workflow.
- [1] iOS 12.1 Brings Group FaceTime and New Emoji to iPhone and iPad · Depth Control in Camera
- [2] About iOS 12 Updates · iOS 12.1 — Depth Control
feature · introduced
Dual SIM with eSIM
iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR could activate an additional carrier plan through eSIM while retaining a physical nano-SIM line.
- [1] iOS 12.1 Brings Group FaceTime and New Emoji to iPhone and iPad · Dual SIM
- [2] About iOS 12 Updates · iOS 12.1 — Dual SIM support
enhancement · changed
More than 70 new emoji
iOS 12.1 added more than 70 emoji, including additional hair representation, faces, animals, sports, food, travel, and cultural symbols.
- [1] About iOS 12 Updates · iOS 12.1 — Emoji
- [2] iOS 12.1 Brings Group FaceTime and New Emoji to iPhone and iPad · New Emoji