Release record

iOS 4.2.1

Full article

Public release

Recorded milestones: 6
Beta cycle: 68d
Average interval: 14d
Public release: Nov 22, 2010

Release notes

Overview

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

Apple’s announcement describes the November 22 package as iOS 4.2, while the local catalog and Apple’s later 4.3 advisory identify the installed predecessor as 4.2.1. The update brought multitasking, folders, unified Mail, and Game Center to iPad and introduced AirPlay and AirPrint across supported devices.^[1]^[2]^[3]

The release also made Find My iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch free on qualifying devices and expanded Safari search, enterprise management, accessibility, and language coverage on iPad. Apple’s bulletin records protections for configuration profiles, fonts and images, ad-triggered calls, networking, passcode state, credentials, and WebKit.^[4]^[5]^[2]

Source ledger

References

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

About the security content of iOS 4.3
Apple Support · 2026-07-30 · Available for range through iOS 4.2.1
Back to text ↑
About the security content of iOS 4.2
Apple Support · 2026-07-30 · iOS 4.2 security content
Back to text ↑
Apple’s iOS 4.2 Available Today for iPad, iPhone & iPod touch
Apple Newsroom · Apple · 2010-11-22T00:00:00Z · November 22 availability and principal features
Back to text ↑
Apple’s iOS 4.2 Available Today for iPad, iPhone & iPod touch
Apple Newsroom · Apple · 2010-11-22T00:00:00Z · Find My device and other iPad features
Back to text ↑
Apple security updates (2010)
Apple Support · 2026-07-30 · iOS 4.2 — 22 Nov 2010
Back to text ↑
Apple’s iOS 4.2 Available Today for iPad, iPhone & iPod touch
Apple Newsroom · Apple · 2010-11-22T00:00:00Z · iOS 4.2 — 22 Nov 2010

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.

compatibility · introduced

Exchange invitations appeared in iPad Calendar

undocumentedreported

Calendar could display event invitations received through a Microsoft Exchange account.

Recorded at iOS 4.2 Beta 1

[1] First Look: iOS 4.2 beta 1 · Calendar Exchange invitations

feature · introduced

AirPrint found printers on the local network

documentedconfirmed

The printing architecture located supported devices over the current network without manual discovery.

Recorded at iOS 4.2 Beta 1

[1] Apple’s AirPrint Wireless Printing for iPad, iPhone & iPod touch Coming to Users in November · AirPrint local discovery

feature · introduced

iPad adopted the iOS multitasking services

undocumentedreported

Eligible tablet apps could use the established background modes and appear in a fast-switching shelf.

Recorded at iOS 4.2 Beta 1

[1] Apple Releases First iOS 4.2 Beta for iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch · iOS 4 features on iPad
[2] First Look: iOS 4.2 beta 1 · iPad multitasking behavior

compatibility · introduced

AirPrint through shared desktop printers

documentedconfirmed

iOS devices could send print jobs to printers shared by a Mac or PC during the prerelease cycle.

Recorded at iOS 4.2 Beta 1

[1] Apple’s AirPrint Wireless Printing for iPad, iPhone & iPod touch Coming to Users in November · Shared Mac or PC printing

enhancement · introduced

Notes gained a default-account setting

undocumentedreported

A new preference selected which account received newly created notes.

Recorded at iOS 4.2 Beta 1

[1] First Look: iOS 4.2 beta 1 · Notes default account

feature · introduced

Safari added in-page search

undocumentedreported

A search-box result could locate and step through matching text in the open webpage.

Recorded at iOS 4.2 Beta 1

[1] First Look: iOS 4.2 beta 1 · Safari search within page

enhancement · introduced

iPad Mail adopted the unified message model

undocumentedreported

The tablet email client combined inboxes, grouped conversations, and improved list navigation.

Recorded at iOS 4.2 Beta 1

[1] First Look: iOS 4.2 beta 1 · Mail changes on iPad

behavior · changed

Orientation locking moved into software

undocumentedreported

The iPad multitasking controls included a screen-orientation lock usable in either layout.

Recorded at iOS 4.2 Beta 1

[1] First Look: iOS 4.2 beta 1 · Multitasking shelf orientation control

feature · introduced

iPad folders held more applications

undocumentedreported

The tablet gained Home Screen folders sized for as many as twenty application icons.

Recorded at iOS 4.2 Beta 1

[1] First Look: iOS 4.2 beta 1 · iPad folders

enhancement · introduced

Printing avoided device-side drivers

documentedconfirmed

The beta’s printing path did not require users to install printer drivers or extra software on iOS.

Recorded at iOS 4.2 Beta 1

[1] Apple’s AirPrint Wireless Printing for iPad, iPhone & iPod touch Coming to Users in November · AirPrint setup model

enhancement · introduced

Notes offered alternative typefaces

undocumentedreported

Users could replace the existing Notes typeface with one of two additional choices.

Recorded at iOS 4.2 Beta 1

[1] First Look: iOS 4.2 beta 1 · Notes font choices

enhancement · introduced

Safari showed its open-page count

undocumentedreported

The browser’s page control displayed how many tabs were currently open.

Recorded at iOS 4.2 Beta 1

[1] First Look: iOS 4.2 beta 1 · Safari page indicator

enhancement · introduced

The multitasking shelf gained brightness control

undocumentedreported

A slider beside playback controls adjusted the iPad display without opening Settings.

Recorded at iOS 4.2 Beta 1

[1] First Look: iOS 4.2 beta 1 · Multitasking shelf brightness

behavior · changed

The iPad side switch became a mute control

undocumentedreported

Beta 1 reassigned the tablet’s physical orientation switch to audio muting.

Recorded at iOS 4.2 Beta 1

[1] First Look: iOS 4.2 beta 1 · iPad hardware switch behavior

feature · introduced

AirPlay streamed media to nearby receivers

undocumentedreported

The software could direct music or video to compatible playback hardware on the same network.

Recorded at iOS 4.2 Beta 1

[1] First Look: iOS 4.2 beta 1 · AirPlay destination menu

feature · introduced

Safari, Mail, and Photos exposed printing

undocumentedcorroborated

The first seed placed print commands in the browser, email client, and photo library.

Recorded at iOS 4.2 Beta 1

[1] First Look: iOS 4.2 beta 1 · AirPrint controls by application
[2] Apple’s AirPrint Wireless Printing for iPad, iPhone & iPod touch Coming to Users in November · Documents and photos

feature · introduced

Game Center arrived on iPad

undocumentedreported

The tablet received a screen-sized Game Center interface with friends, games, scores, and achievements.

Recorded at iOS 4.2 Beta 1

[1] First Look: iOS 4.2 beta 1 · Game Center on iPad

bugFix · fixed

Beta 1 folders and web clips restored

undocumentedreported

A Beta 1 backup returned its Home Screen folders and saved website shortcuts under Beta 2.

Recorded at iOS 4.2 Beta 2

[1] Apple Releases iOS 4.2 Beta 2, Here’s What’s New · Restored Beta 1 folders and webclips

enhancement · introduced

App Store marked Game Center support

undocumentedreported

Store listings gained a visual indicator for applications that worked with Game Center.

Recorded at iOS 4.2 Beta 2

[1] Apple Releases iOS 4.2 Beta 2, Here’s What’s New · Game Center App Store indicator

compatibility · changed

AirPrint through shared desktop printers

documentedcorroborated

Beta 2 testing required a Mac running the matching macOS beta or a PC running the matching iTunes beta.

Recorded at iOS 4.2 Beta 2

[1] Apple Releases iOS 4.2 Beta 2, Here’s What’s New · Printing — shared-printer requirements

knownIssue · knownIssue

Printer Simulator needed a direct launch

documentedcorroborated

The menu command failed, while opening the simulator application itself provided the test environment.

Recorded at iOS 4.2 Beta 2

[1] Apple Releases iOS 4.2 Beta 2, Here’s What’s New · Printing — PrinterSimulator

compatibility · changed

AirPrint documented three direct-print families

documentedcorroborated

Beta 2 named three supported HP ePrint product lines for direct wireless printing.

Recorded at iOS 4.2 Beta 2

[1] Apple Releases iOS 4.2 Beta 2, Here’s What’s New · Printing — supported printers

enhancement · introduced

YouTube uploads gained more controls

undocumentedreported

The upload workflow exposed additional publication options for videos sent to YouTube.

Recorded at iOS 4.2 Beta 2

[1] Apple Releases iOS 4.2 Beta 2, Here’s What’s New · YouTube upload controls

enhancement · changed

App switching used a refined transition

undocumentedcorroborated

The active application moved into the multitasking view with an altered depth effect.

Recorded at iOS 4.2 Beta 2

[1] Apple Releases iOS 4.2 Beta 2, Here’s What’s New · Multitasking transition
[2] iOS 4.2 Beta 2 and iTunes 10.1 Beta Seeded to Developers · Updated multitasking animation

enhancement · introduced

Messages gained additional alert tones

undocumentedreported

The seed added sound choices for incoming text messages.

Recorded at iOS 4.2 Beta 3

[1] iOS 4.2 Beta 3 Changes: New SMS Tones, iPad Changes, AirPlay Missing? · New SMS tones

enhancement · introduced

iPad exposed per-alert sound switches

undocumentedreported

Settings could independently silence selected mail, calendar, lock, and keyboard sounds.

Recorded at iOS 4.2 Beta 3

[1] iOS 4.2 Beta 3 Changes: New SMS Tones, iPad Changes, AirPlay Missing? · iPad alert-sound controls

removal · removed

AirPlay disappeared from some locations

undocumentedreported

Several previously visible AirPlay entry points were absent in Beta 3, with later restoration still possible.

Recorded at iOS 4.2 Beta 3

[1] iOS 4.2 Beta 3 Changes: New SMS Tones, iPad Changes, AirPlay Missing? · AirPlay missing from several places

bugFix · fixed

AirPlay returned to YouTube playback

undocumentedreported

The GM restored an AirPlay destination that had been missing from the prior beta’s YouTube path.

Recorded at iOS 4.2 GM

[1] Apple Releases iOS 4.2 Golden Master to Developers · AirPlay returned in YouTube

compatibility · removed

AirPrint through shared desktop printers

documentedcorroborated

The GM note listed only direct AirPrint printer families, removing the earlier shared Mac-or-PC path from the documented candidate state.

Recorded at iOS 4.2 GM

[1] Apple Has Released iOS 4.2 GM & iTunes 10.1 Beta 2 To Developers Today! · Printing — supported AirPrint devices

compatibility · changed

Apps did not require resubmission

partiallyDocumentedreported

Developers were reportedly told that the candidate’s version increment did not require another App Store submission.

Recorded at GM

[1] Apple releases iOS 4.2.1 GM to developers · Developer app-resubmission guidance

security · fixed

Confirmation before calls from iAd links

documentedconfirmed

The change prevented injected ad content from automatically invoking a call URL when an attacker controlled a privileged network position.

Recorded at Public

[1] About the security content of iOS 4.2 · iAd Content Display — CVE-2010-3828

enhancement · changed

Safari, enterprise, accessibility, and language expansion

documentedconfirmed

Apple also documented direct TV episode rentals on iPad alongside new device-management and regional support.

Recorded at Public

[1] Apple’s iOS 4.2 Available Today for iPad, iPhone & iPod touch · Other new iPad features

security · fixed

Configuration-profile signature validation

documentedconfirmed

The correction reduced the risk of misleading a user into installing a malicious configuration profile presented with an invalid trust cue.

Recorded at Public

[1] About the security content of iOS 4.2 · Configuration Profiles — CVE-2010-3827

feature · introduced

AirPlay media streaming

documentedconfirmed

Supported devices could send media wirelessly to Apple TV, AirPort Express-connected audio systems, or compatible speakers.

Recorded at Public

[1] Apple’s iOS 4.2 Available Today for iPad, iPhone & iPod touch · AirPlay

enhancement · changed

Free Find My device access on qualifying hardware

documentedconfirmed

The service could locate a missing device, show a message, play a sound, remotely lock it, or erase its data; Apple limited the free offer to specified hardware.

Recorded at Public

[1] Apple’s iOS 4.2 Available Today for iPad, iPhone & iPod touch · Find My iPhone and hardware footnote

security · fixed

Network and passcode-state protections

documentedconfirmed

Apple documented a remote shutdown path in multicast packet handling, a local privilege path in packet-filter rules, and a physical-access race around an emergency call.

Recorded at Public

[1] About the security content of iOS 4.2 · Networking and Passcode Lock — CVE-2010-1843, CVE-2010-3830, and CVE-2010-4012

feature · introduced

Driverless AirPrint

documentedconfirmed

Users could print documents or photos directly from a supported iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch to an AirPrint-capable printer.

Recorded at Public

[1] Apple’s iOS 4.2 Available Today for iPad, iPhone & iPod touch · AirPrint

security · fixed

WebKit memory-safety repairs

documentedconfirmed

The bulletin groups many browser-engine defects whose most serious documented outcome was arbitrary code execution after visiting a malicious site.

Recorded at Public

[1] About the security content of iOS 4.2 · WebKit entries

security · fixed

Font and image parser updates

documentedconfirmed

Apple updated FreeType and libpng and added bounds checking for font processing, addressing issues whose most serious outcomes included code execution.

Recorded at Public

[1] About the security content of iOS 4.2 · CoreGraphics, FreeType, and ImageIO entries

security · fixed

Mail remote-content privacy

documentedconfirmed

The prior behavior could reveal that an HTML email had been viewed through an otherwise unexpected request to a remote server.

Recorded at Public

[1] About the security content of iOS 4.2 · Mail — DNS prefetching entry

compatibility · introduced

iOS 4 feature set on iPad

documentedconfirmed

The November update brought the principal interaction and organization features from iOS 4.0 and 4.1 onto supported iPad hardware.

Recorded at Public

[1] Apple’s iOS 4.2 Available Today for iPad, iPhone & iPod touch · iPad features

Release changes

Cumulative context

Broader context included for understanding, not claimed as new in this release.

compatibility · changed

iPad apps had to treat the switch as mute

documentedcorroborated

Applications targeting iPad were advised to account for the physical switch’s new audio role.

Recorded at iOS 4.2 GM

[1] Apple Has Released iOS 4.2 GM & iTunes 10.1 Beta 2 To Developers Today! · Audio — iPad switch behavior

developerApi · introduced

Xcode added a moving latest-SDK target

documentedcorroborated

Projects could select a base target that followed the newest installed iOS SDK automatically.

Recorded at iOS 4.2 GM

[1] Apple Has Released iOS 4.2 GM & iTunes 10.1 Beta 2 To Developers Today! · Xcode — Latest SDK setting

developerApi · changed

MapKit made annotation views visibility-dependent

documentedcorroborated

Applications could no longer infer missing map data from an annotation view that was not currently displayed.

Recorded at iOS 4.2 GM

[1] Apple Has Released iOS 4.2 GM & iTunes 10.1 Beta 2 To Developers Today! · MapKit — conditional annotation views

compatibility · changed

GameKit controllers required modal presentation

documentedcorroborated

Leaderboard, achievement, matchmaking, and friend interfaces had to be shown modally.

Recorded at iOS 4.2 GM

[1] Apple Has Released iOS 4.2 GM & iTunes 10.1 Beta 2 To Developers Today! · GameKit — modal presentation

developerApi · introduced

Calendar accepted ICS event files

documentedcorroborated

Applications could hand calendar files to the system for direct event import.

Recorded at iOS 4.2 GM

[1] Apple Has Released iOS 4.2 GM & iTunes 10.1 Beta 2 To Developers Today! · Calendar — ICS import

developerApi · introduced

GameKit added a friend-request composer

documentedcorroborated

Applications gained a system view controller for starting Game Center friend invitations.

Recorded at iOS 4.2 GM

[1] Apple Has Released iOS 4.2 GM & iTunes 10.1 Beta 2 To Developers Today! · GameKit — friend-request controller

knownIssue · knownIssue

A VoIP ringer issue had uncertain status

undocumentedreported

A warning described continued ringing after pickup in one background-calling app, but the evidence does not show whether this GM repaired it.

Recorded at GM

[1] Apple releases iOS 4.2.1 GM to developers · Line2 ringer warning and attribution gap

Milestones

Release history

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

Sep 15, 2010
Developer beta
iOS 4.2 Beta 1
Full articleEditorially verified
iOS 4.2 Beta 1 is an editorially reviewed historical archive page with 17 structured, source-backed milestone records and an explicit account of its surviving evidence boundary.
Availability
available
Sources
22 linked
Open this appearance
Sep 28, 2010+13 days
Developer beta
iOS 4.2 Beta 2
Full articleEditorially verified
iOS 4.2 Beta 2 is an editorially reviewed historical archive page with 7 structured, source-backed milestone records and an explicit account of its surviving evidence boundary.
Availability
available
Sources
10 linked
Open this appearance
Oct 12, 2010+14 days
Developer beta
iOS 4.2 Beta 3
Full articleEditorially verified
iOS 4.2 Beta 3 is an editorially reviewed historical archive page with 3 structured, source-backed milestone records and an explicit account of its surviving evidence boundary.
Availability
available
Sources
5 linked
Open this appearance
Nov 1, 2010+20 days
Golden master
iOS 4.2 GM
Full articleEditorially verified
iOS 4.2 GM is an editorially reviewed historical archive page with 8 structured, source-backed milestone records and an explicit account of its surviving evidence boundary.
Availability
available
Sources
10 linked
Open this appearance
Nov 18, 2010+17 days
Golden master
GM
Full articleEditorially verified
GM is an editorially reviewed historical archive page with 2 structured, source-backed milestone records and an explicit account of its surviving evidence boundary.
Availability
available
Sources
4 linked
Open this appearance
Nov 22, 2010+4 days
Public release
Public
Full articleEditorially verified
The local 4.2.1 route corresponds to Apple’s November 22 public package, which contemporaneous Apple pages call iOS 4.2; it unified the iPad with iOS 4 features and added AirPlay, AirPrint, free Find My device access for qualifying hardware, and extensive security repairs.
Availability
available
Sources
17 linked
Open this appearance

Historical context

Cycle comparison

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

Cycle vs. platform average

68d (avg: 58d)

10 days longer than the iOS average

Duration ranking

#27 of 92

Middle of the pack iOS beta cycles

Longest gap in this cycle

20 days

Between iOS 4.2 Beta 3 and iOS 4.2 GM

Official release notes