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Release record

iOS 6.0

Full article
Public release
Recorded milestones
5
Beta cycle
100d
Average interval
25d
Public release
Sep 19, 2012

Release notes

Overview

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

iOS 6 introduced Apple-designed Maps with turn-by-turn navigation and Flyover, expanded Siri across more subjects and languages, integrated Facebook, added Shared Photo Streams and Passbook, and enabled FaceTime over cellular on supported hardware.[1][2]

The release also added new call controls, Mail and Safari workflows, store and Game Center features, Guided Access and broader accessibility support, stronger privacy controls, China-specific services, and a large security repair set spanning networking, data protection, content parsing, the kernel, and WebKit.[3][4][5]

Source ledger

References

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

  1. About iOS 6

    Apple Support · 2026-07-30 · iOS 6 — Maps through FaceTime improvements

    Back to text ↑
  2. Apple Previews iOS 6 With All New Maps, Siri Features, Facebook Integration, Shared Photo Streams & New Passbook App

    Apple Newsroom · Apple · 2012-06-11T00:00:00Z · Maps, Siri, Facebook, Shared Photo Streams, Passbook, and FaceTime

    Back to text ↑
  3. Apple security updates (2011 to 2012)

    Apple Support · Apple · 2023-08-10T00:00:00.000Z · iOS 6 — 19 Sept 2012

    Back to text ↑
  4. About iOS 6

    Apple Support · 2026-07-30 · iOS 6 — Phone through Features for China mainland

    Back to text ↑
  5. About the security content of iOS 6

    Apple Support · 2026-07-30 · iOS 6 security content

    Back to text ↑
  7. About iOS 6

    Apple Support · 2026-07-30 · iOS 6

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.

security · fixed

Content, kernel, and WebKit security

documentedconfirmed

Apple updated or hardened FreeType, ImageIO, media handling, libxml, Office Viewer, packet-filter kernel paths, and WebKit memory and origin handling against crashes, disclosure, spoofing, and code-execution risks.

Recorded at Public

  1. [1] About the security content of iOS 6 · CoreGraphics, CoreMedia, ImageIO, libxml, Office Viewer, Kernel, and WebKit entries

enhancement · changed

Store and Game Center improvements

documentedconfirmed

Updated stores retained preview history and supported completing seasons or albums, while Game Center added score challenges, social posting, and recommendations based on Facebook friends.

Recorded at Public

  1. [1] About iOS 6 · iOS 6 — App Store, iTunes Store, and Game Center improvements

security · fixed

Network and Wi-Fi privacy protections

documentedconfirmed

CFNetwork avoided sending requests to an unintended host, DNAv4 broadcasts were disabled on unencrypted Wi-Fi, and IPSec server names were checked properly against certificates.

Recorded at Public

  1. [1] About the security content of iOS 6 · CFNetwork — CVE-2012-3724; DHCP — CVE-2012-3725; IPSec entries

feature · introduced

Guided Access and accessibility expansion

documentedconfirmed

Parents, teachers, administrators, and users could disable hardware controls or areas of touch input; VoiceOver integrated with Maps, AssistiveTouch, and Zoom, and supported hearing aids expanded on compatible iPhones.

Recorded at Public

  1. [1] Apple Previews iOS 6 With All New Maps, Siri Features, Facebook Integration, Shared Photo Streams & New Passbook App · Guided Access
  2. [2] About iOS 6 · iOS 6 — Accessibility improvements

enhancement · changed

Privacy, system, and regional capabilities

documentedconfirmed

New controls covered Contacts, Calendars, Reminders, Photos, and Bluetooth-shared data; other additions included an iPad Clock app, iCloud-synced keyboard shortcuts, Bluetooth MAP, a global HTTP proxy, and integrations with Baidu, Sina Weibo, Tudou, and Youku.

Recorded at Public

  1. [1] About iOS 6 · iOS 6 — Other features and Features for China mainland

security · fixed

Lock, data, and communication protections

documentedconfirmed

Representative repairs tightened multiple lock-screen state paths, restored password enforcement after Restrictions changes, protected Mail attachments and web-view files, preserved the intended iMessage reply address, and displayed the originating SMS address.

Recorded at Public

  1. [1] About the security content of iOS 6 · Passcode Lock, Restrictions, Mail, Messages, Telephony, and UIKit entries

enhancement · changed

Expanded Siri languages and content

documentedconfirmed

The assistant could answer new sports, movie, and restaurant queries, post to Twitter or Facebook, launch apps, work in additional languages and countries, and support hands-free interaction in compatible automobiles.

Recorded at Public

  1. [1] About iOS 6 · iOS 6 — Siri improvements
  2. [2] Apple Previews iOS 6 With All New Maps, Siri Features, Facebook Integration, Shared Photo Streams & New Passbook App · Siri expansion and Eyes Free

Milestones

Release history

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

  1. Developer beta

    Beta 1

    Full articleEditorially verified

    Beta 1 is represented by 31 narrowly attributed historical records with explicit transcript and milestone provenance.

    Availability
    available
    Sources
    68 linked
    Open this appearance
  2. +14 days

    Developer beta

    Beta 2

    Full articleEditorially verified

    Beta 2 is represented by 16 narrowly attributed historical records with explicit transcript and milestone provenance.

    Availability
    available
    Sources
    21 linked
    Open this appearance
  3. +21 days

    Developer beta

    Beta 3

    Full articleEditorially verified

    Beta 3 is represented by 15 narrowly attributed historical records with explicit transcript and milestone provenance.

    Availability
    available
    Sources
    20 linked
    Open this appearance
  4. +21 days

    Developer beta

    Beta 4

    Full articleEditorially verified

    Beta 4 is represented by 17 narrowly attributed historical records with explicit transcript and milestone provenance.

    Availability
    available
    Sources
    25 linked
    Open this appearance
  5. +44 days

    Public release

    Public

    Full articleEditorially verified

    The public iOS 6 release added Apple-designed Maps, wider Siri capabilities, Facebook integration, Shared Photo Streams, Passbook, new communication and productivity tools, accessibility controls, and extensive security repairs.

    Availability
    available
    Sources
    30 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

102 days, 10.4 milestones

Based on 17 previous iOS .0 releases

Cycle vs. platform average

100d (avg: 57d)

43 days longer than the iOS average

Duration ranking

#11 of 92

Middle of the pack iOS beta cycles

Longest gap in this cycle

44 days

Between Beta 4 and Public

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