Apple Releases iOS 12.5.6 Update for Older iPhones and iPads With Vulnerability Fixes - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Apple Releases iOS 12.5.6 Update for Older iPhones and iPads With Vulnerability Fixes

Apple today released an iOS 12.5.6 update for older iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad models that are not able to run the current version of iOS, iOS 15.

iphone6plus
The update can be downloaded over-the-air by opening up the Settings app, tapping on "General," and selecting the "Software Update" option.

The iOS 12.5.6 update fixes a major vulnerability that was actively exploited, so it's worth updating right away if you have an older device. The WebKit vulnerability was already fixed in the iOS 15.6.1, iPadOS 15.6.1, and macOS Monterey 12.5.1 updates.

Devices that cannot be updated past iOS 12 include the iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPod touch 6, original iPad Air, iPad mini 2, and ‌iPad mini‌ 3.

Popular Stories

iOS 27 Next to iPhone

Here's When iOS 27 Rolls Out Today in Every Time Zone [Update: It's Out]

Sunday September 13, 2026 3:00 am PDT by
Update 10:04 a.m.: iOS 27 is rolling out now, though it may take a bit for all users to see it, so keep checking! Apple is about to release iOS 27, which will finally deliver more advanced Siri AI capabilities as well as a variety of other refinements, improvements, and new features to iPhones. It's Apple's biggest software update of the year, and Apple announced at Wednesday's iPhone event...
iOS 27 Icon iPhone

iOS 27 Available Now With These 8 New Features

Monday September 14, 2026 9:00 am PDT by
Update — 10 a.m. Pacific Time: Apple has released iOS 27. During its iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo event last week, Apple announced that iOS 27 will be released widely on Monday, September 14. iOS 27 should be available around 10 a.m. Pacific Time / 1 p.m. Eastern Time today via the Settings app, under General → Software Update. Below, we have highlighted eight new features and...
Apple iCloud Plus expansion hero

iCloud+ Now Includes Apple TV, Apple Arcade, and Curated Apple Music Stations in Over 100 Countries

Tuesday September 15, 2026 1:43 am PDT by
Apple today announced a new subscription initiative that turns paid iCloud+ subscriptions into a broader services bundle in more than 100 countries. In select countries, Apple says every paid iCloud+ plan, including the cheapest 50GB tier, now includes Apple TV and Apple Arcade "at no additional cost," while family sharing extends the storage, TV and Arcade access to up to five people....

Top Rated Comments

53 months ago
and people accuse Apple of planned obsolescence…
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
53 months ago
Cool! Way to go Apple!
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
oneMadRssn Avatar
53 months ago
This is actually pretty incredible. iPhone 5s came out 9 years ago, and it's still receiving security updates.

The Google Nexus 5 came out the same year - and Google ended security updates in in 2016, just a few years later. To say nothing of the third-party Android OEMs at the time that offered even less support.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
adrianlondon Avatar
53 months ago
My iPad mini, stuck on iOS 9, is now a hacker magnet!

Luckily, it runs so slowly that they won't be able to do anything once they gain access.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
53 months ago
Wow, was not expecting this. Almost 4 years after iOS 12 was introduced.
And this should lay to rest the concerns of the iPhone 7 and 6S just being abandoned after iOS 16’s release.
If they continue at this pace, those devices should still be getting security updates at least until 2025
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Sir_Macs_A_Lot Avatar
53 months ago
Apple, my iPhone 6 Plus thanks you. Now to go rummage it out of the bottom of a drawer, charge it...
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)