Apple Patches Old Versions of iOS to Keep iMessage and FaceTime Running

When Apple stops supporting older iPhones and iPads with the latest mentation of iOS oregon iPadOS, it usually isn’t the extremity of the line—Apple keeps releasing caller security-only patches for those devices for different twelvemonth oregon two, keeping them usable portion their hardware is inactive reasonably capable.

Once those updates adust up, it’s uncommon for Apple to revisit those older operating systems, but the institution does sometimes marque exceptions.

That was the lawsuit Monday, erstwhile the institution released a batch of updates for long-retired iOS and iPadOS versions that different hadn’t seen a caller spot successful months oregon years. Those updates see iOS 12.5.8, disposable for devices arsenic aged arsenic 2013’s iPhone 5S and 2014’s iPhone 6; iOS 15.8.6, disposable for devices similar the iPhone 6S, iPhone 7, and iPad Air 2; and iOS 16.7.13, disposable for devices similar the iPhone 8 and iPhone X.

Both iOS 15 and iOS 16 were past patched successful mid-2025, but iOS 12’s past spot was released successful January of 2023.

These updates don’t spot information flaws oregon adhd caller features. According to Apple’s merchandise notes for the iOS 12 and iOS 15 updates, each they bash is update a information certificate to guarantee that iMessage, FaceTime, and Apple relationship sign-in volition proceed moving past January 2027, erstwhile the operating systems’ archetypal certificate would person expired.

Apple’s iOS 18.7.4 update besides changes retired the certificate, though that update is little surprising, since iOS 18 is inactive being actively patched for the iPhone XS, iPhone XR, and different devices that can’t tally iOS 26. Oddly, the iOS 16 update doesn’t notation the information certificate, and there’s nary equivalent update for devices stuck connected iOS 17.

Devices moving aged iOS versions similar iOS 12, 15, and 16 are hard if not intolerable to usage arsenic general-purpose smartphones and tablets these days. Many of these devices person conscionable 1 oregon 2 GB of RAM, and their built-in Safari browsers volition beryllium missing features and information patches needed to browse the modern web safely. Third-party apps besides mostly halt supporting aged iOS versions aft a twelvemonth oregon two.

But plentifulness of aged iPhones and iPads find 2nd oregon 3rd lives arsenic single-use appliances and elemental messaging devices. Up until conscionable a mates of years ago, my ain iPhone 5S served arsenic a kid’s achromatic sound instrumentality connected overnight trips. I wouldn’t telephone these 12- and 13-year-old phones and tablets “actively supported,” but it’s bully to spot Apple perpetrate to keeping them minimally functional implicit specified an extended period.

This communicative primitively appeared on Ars Technica.