1. Install the latest update now: Settings → General → Software Update. You should see iOS 27.0.1 (or iOS 26.7.1 if you chose to stay on iOS 26). 2. Keep using it. An iPhone 12 is fully supported in October 2026, including for banking, DigiD and work email. 3. Plan ahead, don't panic. If iOS 28 (expected around September 2027, going by Apple's usual timing) leaves the iPhone 12 out, it will still get security fixes for a while. That's a good moment to start budgeting for a replacement. 4. Thinking of buying one used? It's 6 years old and may be near its last major iOS version. For a phone you want to keep for years, a newer model will most likely get updates for longer, so weigh the price difference against the extra years.

When Does the iPhone 12 Stop Getting Updates? (October 2026 answer)

Q: When does the iPhone 12 stop getting updates?

Short answer: not yet. All four models, the iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max, are on Apple's list of iPhones that run iOS 27, the newest version, released on 14 September 2026. The latest update is iOS 27.0.1 (28 September 2026). Apple never announces an end-of-support date, so nobody can give you an exact one. Based on how Apple treated older iPhones, our estimate is that the iPhone 12 stops getting new major iOS versions in 2027 or 2028, with security-only fixes for a few years after that, roughly until 2030. That's our reading of Apple's history, not a promise from Apple.

Q: What happens when updates stop?

- First, no new iOS features. The phone stays on its last major version and gets small security-only updates for a while. - Then the fixes thin out. Security-only updates for old versions tend to be smaller and less frequent, and Apple doesn't announce when they end. - Apps follow eventually. Banking, payment and messaging apps start requiring a newer iOS version at some point, not overnight. The iPhone 13 is a year behind on the same path. Read When does the iPhone 13 stop getting updates? to compare, or Is the iPhone X still supported? to see what life after the last major version looks like.

Updated 17 October 2026

Short answer: not yet. All four models, the iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max, are on Apple's list of iPhones that run iOS 27, the newest version, released on 14 September 2026. The latest update is iOS 27.0.1 (28 September 2026). Apple never announces an end-of-support date, so nobody can give you an exact one. Based on how Apple treated older iPhones, our estimate is that the iPhone 12 stops getting new major iOS versions in 2027 or 2028, with security-only fixes for a few years after that, roughly until 2030. That's our reading of Apple's history, not a promise from Apple.

The facts (checked 17 October 2026)


Released	23 October 2020 (iPhone 12, 12 Pro) and 13 November 2020 (12 mini, 12 Pro Max), with iOS 14
Current iOS version	iOS 27 (released 14 Sep 2026), supports iPhone 11 and later
Latest update	iOS 27.0.1, 28 Sep 2026
Still on iOS 26?	iOS 26.7.1 (28 Sep 2026) is also available for iPhone 11 and later
Official end-of-support date	None published by Apple

Apple's How to download iOS 27 page lists the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max as compatible. The Apple security releases page lists iOS 27 for "iPhone 11 and later" on 14 September 2026, followed by iOS 27.0.1 and iOS 26.7.1 on 28 September 2026. So right now the iPhone 12 gets exactly the same updates as the newest iPhones.

Apple also looks after iPhone 12 owners who never moved on from an older version: on 1 and 22 April 2026 it shipped iOS 18.7.7 and iOS 18.7.8 security updates for "iPhone 12 (all models)" and other phones still on iOS 18.

How long will it keep getting updates? (our estimate)

Apple doesn't publish a support period for older iPhones, so the best guide is what it did before. All dates below come from Apple's own pages.

iPhone 8 (in stores from 22 September 2017, with iOS 11): got six major versions, up to iOS 16. iOS 17 (18 Sep 2023) dropped it, about 6 years after launch. Security-only updates kept coming: iOS 16.7.16 arrived on 11 May 2026.
iPhone XS (in stores from 21 September 2018, with iOS 12): got seven major versions, up to iOS 18. iOS 26 (15 Sep 2025) dropped it, about 7 years after launch. iOS 18.7.10 still arrived on 17 August 2026.
iPhone 11 (2019): a year older than the iPhone 12 and still on the iOS 27 list, so Apple hasn't dropped any iPhone from 2019 or later yet.

The iPhone 12 is now 6 years old and has already had seven major versions (iOS 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 26 and 27; Apple jumped from iOS 18 to iOS 26 in 2025). That matches the iPhone XS, which points to iOS 27 possibly being its last major version, so it could drop off the list as early as September 2027. Because Apple kept the even older iPhone 11 on iOS 27, it's also quite possible the iPhone 12 gets iOS 28 and drops off in September 2028 instead.

After that, Apple has so far kept shipping security-only fixes for two to three years or more (the iPhone 8 was still getting them two years and eight months after iOS 17 dropped it), which points to roughly 2030, give or take a year. Treat all of this as an educated guess. Apple can change course at any time, and it's under no obligation to follow its old pattern.

What happens when updates stop?

First, no new iOS features. The phone stays on its last major version and gets small security-only updates for a while.
Then the fixes thin out. Security-only updates for old versions tend to be smaller and less frequent, and Apple doesn't announce when they end.
Apps follow eventually. Banking, payment and messaging apps start requiring a newer iOS version at some point, not overnight.

The iPhone 13 is a year behind on the same path. Read When does the iPhone 13 stop getting updates? to compare, or Is the iPhone X still supported? to see what life after the last major version looks like.

What should you do?

Install the latest update now: Settings → General → Software Update. You should see iOS 27.0.1 (or iOS 26.7.1 if you chose to stay on iOS 26).
Keep using it. An iPhone 12 is fully supported in October 2026, including for banking, DigiD and work email.
Plan ahead, don't panic. If iOS 28 (expected around September 2027, going by Apple's usual timing) leaves the iPhone 12 out, it will still get security fixes for a while. That's a good moment to start budgeting for a replacement.
Thinking of buying one used? It's 6 years old and may be near its last major iOS version. For a phone you want to keep for years, a newer model will most likely get updates for longer, so weigh the price difference against the extra years.

Buying a used replacement?

A cheap used phone can still be a bad deal if it's Activation-Locked, reported stolen, carrier-locked or close to its own end-of-support date. Our own guide, Safe to Buy Used? The Second-Hand Phone & Gadget Checklist, walks you through every check before you pay. It's a paid PDF we make ourselves; you can also check models for free on our iPhone 11 page, iPhone 13 page, iPhone 15 page and the full device list.

Looking for a replacement with years of updates left? Compare prices for iPhone 15 at bol.com or iPhone 16 at bol.com (search results; check the seller, condition and warranty before you buy).

Affiliate disclosure: bol.com links are affiliate links; we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. See our disclosure.

Sources

Apple, How to download iOS 27 (published 17 Sep 2026, checked 17 Oct 2026)
Apple, Apple security releases (published 28 Sep 2026, checked 17 Oct 2026)
Apple, Apple security updates (2022 to 2023) (checked 17 Oct 2026)
Apple Newsroom, Apple announces iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini and Apple introduces iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max with 5G (13 Oct 2020, checked 17 Oct 2026)
Apple Newsroom, iPhone Xs and iPhone Xs Max (12 Sep 2018) and iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus (12 Sep 2017) (checked 17 Oct 2026)