Got an iPhone 5s or iPhone 6? Update Now to Avoid Losing iMessage, FaceTime

Source Domain: uk.pcmag.com

Apple on Monday released an update to ensure FaceTime and iMessage continue to work on devices that don’t support anything beyond iOS 12 and iPadOS 12.

Users can install the iOS 12.5.8 or iPadOS 12.5.8 update on their iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPad Air, iPad mini 2, iPad mini 3, or iPod touch (6th generation) right now. Just head to Settings General Software Update.

“This update extends the certificate required by features such as iMessage, FaceTime, and device activation to continue working after January 2027,” Apple says in a support document.

Apple usually promises five years of software updates for iPhones from their year of launch. However, the company occasionally releases security updates beyond that time frame to fix security issues in older devices.

The iPhone 5s, for example, was launched in 2013 with iOS 7 out of the box. Twelve years later, it has now received an update to keep some key Apple services running. According to a support page, the device last received an update in January 2023.

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Apple also released iOS 15.8.6 for iPhone 6s and iPhone 7, and iPhone SE (1st gen), iOS 16.7.13 for iPhone 8, 8 Plus, and X, and iOS 18.7.4 for iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR. All iPhones that came after that are compatible with iOS 26.