Mike Peterson
Apple on Thursday released iOS 12.4.9 for older iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch devices, as well as a version 8.4.3 software update for third-generation Apple TV models.
Users on older iOS devices can download the software updates over-the-air by heading to Settings, General and Software Update. Third-generation Apple TV users can find their new update in the System menu of the Settings app.
Both software updates appear to be minor in scope and to only contain bug fixes and under-the-hood improvements. Apple last updated its iOS 12 operating system in July 2020 with the release of iOS 14.4.8. The new iOS and Apple TV updates come on the same day as iOS 14.2 and tvOS 14.2.
Although Apple's new iOS 14 update supports all of the same devices that iOS 13 did, it still leaves out older models like the iPhone 6 and iPhone 5S, which are stuck running iOS 12.
Apple periodically releases updates for its older operating systems to fix major bugs, performance flaws, and security issues. The updates typically do not introduce new features to the software, though one update for the third-generation Apple TV in May 2019 introduced the Channels functionality to the software.
AppleInsider Staff
Chip Loder
Christine McKee
Malcolm Owen
William Gallagher
Andrew Orr
5 Comments
Looks like my old iPad Air (the original) can get iOS 12.4.9. Downloading......
That is the difference between "no older devices left behind" moto of Apple unlike Android.
v 7.6.1 for Apple TV 3 (not 8.4.3)
And yes, unfortunately the bug introduced in iOS 7.6 remains. If you pause YouTube app player it freezes 100% of the time, until the app crashes after about 20-40 seconds. Factory restoring can’t fix. Meh
After installing the iOS 12.4.9 update on my iPhone 6, I can no longer send pictures in messaging. Was something introduced in this update that now forces people to go to newer iPhones?