Security updates will be distributed for the iPhone 5s, 13 years after its release

On January 26, 2026, Apple released several security updates, including one for iOS 12, affecting the iPhone 5s, which was released in September 2013.

Apple Security Release - Apple Support (Japan)

iOS 12.5.8, released in 2026, expands the certificates required for features like iMessage, FaceTime, and device activation, and will allow these features to continue functioning after January 2027.

The update is available for iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus.

When we checked the iPhone 5s that had been lying dormant in the editorial department, we found that a 313MB update had been released.

The last update to iOS 12 was in January 2023 .

Apple promises to provide security updates for iPhones for at least five years after their release, but often provides vulnerability fixes for even longer. For example, the iPhone 6s received a security update in September 2025 with the release of iOS 15.8.5. The iOS 15.8.6 update, which also added certificate extensions, was released at the same time as iOS 12.5.8.