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5 Things to Know About the iOS 12.1.1 Update

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Apple’s released a new version of iOS 12 and the iOS 12.1.1 update brings new features, bug fixes, and patches to the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

iOS 12.1.1 is finally out of beta and the point update is available right now for all iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch models capable of running iOS 12.

The iOS 12.1.1 update isn’t as big as iOS 12.1, but it still delivers useful performance improvements and important bug fixes for lingering iOS 12 problems.

In this guide to the iOS 12.1.1 update we’ll take you through the most important things to know about Apple’s latest update. Our walkthrough includes a quick look at iOS 12.1.1’s performance and size, early iOS 12.1.1 problems, the iOS 12.1 downgrade, and what’s next from Apple.

iOS 12.1.1 Reviews

iOS 12.1.1 is a point update, but it’s a substantial download across all iPhone, iPads, and iPod touch models.

If you’re moving your phone from iOS 12.1, your download will be several hundred megabytes. The iPhone X iOS 12.1.1 update is 372.8MB.

That said, if your phone or tablet is connected to a fast Wi-Fi network you should be able to download the iOS 12.1.1 update in less than five minutes.

If you’re running an older version of iOS 12 or if your device is still running iOS 11, you’ll likely see a much bigger download size. This will obviously increase the download time.

As for the iOS 12.1.1 installation, it shouldn’t take more than 10 minutes to complete if you’re coming from iOS 12.1. It took about five minutes to install on the iPhone X and about seven minutes on the iPhone 5s.

For more on the iOS 12.1.1 download and installation, take a look at our guide.

We’ve been using the iOS 12.1.1 update on a handful of devices for a short time (we also used the iOS 12.1.1 beta for some time) and here are some broad impressions regarding its performance.

Connectivity

  • Battery life is stable on our phones and tablets.
  • Wi-Fi is stable and fast.
  • We haven’t run into any Bluetooth issues.
  • GPS and cellular data are functioning normally.

Apps

  • Third-party apps including Twitter, Slack, Asana, Gmail, Chrome, and Spotify are working fine.
  • First party apps like Safari, Podcasts, and Calendar are stable.
  • Dark Sky and Safari both crashed within minutes.

Speed

  • iOS 12.1.1 is as fast as iOS 12.1.

If you’ve been dealing with bugs and performance issues you should think about installing the iOS 12.1.1 update in the near future. If you’re having a an excellent experience on iOS 12.1 or an older version of iOS, you might want to wait for us, and others, to release long-term feedback.

If you need iOS 12.1.1 feedback right now, check out our reasons to, and not to, install the iOS 12.1.1 update on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch right now.

We’ve also published our iOS 12.1.1 reviews for the iPhone X, iPhone 8iPhone 7, iPhone 6siPhone 6, iPhone 5s, and iPhone SE and those will help if you’re feeling leery.

iOS 12.1.1 Problems

The iOS 12.1.1 update went through a beta, but problems have apparently made it into the final release. Not surprising given that the final iOS 12.1.1 beta was plagued with issues.

It’s early but we’re already seeing complaints about the iOS 12.1.1 download and installation, abnormal battery drain, slow Wi-Fi, Bluetooth issues, and problems with both Face ID and Touch ID. We’re also hearing about issues with various first and third-party applications.

If you run into iOS 12.1.1 problems on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch take a look at our list of fixes for the most common iOS 12 problems. We’ve also released tips to improve iOS 12 performance and tips to improve iOS 12 battery life.

If you can’t stand the iOS 12.1.1 update’s performance on your phone or tablet you can try downgrading. Apple’s signing off on iOS 12.1 which means there’s a way to get off iOS 12.1.1 if you need to.

We don’t know when Apple will release its next iOS 12 update, but it could be a few weeks.

iOS 12.1.1 Update: What’s New

iOS 12.1.1 is a point release, but it comes with a fairly long list of changes including new features. It also comes with key bug fixes that could improve your overall experience.

iOS 12.1.1 update now lets iPhone XR users expand their notifications using Haptic Touch. It’s similar to the 3D Touch feature found on older iPhone models where a long press brings up new controls.

Unfortunately, the change is limited to newer models and it won’t come to 3D Touch-less phones like the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.

Here are the rest of the changes on board iOS 12.1.1:

  • Dual SIM with eSIM for additional carriers on iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max
  • One tap to flip between the rear and front-facing camera during a FaceTime call
  • Live Photo capture during one-to-one FaceTime calls
  • The option to hide the sidebar in News on iPad in landscape orientation
  • Real-time text (RTT) when using Wi-Fi calling on iPad and iPod touch
  • Stability improvements for dictation and VoiceOver
  • Fixes an issue where Face ID may temporarily become unavailable
  • Addresses an issue that prevented visual voicemail from downloading for some customers
  • Fixes an issue in Messages that could prevent predictive text suggestions when typing on the Chinese or Japanese keyboards
  • Addresses an issue that could prevent Voice Memos recordings from uploading to iCloud
  • Fixes an issue where time zones may not have updated automatically

The iOS 12.1.1 update also brings some changes to Apple’s HomePod speaker:

  • Support for HomePod in Mainland China and Hong Kong
  • HomePod LEDs illuminate during Group FaceTime calls

iOS 12.1.1 Jailbreak

Jailbreak developers still haven’t released an iOS 12 jailbreak and we still don’t know when we’ll get one.

The only way you can jailbreak a device right now is if it’s running an older version of iOS 11. Unfortunately, there’s no way to downgrade to iOS 11.

For now, jailbreak users should avoid iOS 12.1.1 update.

What’s Next

Apple’s confirmed a new version of iOS 12 though it’s not iOS 12.2.

The company’s confirmed an iOS 12.1.2 update, another maintenance release. We don’t have a release date yet and it could be several weeks before Apple pulls iOS 12.1.2 from beta.

If you can’t wait for Apple, you can download the iOS 12.1.2 beta onto your device right now.

4 Reasons Not to Install iOS 12.5.6 & 10 Reasons You Should

Install iOS 12.5.6 for Better Security

Install iOS 12.5.6 for Better Security

If you're on the fence, here's one of the best reasons to install iOS 12.5.6 right away.

iOS 12.5.6 has a vital security patch on board and it will protect your device(s) from harm. If you want the details, head over to Apple's website.

If you missed the iOS 12.5.5 update, it brought three security patches to your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. You can learn more about the trio on Apple's security site

If you missed iOS 12.5.4, you'll get that update's important security upgrades with your iOS 12.5.6 update. If you're interested in the particulars, head on over to Apple's website for more.

If you skipped iOS 12.5.3, you'll get its security patches with your upgrade. Both of its patches were related to WebKit. If you want to learn more about them, head on over to Apple's security site

If you skipped iOS 12.5.2, you'll also get its security patch with your upgrade. You can read more about it over on Apple's website

If you also skipped iOS 12.5, you'll also get its patch with your upgrade. Apple's outlined the update's patch in detail on its security site

If you missed iOS 12.4.9, you'll also get its four security patches with your upgrade. You can read more about those right here

If you skipped iOS 12.4.7, you also get the update's three security patches (two for the Mail app and one for Wi-Fi) with your upgrade to iOS 12.5.6.

If you're running software that's older than Apple's iOS 12.4.4 update, you'll want to download iOS 12.5.6 in the near future because it brings iOS 12.4.4's security patch to your device. You can read about it right here.

If you're running software older than iOS 12.4.2, you'll get an its patch with your upgrade. You can read about the security contents of iOS 12.4.2 right here

If you're on software that's older than iOS 12.4.1, you'll get iOS 12.4.1's security patch with your iOS 12.5.6 update. You can read about that patch right here

If you're on software that's older than iOS 12.4, you get iOS 12.4's patches with your iOS 12.5.6 update. 

iOS 12.4 brought 19 security patches to the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. If you're interested in the specifics, you can read about them on Apple's security site

If you're running software older than iOS 12.3, your iOS 12.5.6 update carries iOS 12.3's security patches on board. The iOS 12.3 update brought 23 patches and you can read about all of them right here on Apple's site. 

If you're on software that's older than iOS 12.2, you'll get iOS 12.2's security patches with your version of iOS 12.5.6.

iOS 12.2 brought a whopping 41 security patches to iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. You can read more about the iOS 12.2's patches over on the company's website

It's important to note that Apple's iOS 12.2 update patched up an exploit that allowed websites to use motion sensors to "fingerprint" devices.

The exploit, discovered by researchers in Europe, uses JavaScript to snag data from a device's accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetometer when the user visits an infected website. If the attack is successful, a device can be tracked around the internet. 

Fortunately, Apple's patched up the issue. If you skipped it, you'll probably want to move to iOS 12.5.6 soon.

If you're on software older than iOS 12.1.4, you get four important security patches including fixes for a widespread FaceTime eavesdropping bug that lets you call someone via FaceTime and hear the audio coming from their phone before they pick up the phone.

If you're on software older than iOS 12.1.3, you get some additional patches with your version of iOS 12.5.6. Again, they're baked into your upgrade.

Apple lists a grand total of 23 patches on board iOS 12.1.3 and you can read about all of them over on Apple's website. 

If you're on software older than iOS 12.1.1, you should install the iOS 12.5.6 update on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch today. 

The iOS 12.1.1 update brought 17 patches for potential security exploits. They'll will help protect your phone. You can read about them here.

If you're running software older than iOS 12.1, you'll get 24 patches from that update with your version of iOS 12.5.5.

If you're on software that's older than iOS 12.0.1, your iOS 12.5.6 update brings two additional patches. Both patches are for potential lock screen exploits.

Long story long, if you store sensitive data on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, you have some really good reasons to upgrade to iOS 12.5.6 today.

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