Apple

5 Things to Know About the iOS 12.4.6 Update

Published

4 years ago

05/08/2020

Apple’s released an iOS 12.4.6 update for iPhone and iPad models that didn’t make the move iOS 13 or iPadOS 13.

iOS 12.4.6 is a point update which means it’s another small upgrade for the iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, original iPad Air, iPad mini 2, iPad mini 3, and iPod touch sixth-gen.

If your device is currently running iOS 12.4.5, you’ll see the shortest change log and the smallest iOS 12.4.6 download size.

If your iPhone or iPad is running an older version of iOS 12, your iOS 12.4.6 update might be a bit bigger because you get the changes from iOS updates you skipped.

With that in mind, we want to walk you through the most important things to know about Apple’s iOS 12.4.6 update for iPhone and iPad.

Our guide goes over the iOS 12.4.6 update’s performance, the current state of iOS 12.4.6 problems, places to find feedback about iOS 12.4.6’s performance, the iOS 12.4.6 jailbreak situation, and more.

We’ll start with some quick impressions of iOS 12.4.6’s performance.

iOS 12.4.6 Reviews

If you’re moving from iOS 12.4.5 to iOS 12.4.6, you’ll see a tiny download. If you’re running an older version of iOS 12, your iOS 12.4.6 download could be much bigger because the changes from the updates you missed are baked into your device’s version of iOS 12.4.6.

If you’re currently running iOS 12.4.5, the iOS 12.4.6 installation should take less than 10 minutes. It took about seven minutes to install on an iPhone 5s.

For more on the iOS 12.4.6 download and installation, take a look at our guide.

We’ve been using the iOS 12.4.6 update for several weeks and here’s we’ve noticed about its performance thus far:

Connectivity

Battery life is currently stable.
Wi-Fi connectivity is fast and reliable right now.
Bluetooth is working normally.
GPS and cellular data are both stable.

Apps

Third-party apps including Netflix, Dark Sky, Twitter, Slack, Asana, Gmail, Chrome, and Spotify feel stable.
First party apps like Safari, Podcasts, and Calendar are running just fine right now.

Speed

iOS 12.4.6 feels as fast as iOS 12.4.5.

If you’re running into issues on iOS 12.4.5 or an older version of iOS 12, you’ll probably want to install the iOS 12.4.6 update on your device right now.

If you need help making a decision, check out our reasons to, and not to, install the iOS 12.4.6 update on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.

We’ve also published our mini iOS 12.4.6 reviews for iPhone 6 and iPhone 5s so check those roundups for additional feedback if you need it.

iOS 12.4.6 Problems

iOS 12.4.6 is a small maintenance upgrade, but in some cases it’s having a big impact on performance.

We’re hearing about an assortment of problems including installation issues, weird battery drain, issues with connectivity (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS), issues with first and third-party apps, abnormal amounts of lag, random reboots, and more.

There are also two security vulnerabilities impacting the Mail application. The issues, outlined by Motherboard, let attackers modify and delete email messages.

The zero-day hack is reportedly present in all versions of iOS between iOS 6 and iOS 13.4.1. Fortunately, it looks like fixes are on the way in Apple’s upcoming iOS 13.5 update. We should see a new version of iOS 12 roll out alongside it.

If you run into an issue on iOS 12.4.6 have a look at our list of fixes for the most common iOS 12 problems. We’ve also released some tips to help improve performance and tips to help improve iOS 12 battery life.

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If you’re frustrated with iOS 12.4.6’s performance on your iPhone or iPad, note that you can downgrade to iOS 12.4.4.

Unfortunately, this option might disappear soon. If you want to get your phone off of iOS 12.4.6, you’ll probably want to do so in the near future.

Apple isn’t signing on older versions of iOS 12 (including iOS 12.4.5) so keep that in mind before you tap install. Once you make the move to iOS 12.4.6, there’s no going back.

iOS 12.4.6 Update: What’s New

The iOS 12.4.6 update doesn’t bring any new features to the iPhone and iPad. It does include new security patches, but Apple hasn’t outlined them in detail.

iOS 12.4.6 Jailbreak

You can jailbreak iOS 12, but you’ll want to be careful with iOS 12.4.6.

Jailbreak developers released a jailbreak tool called checkra1n that’s compatible with iPhone 5s-iPhone X. It’s not compatible with newer iPhone models.

If you own an iPhone XR, iPhone XS, or iPhone XS Max, you can jailbreak iOS 12 using the Chimera jailbreak tool. However, your device needs to be running iOS 12.0-iOS 12.1.2. Unfortunately, there’s no way back to those updates.

For more on the iOS 12 jailbreak, take a look at our guide.

What’s Next

We aren’t sure what’s next for iOS 12 users.

Nothing is confirmed, but don’t be surprised if the company pushes iOS 12.4.7 alongside iOS 13.5 later on this month.

Barring a change of plans, the iOS 13.5 update should start pushing out to iPhone users in mid-May so that’s when you can expect a new version of iOS 12.

If you decide you want the latest iOS features, you’ll need to upgrade to an iPhone or iPad model that’s compatible with iOS 13 or iPadOS 13. For more about iOS 13, have a look at our walkthrough. For more about iPadOS 13, check out our guide.

We also should mention that devices currently stuck on iOS 12 most likely won’t get upgraded to iOS 14, Apple’s upcoming operating system.

For more on iOS 14, please check out our guide.

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

Install iOS 12.5.6 for Better Security

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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.