IOS 6

{{further|iOS version history#iOS 6}}

iOS 6 was introduced at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference on June 11, 2012.{{cite web |first=Jonathan S. |last=Geller |title=iOS 6 announced for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch at WWDC 2012 |url=http://bgr.com/2012/06/11/ios-6-announced-iphone-ipad-ipod-touch-wwdc/ |website=BGR |publisher=Penske Media Corporation |date=June 11, 2012 |access-date=December 30, 2016 |archive-date=December 30, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161230231439/http://bgr.com/2012/06/11/ios-6-announced-iphone-ipad-ipod-touch-wwdc/ |url-status=live }}
iOS 6 was officially released on September 19, 2012.{{cite web |first=Donna |last=Tam |title=Apple's iOS 6 release date: Start your downloads on Sept. 19 |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/apples-ios-6-release-date-start-your-downloads-on-sept-19/ |website=CNET |publisher=CBS Interactive |date=September 12, 2012 |access-date=December 30, 2016 |archive-date=May 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514165144/https://www.cnet.com/news/apples-ios-6-release-date-start-your-downloads-on-sept-19/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=iOS 6 Software Update |url=https://support.apple.com/kb/DL1578?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US |publisher=Apple Inc. |date=September 19, 2012 |access-date=December 30, 2016 |archive-date=December 30, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161230230529/https://support.apple.com/kb/DL1578?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US |url-status=live }}

File:IOS 6.0.1 iPad 4.png]]

Apple's Siri intelligent personal assistant, introduced in iOS 5 with the release of the iPhone 4s, was updated to include the ability to make restaurant reservations, launch apps, read items from the Notification Center, dictate Facebook and Twitter updates, retrieve movie reviews, detailed sports statistics, and more.

Siri received language support for Italian, Korean, and Cantonese,{{cite web |first=Jordan |last=Kahn |title=Apple demos new Siri features in iOS 6: app launching, more languages, and car integration |url=https://9to5mac.com/2012/06/11/apple-demos-new-features-of-siri-in-ios-6-launching-apps-sports-scores-yelp-opentable-rottentomatoes/ |website=9to5Mac |date=June 11, 2012 |access-date=February 2, 2017 |archive-date=January 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113105309/https://9to5mac.com/2012/06/11/apple-demos-new-features-of-siri-in-ios-6-launching-apps-sports-scores-yelp-opentable-rottentomatoes/ |url-status=live }} and device support for the iPhone 5, fifth-generation iPod Touch, and third-generation iPad.

In iOS 6.1, Siri was integrated with Fandango, allowing users to buy film tickets by voice. The feature was only available in the United States at launch.

Facebook came integrated in several of Apple's native apps with iOS 6. Facebook features could be directly accessed from within native apps such as Calendar, which could synchronize Facebook events; Contacts, which could show Facebook friend information, and the App Store and Game Center, which featured Facebook's like button; as well as through a widget in the Notification Center, which allowed users to post status updates to the social network.{{cite web |first=Jason |last=Cipriani |title=Understanding Facebook integration on iOS 6 |url=https://www.cnet.com/how-to/understanding-facebook-integration-on-ios-6/ |website=CNET |publisher=CBS Interactive |date=September 19, 2012 |access-date=February 2, 2017 |archive-date=February 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202030800/https://www.cnet.com/how-to/understanding-facebook-integration-on-ios-6/ |url-status=live }}

The Settings app received multiple changes in iOS 6. The icon was revised to match the System Preferences icon used in OS X, and a "Do Not Disturb" mode was added, which allows users to disable phone sounds. Additional options for Do Not Disturb mode include being able to allow phone calls from a specific group of contacts, and allowing sound on the second call if someone calls repeatedly. A crescent moon icon will appear in the status bar when Do Not Disturb mode is enabled.

New privacy settings became available to users. In addition to "Location Services," the following menus were added in iOS 6: "Contacts," "Calendars," "Reminders," and "Photos." The updated privacy menus allow users more fine-grained privacy permission controls for each app, with new notifications when apps want access to information in each of the categories.{{cite web |first=Charlie |last=Sorrel |title=New iOS 6 Privacy Settings Limit Access To Photos, Contact, Calendars And More |url=http://www.cultofmac.com/173128/new-ios-6-privacy-settings-limit-access-to-photos-contact-calendars-and-more/ |website=Cult of Mac |date=June 12, 2012 |access-date=February 2, 2017 |archive-date=February 3, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203081918/http://www.cultofmac.com/173128/new-ios-6-privacy-settings-limit-access-to-photos-contact-calendars-and-more/ |url-status=live }}

iOS 6 also came with a "Limit ad tracking" user control setting to allow users the option to prevent targeted advertising. Apple's "Advertising Identifier" was described by Apple as "a non-permanent, non-personal, device identifier, that advertising networks will use to give you more control over advertisers' ability to use tracking methods. If you choose to limit ad tracking, advertising networks using the Advertising Identifier may no longer gather information to serve you targeted ads."{{cite web |first=Seth |last=Rosenblatt |title=Ad tracking 'blocker' comes to iOS 6 |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/ad-tracking-blocker-comes-to-ios-6/ |website=CNET |publisher=CBS Interactive |date=September 14, 2012 |access-date=February 2, 2017 |archive-date=February 3, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203080030/https://www.cnet.com/news/ad-tracking-blocker-comes-to-ios-6/ |url-status=live }}

In iOS 6.1, a "Reset Advertising Identifier" setting was added to allow users to reset the identifier used by advertising companies.

iOS 6 added a Twitter widget, where users could tweet without going into the app. This saved resources.{{cite web |first=Rene |last=Ritchie |title=What happened to the quick Tweet and Facebook post buttons on Control Center in iOS 7? |url=http://www.imore.com/what-happened-quick-tweet-and-facebook-post-buttons-control-center-ios-7 |website=iMore |date=September 18, 2013 |access-date=February 2, 2017 |archive-date=February 3, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203081206/http://www.imore.com/what-happened-quick-tweet-and-facebook-post-buttons-control-center-ios-7 |url-status=live }}

Exclusively on the IPhone 5 and fourth generation iPad, a fifth row of icons are introduced.

A newly downloaded app now shows a banner reading as such. https://www.idownloadblog.com/2012/06/13/ios-6-lets-you-easily-tell-new-apps-apart/

The Share Sheet interface was updated to display a grid of icons, as opposed to a list, of different apps to which users could share content.{{cite web |first=Rene |last=Ritchie |title=iOS 6 review |url=http://www.imore.com/ios-6-review |website=iMore |date=September 19, 2012 |access-date=February 3, 2017 |archive-date=January 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170102171708/http://www.imore.com/ios-6-review |url-status=live }}

A new Apple Maps app replaced Google Maps as the default mapping app on the operating system. Apple Maps used Apple's vector-based engine, making for smoother zooming. New to Maps was turn-by-turn navigation with spoken directions and 3D views in certain countries, "Flyover" views in some major cities, and real-time traffic.{{cite magazine |first=Matt |last=Peckham |title=Apple iOS 6 Here Next Week, iTunes Update Today, New iTunes in October |url=https://techland.time.com/2012/09/12/apple-unveils-ios-6-icloud-enabled-itunes-but-youll-have-to-wait-a-little-longer/ |magazine=Time |date=September 12, 2012 |access-date=February 2, 2017 |archive-date=September 17, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120917022215/http://techland.time.com/2012/09/12/apple-unveils-ios-6-icloud-enabled-itunes-but-youll-have-to-wait-a-little-longer/ |url-status=live }}

At launch, turn-by-turn navigation was only available for the iPhone 4s and later, and iPad 2 (cellular capability required) and later, while "Flyover" view was only available for iPhone 4s and later, fifth-generation iPod Touch, and iPad 2 and later.{{cite web |title=iOS 6 |url=https://www.apple.com/ios/whats-new/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001150808/http://www.apple.com/ios/whats-new/ |publisher=Apple Inc. |archive-date=October 1, 2012 |access-date=February 2, 2017}}

A new Passbook app was added, to retrieve documents such as boarding passes, admission tickets, coupons and loyalty cards.{{cite web |first=Elinor |last=Mills |title=Apple demos Passbook, a ticket, coupon organizer for iOS 6 |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/apple-demos-passbook-a-ticket-coupon-organizer-for-ios-6/ |website=CNET |publisher=CBS Interactive |date=June 11, 2012 |access-date=February 2, 2017 |archive-date=February 3, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203161919/https://www.cnet.com/news/apple-demos-passbook-a-ticket-coupon-organizer-for-ios-6/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |first=Jason |last=Cipriani |title=Getting started with Passbook on iOS 6 |url=https://www.cnet.com/how-to/getting-started-with-passbook-on-ios-6/ |website=CNET |publisher=CBS Interactive |date=September 20, 2012 |access-date=February 2, 2017 |archive-date=February 3, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203080306/https://www.cnet.com/how-to/getting-started-with-passbook-on-ios-6/ |url-status=live }}

An iOS device with Passbook can replace a physical card when scanned to process a mobile payment at participating locations. The app has context-aware features such as notifications for relevant coupons when in the immediate vicinity of a given store, and automatic visibility of boarding passes when the user is at an airport, with notifications for gate changes.

The Camera app was updated to include a new Panorama mode that allowed users to take 240-degree panoramic photos.{{cite web |first=Jason |last=Cipriani |title=How to take a panoramic photo with iOS 6 |url=https://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-take-a-panoramic-photo-with-ios-6/ |website=CNET |publisher=CBS Interactive |date=September 19, 2012 |access-date=February 3, 2017 |archive-date=April 13, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413170344/http://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-take-a-panoramic-photo-with-ios-6/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |first=Daniel Eran |last=Dilger |title=Apple's new iOS 6 Camera app makes Panorama capture easy |url=http://appleinsider.com/articles/12/09/17/apples_new_ios_6_camera_app_makes_panorama_capture_easy |website=AppleInsider |date=September 17, 2012 |access-date=February 3, 2017 |archive-date=February 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204004407/http://appleinsider.com/articles/12/09/17/apples_new_ios_6_camera_app_makes_panorama_capture_easy |url-status=live }}

The Photos app received updates to the Photo Stream functionality, letting users remove images, as well as share custom Photo Streams with other people or the public.

The App Store on iOS 6 had a brand new user interface that removed the "Categories" tab and replaced it with "Genius," Apple's search and recommendation engine. It also made use of cards rather than lists to present apps. There were also tweaks to the App Store's search algorithm, resulting in a "trend to favor newer companies," which sparked both developer concerns and praise.{{cite web |first=Sarah |last=Perez |title=Five Big Changes In The iOS 6 App Store (And What Developers Should Do) |url=https://techcrunch.com/2012/09/29/five-big-changes-in-the-ios-6-app-store-and-what-developers-should-do/ |website=TechCrunch |publisher=AOL |date=September 29, 2012 |access-date=February 3, 2017 |archive-date=February 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204003827/https://techcrunch.com/2012/09/29/five-big-changes-in-the-ios-6-app-store-and-what-developers-should-do/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |first=Sarah |last=Perez |title=With New iOS 6 App Store, The Most Important Changes Are Under The Hood |url=https://techcrunch.com/2012/09/12/with-new-ios-6-app-store-the-most-important-changes-are-under-the-hood/ |website=TechCrunch |publisher=AOL |date=September 12, 2012 |access-date=February 3, 2017 |archive-date=February 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204003944/https://techcrunch.com/2012/09/12/with-new-ios-6-app-store-the-most-important-changes-are-under-the-hood/ |url-status=live }}

The App Store also updated apps without requiring the iTunes password, and when installing or updating an app, users were no longer automatically returned to the home screen.{{cite web |first=Chris |last=Foresman |title=App Store gets an organizational boost in iOS 6 |url=https://arstechnica.com/apple/2012/09/app-store-gets-an-organizational-boost-in-ios-6/ |website=Ars Technica |publisher=Condé Nast |date=September 20, 2012 |access-date=February 3, 2017 |archive-date=February 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204003937/https://arstechnica.com/apple/2012/09/app-store-gets-an-organizational-boost-in-ios-6/ |url-status=live }}

Upon receiving calls, iOS 6 enabled users to swipe up the lock screen to reveal "Reply with message" or "Remind me later." The "Reply with message" feature shows several pre-determined messages with an option for a custom message, while the "Remind me later" feature offers several options (such as an hour later, when the user gets home, or when the user leaves the current location) to enable a reminder.{{cite web |title=iOS 6 Brings Useful Call Management Features to Phone App |url=http://www.iphonehacks.com/2012/06/ios-6-brings-useful-call-management-features-to-phone-app.html |website=iPhoneHacks.com |date=June 12, 2012 |access-date=February 3, 2017 |archive-date=February 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204004716/http://www.iphonehacks.com/2012/06/ios-6-brings-useful-call-management-features-to-phone-app.html |url-status=dead }}

Podcast functionality was separated from the iTunes app and received its own Podcasts app in iOS 6, in order to "centralize and promote podcast listening and downloading for users."{{cite web |first=Matthew |last=Panzarino |title=Apple ships new standalone Podcasts app for iOS to centralize downloading and listening |url=https://thenextweb.com/apple/2012/06/26/apple-ships-new-standalone-podcasts-app-for-iphone-and-ipad-to-centralize-downloading-and-listening/ |website=The Next Web |date=June 26, 2012 |access-date=February 3, 2017 |archive-date=February 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204004902/https://thenextweb.com/apple/2012/06/26/apple-ships-new-standalone-podcasts-app-for-iphone-and-ipad-to-centralize-downloading-and-listening/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Apple planning to launch standalone podcast app in iOS 6 |url=http://appleinsider.com/articles/12/06/15/apple_planning_to_launch_standalone_podcast_app_in_ios_6 |website=AppleInsider |date=June 15, 2012 |access-date=February 3, 2017 |archive-date=February 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204004151/http://appleinsider.com/articles/12/06/15/apple_planning_to_launch_standalone_podcast_app_in_ios_6 |url-status=live }}

The Safari web browser was updated with a full-screen landscape view for iPhone and iPod Touch users.{{cite web |first=Jason |last=Cipriani |title=How to use Safari's full-screen mode on iOS 6 |url=https://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-use-safaris-full-screen-mode-on-ios-6/ |website=CNET |publisher=CBS Interactive |date=September 20, 2012 |access-date=February 3, 2017 |archive-date=February 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202030623/https://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-use-safaris-full-screen-mode-on-ios-6/ |url-status=live }} Reading List also received offline support, in which text, images, and layout from saved articles get stored on the user's device.{{cite web |first=Dan |last=Frakes |title=Hands on with iOS 6: Safari |url=http://www.macworld.com/article/1168499/hands-on-with-ios-6-safari.html |website=Macworld |publisher=International Data Group |date=September 20, 2012 |access-date=May 5, 2017 |archive-date=March 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170318235727/http://www.macworld.com/article/1168499/hands-on-with-ios-6-safari.html |url-status=live }}

FaceTime video calling was updated to work over a cellular connection, in addition to Wi-Fi.{{cite web |first=Chris |last=Rawson |title=iOS 6: FaceTime over cellular |url=https://www.engadget.com/2012/09/19/ios-6-facetime-over-cellular/ |website=Engadget |publisher=AOL |date=September 19, 2012 |access-date=February 3, 2017 |archive-date=October 7, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161007115318/https://www.engadget.com/2012/09/19/ios-6-facetime-over-cellular/ |url-status=live }}

The Clock app, which had been on iPhone and iPod Touch since their original release, became available on iPad.{{cite web |first=Chris |last=Rawson |title=iOS 6: The iPad Clock app |url=https://www.engadget.com/2012/09/19/ios-6-the-ipad-clock-app/ |website=Engadget |publisher=AOL |date=September 19, 2012 |access-date=February 3, 2017 |archive-date=January 3, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170103170445/https://www.engadget.com/2012/09/19/ios-6-the-ipad-clock-app/ |url-status=live }} The clock design looked similar to a Swiss railway clock, and Apple formed an agreement with the Swiss Federal Railways to license the design for its own use.{{cite web |first=Jon |last=Fingas |title=Apple agrees to license for Swiss railway clock in iOS 6, knows what time it is |url=https://www.engadget.com/2012/10/12/apple-licenses-swiss-railway-clock-knows-what-time-it-is/ |website=Engadget |publisher=AOL |date=October 12, 2012 |access-date=February 3, 2017 |archive-date=May 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510104355/https://www.engadget.com/2012/10/12/apple-licenses-swiss-railway-clock-knows-what-time-it-is/ |url-status=live }}

The Music app was redesigned for iPhone and iPod Touch users. The interface was now completely white, while the Now Playing UI was now equipped with motion sensitive scrubber bars similar to the iPod Nano 7th generation.

The YouTube app, which had been a default app on iOS since its release, was removed.{{cite web |first=Mark |last=Gurman |title=War? YouTube app disappears from iOS 6 beta 4 as Apple breaks Google ties |url=https://9to5mac.com/2012/08/06/war-youtube-app-disappears-from-ios-6-beta-4/ |website=9to5Mac |date=August 6, 2012 |access-date=July 15, 2017 |archive-date=May 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170511111057/https://9to5mac.com/2012/08/06/war-youtube-app-disappears-from-ios-6-beta-4/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |first=Jay |last=Yarow |title=Apple Is Taking The YouTube App Off The iPhone |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/youtube-iphone-2012-8 |website=Business Insider |publisher=Axel Springer SE |date=August 6, 2012 |access-date=July 15, 2017 |archive-date=July 12, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170712062423/http://www.businessinsider.com/youtube-iphone-2012-8 |url-status=live }} Apple told The Verge that the reason for the removal was due to an expired license, but that YouTube users could still view videos through the Safari web browser. The company also confirmed that Google, which owns YouTube, was developing its own app, with a then-upcoming release through the App Store.{{cite web |first=Nathan |last=Ingraham |title=Apple: YouTube app will not be included in iOS 6, Google working on standalone version |url=https://www.theverge.com/2012/8/6/3223775/apple-youtube-ios6 |website=The Verge |publisher=Vox Media |date=August 6, 2012 |access-date=July 15, 2017 |archive-date=June 15, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170615093547/https://www.theverge.com/2012/8/6/3223775/apple-youtube-ios6 |url-status=live }} The Apple-developed YouTube app remained on iOS 5 and previous iOS versions.{{cite web |first=Darren |last=Murph |title=YouTube app removed from iOS 6 but not iOS 5 and older; Google working on a standalone version |url=https://www.engadget.com/2012/08/06/youtube-app-removed-from-ios-6-ios-5-confirmation-official/ |website=Engadget |publisher=AOL |date=August 6, 2012 |access-date=July 15, 2017 |archive-date=May 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170501080944/https://www.engadget.com/2012/08/06/youtube-app-removed-from-ios-6-ios-5-confirmation-official/ |url-status=live }} In June 2017, former YouTube employee Hunter Walk tweeted that Apple contacted YouTube to make it a default app on the original iPhone to ensure mass market mobile launch for the video-sharing service, but required handling development efforts itself. In 2012, YouTube made the "gutsy move" to discontinue the license in an effort to "take back control of our app" by developing it themselves.{{cite web |first=Kif |last=Leswing |title=Google is the reason YouTube isn't a default app on the iPhone anymore |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/google-is-why-youtube-isnt-default-app-on-iphone-anymore-2017-6 |website=Business Insider |publisher=Axel Springer SE |date=June 30, 2017 |access-date=July 15, 2017 |archive-date=July 12, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170712104559/http://www.businessinsider.com/google-is-why-youtube-isnt-default-app-on-iphone-anymore-2017-6 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |first=Mitchel |last=Broussard |title=Removal of Built-in YouTube App in iOS 6 Was YouTube's Decision to 'Take Back Control of Our App' |url=https://www.macrumors.com/2017/06/30/youtube-app-take-back-control/ |website=MacRumors |date=June 30, 2017 |access-date=July 15, 2017 |archive-date=July 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701134211/https://www.macrumors.com/2017/06/30/youtube-app-take-back-control/ |url-status=live }}

The reception of iOS 6 was positive. Dan Seifert of The Verge wrote that "iOS 6 looks nearly identical to iOS 5. There are a few subtle tweaks here and there. But for every small change to the look of iOS details, there are ten things that remain the same." While praising the iPhone 4s for being a "snappy performer," he noted that "When it comes to speed, iOS 6 doesn't feel terribly different from iOS 5".{{cite web |first=Dan |last=Seifert |title=iOS 6 review |url=https://www.theverge.com/2012/9/21/3363060/ios-6-review |website=The Verge |publisher=Vox Media |date=September 21, 2012 |access-date=February 3, 2017 |archive-date=January 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113233733/http://www.theverge.com/2012/9/21/3363060/ios-6-review |url-status=live }} Craig Grannell of TechRadar wrote that "iOS 6 is rather like the iPhone 5 or OS X Mountain Lion - the refinement of something that already works extremely well. Apple isn't overhauling things for the sake of it but, in the main, making the iOS experience gradually better. That in itself is something other companies would do well to emulate."{{cite web |first=Craig |last=Grannell |title=iOS 6 review |url=http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/software/operating-systems/ios-6-1096515/review |website=TechRadar |publisher=Future plc |date=May 17, 2013 |access-date=February 2, 2017 |archive-date=February 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170210122225/http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/software/operating-systems/ios-6-1096515/review |url-status=live }} Jason Parker of CNET wrote that "iOS 6 is a welcome upgrade for any iOS user, but it's not going to completely change the way you use your device. Instead, each of the tweaks here will make many daily smartphone actions easier across the board and offer some relief to those waiting for certain features (sending images from email and call controls, for example)."{{cite web |first=Jason |last=Parker |title=iOS 6 review |url=https://www.cnet.com/products/apple-ios-6/review/ |website=CNET |publisher=CBS Interactive |date=November 12, 2012 |access-date=February 3, 2017 |archive-date=February 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202034008/https://www.cnet.com/products/apple-ios-6/review/ |url-status=live }}

{{Main|Apple Maps}}

In iOS 6, Apple replaced Google Maps with its own Apple Maps as the default mapping service for the operating system, and immediately faced criticism for inaccurate or incomplete data, including a museum in a river, missing towns, very inaccurate directions, satellite images obscured by clouds, missing local places, and more.{{cite web |title=New Apple maps app under fire from users |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-19659736 |publisher=BBC News |date=September 20, 2012 |access-date=February 3, 2017 |archive-date=November 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111232027/https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-19659736 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |first=Nilay |last=Patel |title=Wrong turn: Apple's buggy iOS 6 maps lead to widespread complaints |url=https://www.theverge.com/2012/9/20/3363914/wrong-turn-apple-ios-6-maps-phone-5-buggy-complaints |website=The Verge |publisher=Vox Media |date=September 20, 2012 |access-date=February 3, 2017 |archive-date=December 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201215085454/https://www.theverge.com/2012/9/20/3363914/wrong-turn-apple-ios-6-maps-phone-5-buggy-complaints |url-status=live }}{{cite web |first=Jordan |last=Crook |title=The Apple iOS 6 Maps Fiasco Explained In 3 Minutes |url=https://techcrunch.com/2012/09/26/the-apple-ios-6-maps-fiasco-clarified-in-3-minutes/ |website=TechCrunch |publisher=AOL |date=September 26, 2012 |access-date=February 3, 2017 |archive-date=February 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204085542/https://techcrunch.com/2012/09/26/the-apple-ios-6-maps-fiasco-clarified-in-3-minutes/ |url-status=live }}

Apple CEO Tim Cook issued a letter on Apple's website apologizing for the "frustration caused by the Maps application,"{{Cite web|title=Apple - A Letter from Tim Cook on Maps|url=https://lingualeo.com/es/jungle/apple-a-letter-from-tim-cook-on-maps-158069|access-date=2020-07-27|website=lingualeo.com|archive-date=February 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220214235115/https://lingualeo.com/es/jungle/apple-a-letter-from-tim-cook-on-maps-158069|url-status=live}} and recommended downloading alternative map apps from the App Store.{{cite web |first=Nathan |last=Ingraham |title=Tim Cook admits Apple 'fell short' on iOS 6 Maps, suggests third-party alternatives |url=https://www.theverge.com/2012/9/28/3422492/apple-ceo-tim-cook-maps-open-letter |website=The Verge |publisher=Vox Media |date=September 28, 2012 |access-date=February 3, 2017 |archive-date=December 26, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226231209/http://www.theverge.com/2012/9/28/3422492/apple-ceo-tim-cook-maps-open-letter |url-status=live }}{{cite web |first=Jordan |last=Crook |title=Tim Cook Apologizes For Apple Maps, Points To Competitive Alternatives |url=https://techcrunch.com/2012/09/28/tim-cook-apologizes-for-apple-maps-points-to-competitive-alternatives/ |website=TechCrunch |publisher=AOL |date=September 28, 2012 |access-date=February 3, 2017 |archive-date=February 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204085433/https://techcrunch.com/2012/09/28/tim-cook-apologizes-for-apple-maps-points-to-competitive-alternatives/ |url-status=live }} Scott Forstall, the then-VP of iOS software engineering, was involuntarily dismissed from his role at Apple in October 2012 after he "refused to sign his name to a letter apologizing for shortcomings in Apple's new mapping service."{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970204840504578087192497916304|title=An Apple Exit Over Maps|last=Lessin|first=Jessica|date=October 29, 2012|website=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|access-date=February 3, 2017|archive-date=February 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170227170014/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970204840504578087192497916304|url-status=live}}{{subscription required}}

In September 2012, Sarah Downey, a "privacy expert" with the software company Abine expressed her concern that in spite of the new "Advertising Identifier," Apple didn't disclose details on what the identifier was actually based on. She stated: "I need them to tell me why it's not identifying because as we've seen from a lot other "non-identifying" pieces of data, they can identify you quite easily," and that "If you're using the opt-out, [Apple] may no longer gather information to serve you targeted ads. To me, that says they may still collect your information to do things other than serve you targeted ads, like build databases about you to send you marketing or to sell to third parties."

Many users reported a higher-than-normal data usage after upgrading to iOS 6, causing some to be heavily billed for data largely exceeding their data plan. Steve Rosenbaum of The Huffington Post wrote that "The bug is the result of an iOS 6 problem that connects the phone to the cellular data network whenever the phone is connected to a WiFi signal," and also stated that Apple had released a patch.{{cite web |first=Steve |last=Rosenbaum |title=ATT iPhone Customers Hit With Massive Data 'Sipping' Bug |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steve-rosenbaum/att-iphone-customers-hit_b_1963505.html |website=The Huffington Post |publisher=AOL |date=October 13, 2012 |access-date=February 3, 2017 |archive-date=February 3, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203080104/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steve-rosenbaum/att-iphone-customers-hit_b_1963505.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |first=Charles |last=Arthur |title=iPhone 5 and iOS 6 users claim 'data use and bills rocket' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2012/oct/17/iphone-5-iphone |website=The Guardian |date=October 18, 2012 |access-date=February 3, 2017 |archive-date=February 3, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203082547/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2012/oct/17/iphone-5-iphone |url-status=live }}

In April 2014, users who were still running iOS 6 could not connect to FaceTime due to the expiration of a certificate. Apple released a support document explaining the problem, adding that devices capable of upgrading to iOS 7 must do so to fix the issue, while devices stuck on iOS 6 would receive an iOS 6.1.6 update.{{cite web |first=Juli |last=Clover |title=iOS 6 Users on Devices Able to Run iOS 7 Must Upgrade to Fix FaceTime |url=https://www.macrumors.com/2014/04/24/ios-6-facetime-fix/ |website=MacRumors |date=April 24, 2014 |access-date=February 3, 2017 |archive-date=February 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204085354/https://www.macrumors.com/2014/04/24/ios-6-facetime-fix/ |url-status=live }}

Given some of the new iOS 6 features required a rear & front camera, and other iOS 6 compatible devices having similar hardware did not support many of the new features such as the iPhone 3GS and the iPod Touch (4th generation), therefore, with this release, Apple dropped support for devices that did not include a camera, thus the third-generation iPod Touch and the first-generation iPad did not receive the iOS 6 update.

{{cite web|title=iOS 6 Limits Prominent Features on iPhone 3GS|url=https://www.hardwarezone.com.sg/tech-news-ios-6-limits-prominent-features-iphone-3gs}}

{{cite web|title=Everymac|url= https://everymac.com/systems/apple/ipad/index-ipad-specs.html}}

{{cite web|title=Everymac|url= https://everymac.com/systems/apple/ipod/index-ipod-specs.html}}

{{cite web |title=iOS 6 Software Update |url=https://support.apple.com/kb/DL1578?locale=en_US |publisher=Apple Inc. |date=September 19, 2012 |access-date=February 3, 2017 |archive-date=October 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004140333/https://support.apple.com/kb/DL1578?locale=en_US |url-status=live }}

iOS 6 is the first version of iOS to drop support for an iPad.

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• iPhone 3GS
• iPhone 4
• iPhone 4S
• iPhone 5

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• iPod Touch (4th generation)
• iPod Touch (5th generation)

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• iPad 2
• iPad (3rd generation)
• iPad (4th generation)
• iPad Mini (1st generation)

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• {{Cite web |url=http://www.apple.com/ios/ |title=iOS 6 |access-date=September 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130904020030/http://www.apple.com/ios/ |archive-date=September 4, 2013 |url-status = bot: unknown}}

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{{Succession box|title=iOS 6|years=2012|before=iOS 5|after=iOS 7}}

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*6

Category:2012 software

Category:Products introduced in 2012

Category:Mobile operating systems

Category:Tablet operating systems

Category:Proprietary operating systems