Alicia Molik and Mara Santangelo were the defending champions, but lost in the first round to Sara Errani and Bethanie Mattek.
At the 2012 BNP Paribas Open – Women's Singles, played at Indian Wells, California in March 2012, the defending champion Caroline Wozniacki lost to Ana Ivanovic in the fourth round, the second consecutive year Ivanovic had knocked out the defending champion. World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka won her first Indian Wells Title by beating World No. 2 Maria Sharapova 6–2 6–3 in the final.
Casey Dellacqua and Scott Lipsky were the defending champions. Dellacqua chose not to participate this year while Lipsky partnered with Vladimíra Uhlířová, but they were defeated in the first round by Virginie Razzano and Nicolas Devilder.
Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi won the tournament defeating Klaudia Jans-Ignacik of Poland and Santiago González of Mexico 7–6(7–3), 6–1 in the final.
Chanelle Scheepers was the defending champion, but was unsuccessful in her title defense, losing to 4th seed Urszula Radwańska in the Quarterfinals.
Hsieh Su-wei won the final, defeating Laura Robson 6–3, 5–7, 6–4 in the final.
Tamarine Tanasugarn was the defending champion, but lost in the semifinals to Stefanie Vögele.
Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi were the defending champions, but decided not to participate together.
Mirza played alongside Robert Lindstedt, but lost in the first round to Cara Black and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, while Bhupathi competed with Casey Dellacqua, but lost to Anastasia Rodionova and Santiago González in the first round.
Lucie Hradecká and František Čermák won the title, defeating Kristina Mladenovic and Daniel Nestor in the final, 1–6, 6–4, [10–6].
Melanie Oudin was the defending champion, but lost in the first round to Ajla Tomljanović.
2011 finalist Daniela Hantuchová won the tournament, defeating Donna Vekić 7–6(7–5), 6–4 in the final.
Serena and Venus Williams were the defending champions, but could not defend after Venus withdrew with a back injury before the start of competition.
Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci were the defending champions, but lost to Serena and Venus Williams in the quarterfinals.
Andrea Hlaváčková and Lucie Hradecká won the title, defeating Ashleigh Barty and Casey Dellacqua in the final, 6–7(4–7), 6–1, 6–4.
Arina Rodionova was the defending champion, having won the event in 2012, but lost in the semifinals to Noppawan Lertcheewakarn.
Serena Williams successfully defended her title, beating Sara Errani in the final, 6–3, 6–0.
Hsieh Su-wei and Peng Shuai were the defending champions, but Peng chose not to participate this year. Hsieh played alongside Flavia Pennetta, but lost in the quarterfinals to Andrea Hlaváčková and Lucie Hradecká.
Garbiñe Muguruza was the defending champion, but chose to compete in Sydney instead.
Heather Watson won the title, defeating Madison Brengle in the final, 6–3, 6–4.
Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci were the defending champions, but Errani chose not to participate this year. Vinci played alongside Karin Knapp, but lost in the third round to Casey Dellacqua and Yaroslava Shvedova.
Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina were the defending champions, but Makarova decided not to participate. Vesnina played alongside Eugenie Bouchard, but they withdrew from their second round match because of a concussion sustained by Bouchard.
Raquel Kops-Jones and Abigail Spears were the defending champions, but Spears chose not to participate this year. Kops-Jones played alongside Anastasia Rodionova, but lost in the second round to Chuang Chia-jung and Hsieh Su-wei.
Chan Hao-ching and Chan Yung-jan won the title, defeating Casey Dellacqua and Yaroslava Shvedova in the final, 7–5, 6–4.
Andrea Hlaváčková and Peng Shuai were the defending champions, but Peng could not participate due to injury. Hlaváčková played alongside Lucie Hradecká, but lost in the quarterfinals to Casey Dellacqua and Yaroslava Shvedova.
Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza won the title, defeating Chan Hao-ching and Chan Yung-jan in the final, 6–7(9–11), 6–1, [10–8].
Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza were the defending champions, but chose not to participate together. Hingis played alongside Coco Vandeweghe, but lost in the second round to Ashleigh Barty and Casey Dellacqua. Mirza teamed up with Barbora Strýcová, but lost in the third round to Eri Hozumi and Miyu Kato.
Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Lucie Šafářová were the defending champions, but Mattek-Sands was unable to compete due to injury. Šafářová played alongside Barbora Strýcová, but lost in the semifinals to Lucie Hradecká and Kateřina Siniaková.
Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Lucie Šafářová were the defending champions, but neither player could participate this year due to injury.
