Your iPhone’s Messages App Is a Math Whiz. No, Really
Your iPhone The Messages app is a useful app. Yes, you can send messages to people with it, but you can also send people money and perform polls. Another thing it can do is solve tricky equations without your Calculator app and convert units without Google.
When Apple released iOS 18 in 2024, this update upgraded Messages to allow it to perform calculations. Before iOS 18, if you wanted to know how to share a bill with your remote texting group, you had to use your calculator app or Spotlight and then go back to Messages. You can now perform multi-step calculations in Messages, as well as convert things like currency and temperature, without switching apps.
Here’s how to get Messages to perform calculations. You can also see other features iOS26 brought to your iPhone.
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How to solve math problems in Messages
If you want to solve a math equation in Messages, enter the problem in your text field, add the equal sign (=), and the solution will appear in the predictive text field on your keyboard. Tap the solution to add it to your text.
Messages can solve simple math equations like “2+2=” by typing them into the text field. The app can also solve equations that use more complex formulas, such as the trigonometric functions of sine, cosine, and tangent. You must include the equal sign (=) at the end of each equation no matter what.
How to convert values in messages
Converting values in Messages works the same as solving math problems in the app. Type the value in your text box with the appropriate value marker, such as F for Fahrenheit or lbs for pounds, and then type the equal sign (=), and the predictive text field above your keyboard will show you the conversion.
If you don’t specify what to convert to, predictive text will choose what to convert to. But don’t worry, the app won’t try to convert kilos to minutes. Messages will show conversions to other similar units, so Fahrenheit will convert to Celsius and pounds will convert to kilograms.
You can choose what to convert to by typing something like “60hr to min=” and Messages will display the 3,900 minute conversion in the predictive text field.
For more iOS news, here my opinion on iOS 26how to reduce the effects of Liquid Glass in the update and how text filtering works in the update. You can also view our iOS 26 Cheat Sheet.
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