Your iPhone’s Messages App Can Do Math. Here’s How

Apple will release iOS 26 this fall, and it will bring Liquid Glass and more features to your iPhone. But iOS 18 upgrades your Messages app so that it can solve tricky equations without your Calculator app, and it doesn’t need Google to look up conversion rates, either.

Prior to iOS 18, if you wanted to figure out how to split a bill with your texting group from afar, you’d have to use your calculator app or Spotlight and then switch back to Messages. With iOS 18 you can perform multistep calculations in Messages, as well as convert things like currency and temperature, without switching apps.

Here’s how to make Messages perform calculations. You can also see other hidden features iOS 18 brought to your iPhone.

How to solve math problems in Messages

If you want to solve a math equation in Messages, type the problem into your text field, add the equals sign (=), and the solution will appear in the predictive text field over 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 need to include the equals sign (=) at the end of each equation no matter what.

How to convert values in Messages

Converting values in Messages works similar to solving math problems in the app. Type the value into your text box with the appropriate value marker — such as F for Fahrenheit or lbs for pounds — then type the equal sign (=), and the predictive text field above your keyboard will show you the conversion.

If you don’t indicate what to convert to, predictive text will choose what to convert to. But don’t worry, the app won’t try to convert pounds 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 conversion of 3,900 minutes in the predictive text field. 

For more on iOS 18, here’s all the new iPhone features included in iOS 18.5, iOS 18.4 and iOS 18.3. You can also check out our iOS 18 cheat sheet and my thoughts on the iOS 26 beta.

Watch this: Apple’s Little-Known Subscription Perks Coming in iOS 26

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