iOS 18: How to make Messages do the math for you

Apple has released iOS 18 to the general public on September 16, a week after the company announced its new iPhone 16 Series, Apple Watch Series 10 And more info on his event “Glowtime”. The update brings a bunch of new features to your iPhone, like new ways to customize your Home and Lock screens, as well as RCS messaging. And the operating system also lets you solve math problems right in your Messages app.

Before iOS 18, if you wanted to know how to share a bill with your remote messaging group, you had to use your calculator app or Spotlight and then switch back to Messages. With iOS 18, you can perform multi-step calculations in Messages, as well as convert things like currency and temperature, without switching apps.

Learn more: iOS 18 brings these new features to your iPhone

Here’s how to make Messages do calculations.

How to Solve Math Problems in Messages

To solve a math equation in Messages, type the problem in your text field, add the equal sign (=) and the solution will appear in the predictive text field above your keyboard. Tap the solution to add it to your text.

Messages can solve simple equations, such as “2+2=”, by typing them in the text field. The app can also solve equations that use more complex formulas, such as the trigonometric functions sine, cosine, and tangent. You must include the equal sign (=) in the end no matter what.

How to convert values ​​in messages

Converting values ​​in Messages works the same way as 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, 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, the predictive text will choose what to convert to. Don’t worry, it won’t try to convert pounds to minutes. The messages will display conversions to other similar units, so Fahrenheit will be converted to Celsius and pounds to kilograms.

You can choose the time to convert by entering something like “60 hours to minutes” and Messages will display the conversion in the predictive text field, which is 3900 minutes.

To learn more about iOS 18, here is my opinion on iOS 18how to make sure RCS messaging is enabled on your iPhone and our iOS 18 cheat sheet. You may also want to check out Everything Apple Announced at Its September Event.