A calculator app is a handy tool that reduces the stress of various calculations in your daily life. Whether you’re dealing with academic percentages or need to add up multiple numbers, a calculator app can solve these math problems in a jiffy.

Imagine you’ve made several purchases at the supermarket and need to calculate the total for payment; again, a calculator app can simplify the task. And if you’re the kind of person who calculates their monthly expenses at the end of each month to avoid unnecessary spending next month, a calculator app can be a handy solution.
Therefore, the calculator app could find a place in your list of favorite daily apps. However, many iPhone users have recently reported problems with their calculator app not working. If you also belong to this group, don’t worry, dear mathematicians! You don’t have to throw your iPhone against the nearest wall out of frustration. In this article, we have listed eleven working solutions to fix the calculator app on your iPhone.
Table of Contents
What Are The Reasons Calculator App Not Working on iPhone?
Before you delve into the methods to fix calculator app not working, it is important to understand the possible reasons why the calculator app on iPhone is not working. If you do that, you’ll probably have a better idea of what happened in your phone’s calculator app and can find a better solution for yourself accordingly.
1. Software Glitches: Software bugs or glitches within the iOS software could affect the calculator app.
2. Issues in The App Itself: The calculator app itself could have a bug or issue that causes it to be unable to perform calculations.
3. Insufficient iPhone Storage: Low storage space on your iPhone can limit the system resources available to the Calculator app. This can cause the app to work slowly or not at all.
4. Background Processes: If several apps run in your iPhone’s background, they consume important system resources. This can affect the calculator app, causing it to perform calculations more slowly.
5. Outdated App Version: Compatibility issues between an outdated version of the calculator app and the iOS on your iPhone can cause the app to have difficulties.
11 Ways to Fix Calculator App Not Working on iPhone
As of now, you’ve found out why your iPhone’s calculator isn’t working. Now, let’s take a look at eleven proven solutions to get it working again. Since you know the possible cause, it should be easy for you to find the best solution from the list.
Disable Rotation Lock
If the calculator app on your iPhone doesn’t work, try disabling the screen rotation lock. This little icon could prevent your calculator app from working to its full potential. Follow the steps below to disable the screen rotation lock feature.
- To open Control Center on iPhone X and newer models, swipe down from the top right corner or up from the bottom of your screen.
- Look for the rotation lock icon, which resembles a padlock with a circular arrow. The rotation lock icon will be highlighted and display a lock icon when activated.
- Tap on it.

- Now close the Control Center and check that the calculator app is working.
Force Quit And Relaunch The Calculator App
Force quitting the calculator app can be a simple but effective solution to prevent the calculator app from not working on your iPhone. Occasionally, when your iPhone is experiencing high storage usage or is heavily utilized, certain apps, such as the calculator, may freeze or stop working. Forcing the app to close can help to get it working again. To do this, follow the steps below.
iPhones With Home Button:
- Double-click on the home button.
- Swipe up on the calculator app to close it.
- Wait a few seconds, and then open the app again.
iPhones Without Home Button:
- Swipe all the way up from the bottom edge and pause in the middle of the screen.
- Find the calculator app and swipe it upwards to close it.

- Wait a moment and then open the app again.
Close Background Apps
If you use multiple applications at the same time and the storage space on your iPhone is limited, it may be that certain apps, such as the calculator, no longer work. In such cases, you should simply close the background apps and then reopen the calculator app. This will probably allow the app to work again. To do this, follow the steps below.
On iPhone X and newer models, simply swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause in the middle. Swipe left or right to find the app you want to close and then swipe up on the app preview to close it.

If you’re using an iPhone SE, iPhone 8, or earlier models, double-click the Home button to see your recently used apps. Swipe right or left to find the app you want to close, then swipe up on the preview to close it.
Update the Calculator App
If your iPhone calculator app has problems with functionality, this could be due to problems in the app itself. To fix this, you should update the calculator app via the App Store. If many users are experiencing problems with the calculator app on their iPhones, the app developers may have released an update with new features, bug fixes, and improvements. To update the calculator app on your iPhone, follow the steps below.
- Open the App Store on your iPhone.
- Tap the profile icon in the top right corner.
- Scroll down and search for the Calculator app in the updates list.
- When you see the Calculator app, tap the update icon next to it.

- Alternatively, you can also search specifically for the calculator app and update it.

- Once the update is complete, open the calculator app again and check whether it works or not.

Offload The Calculator App
You can try to fix the calculator app by offloading the app. Offloading is similar to deleting the app, but the app’s data will remain safe. This simple process can help you resolve issues with the app, free up storage space, and refresh the app by clearing the cache. Follow the steps below to delete the Calculator app on your iPhone.
- Launch Settings on your iPhone.
- Tap on General.
- Select iPhone Storage.
- Scroll down to find the calculator app in the list of apps.
- Tap it as soon as you have found it.

- Hit the Offload App option.
- As soon as you click on Offload App, a small pop-up window will appear in which you tap Offload App again.
- Now click on Reinstall app to reinstall the calculator app.

- Be patient for a while. Once you have reinstalled the calculator app, check whether it works or not.
Reinstall The Calculator App
If you tried to delete the Calculator app to get it working again, it still doesn’t work. You should delete the app and reinstall it. There may be a bug in the app itself that can only be fixed by reinstalling it. Follow the steps below to uninstall and reinstall the app.
- Unlock your iPhone and go to the App Library.
- Tap and hold the calculator app until the small pop-up menu appears.
- Hit the Delete App option.
- As soon as you click on “Delete app,” a confirmation will appear. Click on “Delete” to confirm the deletion.

- Now, to reinstall the Calculator app, open the App Store and click on the search bar.
- Search for the Calculator app.
- In the search results, look for the default calculator app for the iPhone.
- Tap on the download icon to reinstall it.

Check For iOS Update
The malfunction of your iPhone’s calculator app could be due to software-related problems. Over time, errors and malfunctions may occur on your device. To fix these problems, iOS developers regularly release updates. To get the calculator app on your iPhone working again, you can consider an iOS update. To do this, follow the steps below.
Tips to consider before updating your iPhone:
1. Back up your device before updating it if something goes wrong.
2. Make sure your device has enough storage space to download the update.
3. Be patient; The update process may take a few minutes or longer.
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap on General.
- Tap on Software Update.
- Check if there’s any available update.

- If an update is available, you’ll see a button that says Download and Install or Install Now.
- Tap the button to download and install the update.
- Wait until your iPhone has restarted.

Restart Your iPhone
When was the last time you restarted your iPhone? Many people may not do this often, but it’s important to restart your device regularly to avoid problems. Restarting your iPhone is not only convenient but also a commonly used method to fix problems. Follow the steps below to do this.
Rеstart iPhonе 8 and Latеr Modеls
- Bеgin by simultanеously prеssing and holding thе Powеr button along with еithеr thе Volumе Up or Volumе Down button until Powеr mеnu prompts.
- On thе Powеr mеnu scrееn, swipе thе slidе to powеr off to shut down thе iPhonе.
- Allow a wait of at lеast 30 sеconds bеforе procееding to thе nеxt stеp.
- Now, prеss and hold thе Powеr button for a couplе of sеconds to start thе iPhonе again.

Forcе Rеstart iPhonе 7 And iPhonе 7 Plus
- Prеss and hold thе volumе down button and thе powеr button simultanеously.
- Continuе holding it until thе Applе logo appеars on your iPhonе scrееn.
- Allow some time, and your iPhone will undergo a restart.
Forcе Rеstart iPhonе 6s And Earliеr Modеls (Including First-Gеnеration iPhonе SE)
- Prеss and hold thе homе button and thе powеr button simultaneously.
- Continuе holding until you sее thе Applе logo on thе scrееn.
- Wait for a whilе, and your iPhonе will rеstart.
Rеsеt All Sеttings
It’s possible that you have changed the system settings of your iPhone, which has led to problems with the calculator app. If this is the case, you can reset all settings so that the calculator app works properly again. No data will be lost, but any custom settings you have made will be reset to their default values. This could help your calculator app to work again. To do this, follow the steps below.
- Open the Settings on your iPhone.
- Tap on General.
- Scroll down and tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.

- Tap on Reset.
- As soon as you click Reset, a menu will prompt; choose Reset All Settings.
- Enter the passcode of the iPhone on the new screen
- Confirm Reset by hitting Reset All Settings again.

Factory Reset Your iPhone
You should reset your iPhone if you’ve already tried all of the above methods but still can’t fix the calculator app. This will log you out of your Apple ID and delete your personal data. After that, your iPhone will be as good as new internally.
Before you continue, you should note a few points to protect important data.
First, make sure you back up your iPhone using iCloud or another cloud storage service. This way, you can easily restore your personal data later. If you have paired an Apple Watch with your iPhone, make sure you unpair it before restarting your iPhone. If you follow these steps, you can avoid losing personal data and prevent future problems.
- Launch the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Click on General.
- Scroll down and hit Transfer or Reset iPhone.

- Tap on Erase All Content and Settings.
- By doing so, it will redirect you to another window with your Apps and Data, Apple ID, and Find My information. Tap continue to proceed.
- A small confirmation popup will appear when you click on Continue. Tap Erase iPhone.
- Enter your passcode, Apple ID password, or both if needed.

- Patience is required during the process. After a short time, your iPhone will restart and display the setup screen. Complete the setup and check if the calculator app is working or not.
Try using a different calculator app
If you’ve already tried resetting your iPhone and still can’t use the calculator app, don’t worry. Just try a different calculator app for a few days. There’s a good chance the problem will resolve itself. I’ve two great alternative calculator apps for you. Find out which one is right for you!
Photomath
Photomath is the perfect app for students. Take a photo of a math problem and get instant answers and even video explanations for some questions. It’s like having a personal tutor. You can also look up solutions from the textbook and use a handy calculator icon for normal calculations, just like on your iPhone.
OneCalc
The OneCalc is designed for those who regularly use a calculator. It simplifies calculations such as age, percentage, mass, or volume. The app saves your calculations’ history so you can easily find and check your results. You can also mark certain calculations as favorites.
Your iPhone Suddenly Forget Basic Maths
If you’ve thoroughly implemented the 11 workarounds we’ve provided, your calculator app should definitely work again now. If not, using an alternative calculator app might be better until the problem fixes itself.
If the problem persists even after a long wait, you should contact Apple Support. They can explain the next steps or offer a solution if available. Thanks for reading; cheers!
FAQs about Fixing iPhone Calculator App Issues
1. My Calculator app is not responding to touch inputs. How can I troubleshoot this issue?
If the calculator app is not responding to touch, first try force quitting and restarting the app or restart your iPhone using the steps provided in this article.
2. Is it possible that in the future, any other app will stop working as the calculator app does?
This is quite possible, and in this case, you should at least try the remedies mentioned above. It is possible that the app will work as before after trying these fixes. If this is not the case, you should read a special article on this.
3. Is there a way to check if the Calculator app issue is device-specific or widespread among iPhone users?
To find out, you can visit online forums, community discussions, or Apple’s official support channels to see if other users are reporting similar problems with the Calculator app.
4. How often do developers release updates?
The frequency of updates can vary, but usually, developers release updates to fix bugs, add features or improve performance. It is good practice to check for updates regularly.
5. Is there a recommended way to report to Apple about Calculator app issues?
Yes, you can submit your feedback directly from your iPhone or visit Apple’s official website to share your experience and report issues with the Calculator app. You can also contact Apple customer service.

