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Why can’t I no longer add or edit fx equations?

The feature of adding fx or equations to pages tables has disappeared. Why? It’s working OK for Numbers…but I can no longer create or edit equations within Pages’ tables (the = sign does not work)

iPad Pro, iPadOS 16

Posted on Oct 3, 2024 3:45 PM

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6 replies

Oct 4, 2024 11:24 AM in response to BDDraeger

I just read through the current online Pages user guide for iPadOS and the Books version too. Not one word about entering or editing formulas, only mathematical equations. Also Googled this issue and found nothing. That makes Pages tables useless in iPadOS v18/18.0.1.


If I create a new Pages v14.2 document on Sequoia v15.0.1, enter a table and a table formula, and then save that to iCloud Drive, Pages v14.2 on iPadOS 18.0.1 honors the equation, but as far as I can tell, gives no user access to the formula editor.


I just submitted a bug report to the Pages v14.2 for iPadOS product team about this issue.

Oct 4, 2024 1:18 PM in response to BDDraeger

BDDraeger wrote:

The problem is widespread. The ability to use fx within Pages has disappeared on my iPhone 13 and my wife’s iPad Air as well. This must have been a change instituted by Apple…without notice.

Apple does not give notice when they create a bug or remove a feature.



it is important to note that when I open the file on my MacBook Pro M1, everything works fine! So why can’t I access fx on spreadsheets embedded in Pages via any iPad or iPhone?

The implementation of Pages on macOS is a different compilation of Pages code due to the macOS interface.


Only the Pages product team working on the iOS/iPadOS versions of Pages could answer that question, and no Apple employees participate in these strictly user-supported communities. If we see an update for Pages v14.2 on iOS/iPadOS, it may address this missing formula issue — or may not.

Oct 4, 2024 8:29 AM in response to BDDraeger

That table cell must not have its Data Format set to Text. Set it to Automatic, or anything other than Text. Then, whether you single, or double-click the cell, the '=' initiator will open the equation window. This answer was for Pages v14.2 on macOS Sequoia v15.0.1, but should apply to Pages v14.2 for iOS/iPadOS 17.7, 18.0, and 18.0.1.


This also answers your duplicate question: Spreadsheet functions within Apple pages … - Apple Community


As these questions are not answered by Apple staff, just be patient until one of us volunteers answers your single post.


Oct 4, 2024 12:56 PM in response to BDDraeger

The problem is widespread. The ability to use fx within Pages has disappeared on my iPhone 13 and my wife’s iPad Air as well. This must have been a change instituted by Apple…without notice.


it is important to note that when I open the file on my MacBook Pro M1, everything works fine! So why can’t I access fx on spreadsheets embedded in Pages via any iPad or iPhone?

Why can’t I no longer add or edit fx equations?

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