Numbers compatibility between iOS 26.2 and Ventura

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Ralf-F Author

Level 4

2,741 points

Numbers compatibility between iOS 26.2 and Ventura

Compatibility of Numbers file between macOS Ventura 13.7.8 and iOS 26.2

I have currently an older MacBook Pro with macOS Ventura 13.7.8 and iPad & iPhone both with iOS 18.7.1

Now my iPad & iPhone both recommend that I update to iOS 26.2.

My concern is that I get issue with my Numbers files that I use on all devices.

Can I still open a Numbers file that was changed / modified with Numbers for iOS 26.2 on my old MacBook Pro with Ventura 13.7.8.

iOS 26.2 has a new / improved Numbers version with new functions.

For sure I get issue if I use these new functions, but will it work if I just update existing Numbers files?

Thanks for your feedback

Ralf

MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 13.7

Posted on Jan 14, 2026 4:18 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Badunit

Level 7

30,708 points

Jan 14, 2026 5:31 PM in response to Ralf-F

Can't say for sure because I have no way to test it out, but Apple hasn't been very nice about backward compatibility with Numbers versions. Typically once you have opened (and saved or let it autosave) a Numbers document in a new version (or in iCloud because it is typically at the top version), you will never be able to open it again in an older version. It isn't the OS version that matters, it is the version of Numbers. As long as you continue running the same older Numbers version on all your newer devices and stay away from iCloud Numbers, no problem. You'll get hounded to update the app, though, and you might accidentally do it and mess everything up. You cannot downgrade. If you do save a document in a higher version, your only recourse is to use iCloud Numbers on your older devices

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