iOS 18 introduced a few redesigns that were not-so-good (including the infamous change to the Photos app). And strangely, it removed an important button from the basic Calculator app, a move that people found bad enough to warrant an entire column on The Atlantic, calling it out.
Now, Apple has apparently listened. iOS 26 brings back the C/AC button, the lack of which frustrated some people, especially those who used the Calculator app more frequently.
Basically, with iOS 26, Apple is trying to please both worlds. Actually, the Calculator app now has both a backspace key and a C/AC key. The backspace key sits in the top-left of the number keypad, and it deletes one digit at a time. The second button next to it is what used to be the +/- key in iOS 18.
Now, this button is replaced by the traditional C/AC button. When a number is a part of a calculation, pressing C removes the entire number. This is useful if you accidentally mistype one number in a string of a large addition or something.
When there is no number typed (if the app is showing zero), the button changes to AC. If you tap AC, this would clear all parts of the current computation.
Image Credit - 9to5Mac
The negative operator (the +/- key, which is now not there) has not been removed, though. It was moved to the bottom-left position. And this change makes quite a lot of sense, as not many people would need to calculate negative numbers in daily life.
Have you missed the C/AC button in iOS 18?
Yes. It's important.
69.23%
No, I adapted fine.
23.08%
I hardly use the Calculator anyway
7.69%
The button that the negative operator took the place of the option that was used to switch calculator modes (between basic, scientific, and maths notes). Now, this function has been moved as a new toolbar button at the very top-right of the screen.
iOS 26 is a big update, apart from these small tweaks here and there. It brings a huge redesign called Liquid Glass and plenty of new features. Right now, the OS is in its beta testing phase, with a stable rollout expected in September.
I think it's nice to see Apple listening to feedback. Bringing back the C/AC button makes the Calculator much more practical for daily use. Small changes like this can make a big difference, especially for people like me who use the app a lot. It's great that iOS 26 is mixing fun redesigns with smart fixes that actually make life easier.
Izzy, a tech enthusiast and a key part of the PhoneArena team, specializes in delivering the latest mobile tech news and finding the best tech deals. Her interests extend to cybersecurity, phone design innovations, and camera capabilities. Outside her professional life, Izzy, a literature master's degree holder, enjoys reading, painting, and learning languages. She's also a personal growth advocate, believing in the power of experience and gratitude. Whether it's walking her Chihuahua or singing her heart out, Izzy embraces life with passion and curiosity.
A discussion is a place, where people can voice their opinion, no matter if it
is positive, neutral or negative. However, when posting, one must stay true to the topic, and not just share some
random thoughts, which are not directly related to the matter.
Things that are NOT allowed:
Off-topic talk - you must stick to the subject of discussion
Offensive, hate speech - if you want to say something, say it politely
Spam/Advertisements - these posts are deleted
Multiple accounts - one person can have only one account
Impersonations and offensive nicknames - these accounts get banned
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts:
New accounts created within the last 24 hours may experience restrictions on how frequently they can
post or comment.
These limits are in place as a precaution and will automatically lift.
Moderation is done by humans. We try to be as objective as possible and moderate with zero bias. If you think a
post should be moderated - please, report it.
Have a question about the rules or why you have been moderated/limited/banned? Please,
contact us.
FCC OKs Cingular\'s purchase of AT&T Wireless
Things that are NOT allowed:
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts: