To calculate a square root on your phone calculator, you need to access the scientific calculator mode. On an iPhone, open the Calculator app and rotate your device to landscape orientation; on most Android phones, look for a button that switches the calculator to scientific mode, then tap the √ button.
How to find the square root on phone calculator
On an iPhone
- Open the Calculator app.
- Rotate your iPhone to landscape orientation (sideways).
- If the calculator does not switch to scientific mode, disable Portrait Orientation Lock by swiping down from the top-right corner to open Control Center and tapping the lock icon with a circular arrow.
- Tap the √ or 2√x symbol.
- Enter the number, then tap the √ or 2√x symbol again to see the result.
On Android
- Open the Calculator app on your device (Samsung, Google Pixel, Xiaomi, OnePlus, etc.).
- Look for a button or icon that switches to scientific mode, often labeled “Sci” or represented by a gear or menu icon.
- Tap the √ button.
- Enter the number and tap the √ button to calculate the square root.
If the square root button is unavailable, manually calculate using the Babylonian method (Heron's method): guess a number, divide the original number by your guess, then average the guess and the result, repeating until accurate. For quick access, add a calculator shortcut to your home screen by long-pressing an empty space, selecting 'Widgets' or 'Shortcuts', and choosing the calculator. You can also use a voice command to launch the calculator app, such as 'Open calculator' with Google Assistant or Siri.
Troubleshooting when the square root button is missing
If the scientific mode does not appear on your iPhone, the most common cause is Portrait Orientation Lock being enabled. Disable it in Control Center as described above. Some calculator apps require you to swipe left or right to access the scientific panel.
If you cannot find the square root button on your phone calculator, press the 'shift' or 'second' key to reveal the square root function.
Calculating other roots on your phone
Once you are in scientific calculator mode, you can also calculate cube roots and nth roots. For a cube root, look for the 3√x button. For an nth root, find the y√x button: enter the base number, tap y√x, enter the root value (y), then tap =. These functions are built into the same scientific mode, so you don't need a separate app. If you ever need help with phone numbers and calling help, your phone’s calculator is not the right tool, but for math, it has you covered.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I calculate square roots on any phone calculator?
Most modern smartphones include a scientific calculator mode that has a square root function.
Why does my calculator show a decimal instead of a whole number for a square root?
Square roots of numbers that are not perfect squares are irrational, so the calculator displays them as decimals.
How do I calculate the square root of a negative number on my phone?
Standard phone calculators do not support square roots of negative numbers because the result is an imaginary number. You would need a specialized scientific calculator app or math software that handles complex numbers.
Does the order of entering the number and tapping the square root button matter?
On most phone calculators, you enter the number first, then tap the √ button. Some scientific calculators let you tap √ first and then enter the number, check your app’s behavior by testing with a simple number like 9 (which should give 3).
Can I use voice commands to calculate a square root?
Some calculator apps support voice input.
