The Calculator App for Windows 11 Has Many Hidden Features
Like most people, I’ve been using search engines for math calculations for a while now. It’s ridiculously easy for basic calculations or unit and currency conversions, especially since I almost always use a web browser when I’m on my computer. However, I recently opened the Calculator app in Windows 11 and discovered that it can do much more than just simple calculations. The app can perform unit conversions, currency conversions, and even calculate the difference between any two dates. Since Calculator is so much lighter than a web browser (and there are no distractions other than typing 80085), you should try out all of these features and see if this might be the best option—you might be surprised by what you find.
Use a scientific calculator on your computer
First of all, if you need an advanced calculator, you can still use the Windows calculator app. Open the application and click the button with three lines in the upper left corner of the calculator window. This reveals all the hidden features of the application. Here, select any of the following modes for more detailed calculations:
-
Scientific
-
Graphics
-
Programmer
The programmer’s calculator is designed for computer scientists and programmers, while the graphing calculator can plot graphs and solve equations. For most people, a scientific calculator will be most useful because it can perform basic arithmetic as well as more advanced functions such as trigonometry.
Use a calculator app to convert units of measurement.
Click the three-line menu in the top left corner of the Windows 11 Calculator app window again and you’ll be able to see all the unit conversion features. The “Converter” section lists the following components:
-
Currency
-
Volume
-
Length
These functions are self-explanatory: I use them often to understand imperial units. As someone who is used to the metric system, there’s no way I could handle it if I had to use mental math to convert imperial units. Even if you don’t need unit conversion, a currency converter is a godsend in today’s globalized economy.
See the difference between any two dates
The Windows 11 calculator has an interesting mode called Date Calculator . You can use this to calculate the difference between any two dates. This is great if you need to know exactly whether a certain number of days have passed or not. For example, I need to pay bills every 28 days and renew a couple of certificates every 180 days. This date calculation allows me to quickly check when the next payment or renewal will occur. Find it in the three-line menu in the top left corner of the application.