Windows Calculator 2021.2607.0.0

Windows Calculator 2021.2607.0.0 is Microsoft's calculator app for Windows, part of the system since 1985 and now open source under the MIT License. It comes preinstalled, and if it is missing or broken you can download Windows Calculator again from Microsoft Store.

Quick facts

• Version: 2021.2607.0.0
• Developer: Microsoft
• First version: 1985
• Licence: MIT License, free
• Source code: GitHub
• Platforms: x86, x86-64, ARM64 (A64)
• Size: about 20.62 MB according to catalogue data

More than a basic calculator

The calculator has been with Windows since its first version in 1985, and for most people it is still the quickest way to add up a bill or check a percentage. Over the years it has grown into several tools in one app. The standard mode covers everyday arithmetic, the scientific mode adds functions for school and engineering, and the programmer mode works with binary, octal and hexadecimal numbers for developers. A converter handles units such as length, weight, temperature and currency, and a date calculation mode tells you how many days lie between two dates. Since Microsoft published the source code on GitHub, the app is developed in the open: anyone can read the code, report bugs and suggest changes. Updates arrive through Microsoft Store rather than with Windows updates, which is why its version number looks different from the Windows version.

How to install or repair it

1. Open Windows Calculator in Microsoft Store.
2. Click Install, or Update if an older version is present.
3. If the app does not start, open Settings, Apps, find Calculator and use Repair or Reset.
4. Pin it to the taskbar for quick access.

Requirements

Calculator is a Windows app; the Microsoft Store listing shows which Windows versions the current release supports. It runs on regular PCs as well as on ARM-based devices.

Safety

The only source you need is Microsoft Store, or the official page. Installers named "Windows Calculator" on download portals are not from Microsoft and may bundle unwanted software.

Price

Windows Calculator is free.

Tips

Use the history panel to review earlier results, and keep the calculator on top of other windows when you copy numbers from a document. Keyboard shortcuts switch between modes quickly, which saves reaching for the menu.

If Calculator is missing

On some company PCs or trimmed Windows installations the app may have been removed. Microsoft Store brings it back in a minute, unless the administrator has blocked the Store; in that case ask your IT department. On home PCs, a Reset from the Apps settings fixes most cases where the window opens and closes immediately.

Pros and cons

• Pro: preinstalled and free.
• Pro: scientific, programmer and converter modes.
• Pro: open source.
• Con: no advanced maths such as symbolic algebra.
• Con: store updates can occasionally fail and need a repair.

Alternatives

For heavier number work, our site lists Google Sheets and LibreOffice for spreadsheets.