WPS Formula Recognition on iOS helps you capture or import formula images and insert editable results into a document; it includes 2 core tasks, with 0 available without membership and 2 membership-related items.
At a Glance
| Metric | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Core tasks | 2 | Matches the number of rows in the How-to Index |
| Available without membership | 0 | Matches the number of Free rows in the index |
| Membership-related items | 2 | Matches the number of membership-required rows in the index |
| Version limit | None specified | No version threshold is described for this feature |
About This Feature
Overview
Formula Recognition is a document insertion feature in WPS Office for iOS. It can recognize formulas from images and convert them into editable formulas that can be inserted into the current document.
Core capabilities include:
- Recognize formulas by camera capture: take a photo of a formula on paper or on a screen, then insert the recognized result into the document.
- Recognize formulas from Photos or Files: import an existing image or file, then insert the recognized formula into the document.
This feature is useful for class notes, homework entry, and research material collection. It reduces manual formula typing on mobile devices and keeps the inserted result available for follow-up editing.
System Requirements
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Operating system | An iPhone or iPad that can run WPS Office normally on iOS or iPadOS |
| App version | It is recommended to use the latest version of WPS Office |
| Network | An internet connection is recommended for app access, account sign-in, and membership verification |
| Other | Camera, Photos, or Files permissions are required as needed; this feature requires membership |
Download & Installation
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Official download | WPS Office Free Download |
| Installation | Install WPS Office on your iPhone or iPad, sign in to your account, and open a document to access insertion tools |
| Post-install check | Open a document, tap Tools → Insert, and confirm that Formula Recognition is available |
Source: WPS download page
Compare with Alternatives
| Dimension | WPS | Microsoft | Notion | Adobe | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capability Summary | Supports formula recognition on iOS through camera capture, Photos, or Files import, then inserts the result into a document. It supports common formulas used in mathematics, physics, and chemistry. | Microsoft Word officially supports built-in equations, handwritten equations, and equation editing. Its public help content focuses on creating and editing equations rather than capturing a formula image on iOS and inserting it as an editable equation. | Google Docs states on its iPhone and iPad help page that equations must be edited on a computer. Its official iOS help page does not describe formula image recognition or equation editing on iPhone or iPad. | Notion supports block and inline math equations with KaTeX and LaTeX-style input. Its official help content focuses on typing or pasting equation syntax rather than recognizing formulas from photos. | Adobe Acrobat supports OCR for scanned PDFs and converts scanned content into editable text and images. Its official help content focuses on scanned PDF editing rather than inserting recognized math formulas into a writing document. |
| WPS Advantages | Advantage: supports direct formula capture from the camera, Photos, or Files on iOS; Distinct: after recognition, the result can be inserted into the current document in a mobile workflow. | Compared with WPS: Microsoft documentation emphasizes equation authoring, structures, and ink input, but does not show an iOS workflow for recognizing a photographed formula and inserting it into a document. | Compared with WPS: Google Docs has a clearer iOS limitation for equations, because its official help page says equation editing should be done on a computer. | Compared with WPS: Notion is better aligned with manual LaTeX-style entry and rendering, and its official help page does not describe photo-based formula recognition for document insertion. | Compared with WPS: Adobe focuses on OCR and scanned document editing, not on a document-writing workflow for recognizing and inserting editable formulas. |
| Official Source | — | Write an equation or formula | Use equations in a document | Math equations | Edit scanned PDFs |
Overall Conclusion
For mobile scenarios where you need to bring formulas from images into a document quickly, WPS provides a more direct path on iOS. The other products focus more on equation authoring, LaTeX-style input, or OCR-based scanned document editing, so their workflows serve different needs.
Use Cases
| No. | Scenario | Suitable for | Main challenge | How WPS helps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Class note cleanup | Students | Re-entering formulas from a board or handout takes time | Capture a formula and insert it into the document |
| 2 | Homework and question bank entry | Teachers and trainers | Formula-heavy questions are time-consuming to type manually | Import an image from Photos and recognize the formula |
| 3 | Research material collection | Researchers | Formulas in paper screenshots are difficult to retype | Import a file and insert the recognized result |
| 4 | Mobile document updates | Mobile office users | Complex formulas are inconvenient to type without a keyboard | Use the camera to collect formula content quickly |
| 5 | Multi-subject formula organization | Science and engineering users | Different formula formats need to be organized in one place | Recognize and insert formulas into the same document |
Membership & Benefits
Free vs WPS Premium
| Capability | Free users | WPS Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Formula Recognition | Not available | Available |
| Basic document editing | Available | Available |
| Cloud storage | 1 GB | 20 GB |
| Template downloads | Limited | More advanced templates and additional benefits |
Source: WPS Office pricing page
Recommendations
| Usage scenario | Recommended plan | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Occasional editing of standard documents | Free plan | Suitable when you only need basic document editing |
| Frequent formula capture from images or broader premium benefits | WPS Premium | Required for Formula Recognition and includes more cloud storage and additional benefits |
How to Subscribe
- WPS membership center: Subscribe now
Source: WPS Office pricing page