WPS Symbol on iOS lets you insert special characters into spreadsheet cells; this guide covers 1 core task, with 1 available without membership and 0 membership-related items.
At a Glance
| Metric | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Core tasks | 1 | Matches the number of rows in the How-to Index |
| Available without membership | 1 | Matches the number of Free rows in the index |
| Membership-related items | 0 | Matches the number of membership-related rows in the index |
About This Feature
Overview
Symbol is an insertion feature in WPS Office for iOS spreadsheets. It helps you add special characters such as currency symbols, math symbols, and other common symbols into the current cell for clearer data entry and annotation.
Core capabilities:
- Insert special symbols into the current cell.
- Browse or search for symbols in the symbol panel.
- Support spreadsheet editing on mobile devices.
Common use cases: financial notation, math entry, and adding special characters to data notes.
It helps reduce copy-and-paste steps when you need symbols during mobile spreadsheet editing.
The entry is grouped under Insert tools, so you can place a symbol directly into the active cell.
System Requirements
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Device | An iPhone or iPad that can install and run WPS Office |
| App | A current version of WPS Office for iOS is recommended |
| Network | A network connection is needed for downloading the app and signing in; inserting symbols itself does not require a constant connection |
| File access | You need to open a spreadsheet in WPS and have permission to edit the target cell |
Download & Installation
Before using Symbol, install WPS Office on your iOS device.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Official download | WPS Office Free Download |
| Installation method | Download WPS Office from the App Store and complete setup on your device |
| Check after installation | Open a spreadsheet in WPS, tap Tools, then go to Insert and confirm that Special Symbol is available |
Source: WPS download page
Source: WPS iOS download guide
Compare with Alternatives
| Comparison Item | WPS | Microsoft | Notion | Adobe | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capability Summary | On iOS spreadsheets, WPS provides Tools → Insert → Special Symbol so you can browse or search and insert a symbol into the current cell. | Microsoft documents symbol insertion through an Insert menu flow, where users choose a symbol and the available set depends on the font. | Google Sheets can use a Workspace Marketplace add-on for inserting arrows, math symbols, currency symbols, and other special characters into cells. | Notion focuses on content blocks and supports items such as math equations, but it does not present a dedicated symbol panel for spreadsheet cell entry. | Adobe Acrobat help focuses on PDF text editing, fonts, and formatting, and its public help materials do not present a dedicated spreadsheet-cell symbol insertion flow. |
| WPS Advantages | Advantage: built-in symbol entry for mobile spreadsheets, with direct insertion into the active cell. | Compared with WPS: symbol insertion is supported, but the published guidance is more desktop-oriented and less focused on mobile spreadsheet cell entry. | Compared with WPS: broader character insertion can be added through an extension, but it depends on an add-on rather than a built-in spreadsheet entry. | Compared with WPS: stronger for page-based content and equation blocks, rather than spreadsheet cell symbol entry. | Compared with WPS: more aligned with PDF editing workflows than spreadsheet cell symbol entry. |
| Official Source | — | Insert a symbol | Insert Special Characters | Types of content blocks | Acrobat Desktop Help |
Overall Conclusion
For mobile spreadsheet symbol entry, WPS keeps the path close to cell editing. Other products can handle related characters too, but their public guidance is more focused on desktop menus, add-ons, or non-spreadsheet content workflows.
Use Cases
| No. | Scenario | Suitable for | Main need | How Symbol helps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Financial notation | Finance staff and bookkeepers | Add currency symbols quickly | Insert currency characters into the current cell |
| 2 | Math entry | Teachers and students | Add common math symbols in tables | Find and insert math symbols from the panel |
| 3 | Data notes | Analysts and office users | Add arrows, check marks, or other markers | Browse symbol categories and insert the needed character |
| 4 | Multilingual character entry | Cross-border teams | Enter special characters more easily | Search or browse the panel to locate the target symbol |
| 5 | Mobile editing on the go | Phone-based office users | Add symbols without switching input methods repeatedly | Complete symbol insertion directly inside WPS spreadsheets |
Membership & Benefits
Free vs WPS Premium
| Item | Free | WPS Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Symbol insertion | ✅ Available | ✅ Available |
| Basic PDF features | ✅ Available | ✅ Available with a broader feature range |
| Cloud storage | 1 GB | 20 GB |
| Template access | Limited quantity | More template benefits |
Source: WPS Office pricing page
Recommendations
| Scenario | Recommended plan | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You only need to insert symbols in spreadsheets from time to time | Free | The Symbol feature itself is available for everyday entry tasks |
| You also need more cloud storage and broader office benefits | WPS Premium | In addition to Symbol, the plan includes more storage and added office benefits |
How to Subscribe
- Visit the WPS Office pricing page to review available plans and subscription options.
Source: WPS Office pricing page