Numbers update to v14.4 on iPadOS and cannot change the state of a checkbox any more

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Level 1

12 points

Numbers update to v14.4 on iPadOS and cannot change the state of a checkbox any more

I have just updated to Numbers v14.4 on an iPad Pro (12.9) 6th generation running iPadOS 18.7.2. Since doing so, Numbers has been rendered unusable for my use case, which depends on tapping checkboxes to change their state.

Google search AI (yes, I know) states that a change in the latest version means that tapping a cell with a checkbox no longer changes its state but instead selects the cell; tap another cell and it too is selected. This is how it is now working for me.

Google tells me I need to double tap the cell to change its state such that a further tap will change the checkbox state. However, I don't get this result (a double tap followed by a further tap just still just selects the cell), and I have not been able to change a checkbox state since the update.

Does anyone know how to change the state of a checkbox on iPadOS? Thank you

Posted on Nov 22, 2025 7:02 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

azaksalmarzur28

Level 2

426 points

Nov 23, 2025 1:21 AM in response to add01

Numbers v14.4 on iPadOS changed tapping behavior. To toggle checkboxes now, you must tap directly on the checkbox icon, not the cell. If tapping still selects the cell, try a second tap on the icon, zoom in, disable multi-select mode, use long-press, or use Apple Pencil. This is a known issue for some users and may be resolved in an upcoming minor update.

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Answer 2

SGIII

Level 8

37,532 points

Nov 23, 2025 2:48 AM in response to add01

I'm running v14.4. I do not have to tap directly on the checkbox icon to change the state.

Suggesting that is the case seems like an AI hallucination.

If I drag a column wide and tap in a cell a long way away from its checkbox icon (I tried two inches!) the state of the checkbox changes as expected.

The key thing is to make sure you are not in edit mode. If you see EDIT at the upper right then first tap that to exit edit mode before working with the checkboxes.

SG

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Answer 3

add01 Author

Level 1

12 points

Nov 24, 2025 8:23 PM in response to add01

Thank you @aashokkumarsharma and @SGIll

I had previously tried tapping the checkbox in both EDIT and non-edit mode, with the same result: the cell was selected, the state of the checkbox did not change.

Following your suggestions I tried again:

On the first try (I tapped on EDIT, then tapped carefully in the centre of the checkbox) and, again, the cell was selected.

I then tapped on the same checkbox and the checkbox state changed. Voila, on the second tap it worked.

On subsequent attempts I have successfully tapped on a checkbox and the state has changed (and with only one tap). So it is now working as you've described.

I am not sure what changed but glad it's working.

Thanks again.

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Answer 4

SGIII

Level 8

37,532 points

Nov 23, 2025 1:14 AM in response to add01

When you look upper right to you see EDIT?

If so that means you are in edit mode.

Tap the EDIT to exit edit mode.

Then your checkboxes should function as expected. One tap changes their state.

SG

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