Wondering how to solve a Rubik’s cube? You give it a few twists, feel pretty good about it, and then realize it’s more mixed up than when you started. Everyone goes through that stage. The good news is that you don’t need to memorize hundreds of moves. You need about seven short sequences, a basic idea of what each one does, and some patience for your first few solves.
This guide uses the layer-by-layer method, the classic approach for beginners. You solve one layer at a time, and each step builds on the last one, so you won’t have to undo your progress.
How to Solve a Rubik’s Cube: Know Your Cube First
A standard 3×3 cube has 26 visible pieces. The center pieces never move relative to each other, so they tell you which color goes on which face. Edge pieces have two colors, and corner pieces have three. Your job is to put every piece where its colors match the centers around it.
Before you start, learn the basic notation:
- R: turn the right face clockwise
- L: turn the left face clockwise
- U: turn the top face clockwise
- D: turn the bottom face clockwise
- F: turn the front face clockwise
- B: turn the back face clockwise
- An apostrophe (‘) means counterclockwise, so R’ is the right face turned counterclockwise.
- A 2 means turn that face twice, so U2 is a half turn.
Always think about the direction as if you’re looking straight at that face. If you read it from your own angle, the moves will feel backwards.
If you want to see the official beginner path before you start, the Rubik’s 3×3 solve guide has clear diagrams for each basic stage.
Step 1: Make the White Cross
This is where most people begin learning how to solve a Rubik’s cube, so take it slow. Hold the cube with the white center on the bottom. Find the white edge pieces on the top layer. Turn the top layer until the side color of a white edge matches the center of the face beside it. Then turn that side face once or twice so the white sticker ends up on the bottom.
Repeat this for all four white edges. When you’re done, you should have a white plus sign on the bottom, and each edge should match its side center. A cross that looks white but has the wrong side colors will cause problems later.
Step 2: Complete the White Corners
Next, find the white corners. These pieces have white plus two other colors. Turn the top layer until the corner sits directly above its matching slot, the spot between the two centers that share its colors.
Now apply this sequence:
R U R’ U’
Repeat it until the corner drops into place with the white sticker facing down. If a corner is already in the bottom layer but twisted the wrong way, hold it in the front-right-bottom position and repeat R U R’ U’ a few times to pop it out.
Do this for all four corners. When you finish, the bottom layer should be solid white with matching colors on each side. That completes the first layer.
Step 3: Solve the Middle Layer
Now move on to the middle layer. You’re looking for edge pieces on the top layer that don’t have yellow on them.
Turn the top layer until the front color of one of those edges matches the front center. Then check the top color of that edge. It tells you which way the edge needs to go:
If it needs to go right, use:
U R U’ R’ U’ F’ U F
If it needs to go left, use:
U’ L’ U L U F U’ F’
Repeat this for all four middle edges. Each time you place one, the middle layer grows and your first layer stays intact. If an edge gets stuck in the middle layer in the wrong spot, move it up to the top layer, then use the sequence above to send it back down into the right place.
Step 4: Make the Yellow Cross
Flip the cube so the yellow center is on top. You’ll see one of three patterns:
- A dot: just the yellow center with no edges around it
- An L shape: two yellow edges meeting at one corner
- A line: two yellow edges opposite each other
For an L shape, hold the cube so the two yellow edges point toward the back and left, with the corner of the L at the top-left. For a line, hold the cube so the line runs left to right in front of you. For a dot, any angle works.
Then apply this sequence once:
F R U R’ U’ F’
Repeat it until you have a plus sign of yellow on top. Most cubes need it two or three times. Don’t worry about the yellow corners yet. They can sit anywhere for now.
Step 5: Line Up the Yellow Edges
Look at the yellow edges on top. Check whether the side color of each one matches the center of the face next to it.
If none of them match, apply the next sequence once from any angle, then look again. If one edge matches, hold it at the back. If two adjacent edges match, hold them at the back and right. Then apply:
R U’ R U R U R U’ R’ U’ R2
After this, all four yellow edges should match their side centers. If they still don’t, try again from a new angle until they line up.
Step 6: Put the Yellow Corners in Place
Now the corners need to move into the correct spots, even if some are still twisted. Look at the top layer. If any corner is already in the right spot, hold the cube so that corner sits at the front-right top position.
Apply:
U R U’ L’ U R’ U’ L
Repeat until all four corners are in the right places. Some may still look twisted, and that’s fine because you’ll fix them next.
If none of the corners is in the right spot, apply the sequence once from any angle to get one corner in place, then continue. If you want a second opinion on how this stage looks, SolveTheCube’s beginner guide walks through the same corner positioning in written form.
Step 7: Orient the Last Yellow Corners
This is the final step. Hold the cube with yellow on top and an unsolved corner at the front-right top position. Check the yellow sticker on that corner. If it already faces up, turn the top layer to bring the next corner into position.
If it doesn’t face up, apply:
R’ D’ R D
Repeat until the yellow sticker faces up. Then turn only the top layer (U) to bring the next unsolved corner to the front-right spot and repeat. Keep that front-right corner as your working spot, and don’t rotate the whole cube between attempts. The bottom layers may look scrambled during this step, but they’ll line up again once you finish.
When all four yellow stickers face up, the cube is solved. Give the top layer a final turn to line up the rest, and you’re done.
What to Do When You Get Stuck
Getting stuck is normal, and it happens to nearly everyone who is learning how to solve a Rubik’s cube. Most beginners run into one of these problems:
A middle-layer edge won’t go in. Check that the front color matches the front center before you start the insertion. Most wrong insertions happen because the edge was matched to the wrong center.
A white corner keeps falling out. Make sure the corner sits right above its slot before you apply R U R’ U’. If it’s twisted, keep repeating the sequence until the white side faces down.
The yellow cross is done, but the side colors don’t match. Go back to Step 5 and check which edges already match. Hold a matching edge at the back, then repeat the edge sequence.
You lost track of where you were. Stop and look at the cube. Find the lowest layer that isn’t finished and fix that first. It’s almost always easier than trying to fix everything at once.
If you like building a habit around this kind of practice, this guide to a daily puzzle habit explains why short, regular sessions help more than long, rare ones.
Can You Solve a Rubik’s Cube in 10 or 20 Moves?
You’ll see plenty of searches for “how to solve a Rubik’s cube in 10 moves” and “in 20 moves.” These numbers come from computer research. Any scrambled 3×3 cube can be solved in 20 moves or fewer if you count half turns as single moves. That’s the proven limit for the best possible solution.
That doesn’t mean you can memorize 20 moves that solve every scramble. A computer solver figures out the best moves for one specific position. Some scrambles can be solved in 10 moves, but no single 10-move sequence works for all of them. The beginner method takes many more moves, usually well over 100, but each one is easy to learn and repeat.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to learn how to solve a Rubik’s cube?
Most beginners get their first solve after a few hours of practice spread over several days. Don’t worry about speed at first. Get it right, and the speed will come.
Is there a Rubik’s cube solver app?
Yes, plenty of apps can show you the moves for a scrambled cube. They’re handy for checking your work, but the beginner method teaches you more because you understand what each step is doing.
Can kids learn to solve a Rubik’s cube?
Yes. Kids often do well with the beginner method, especially when an adult explains the notation slowly and lets them practice one layer at a time.
Should I learn the daisy method first?
The daisy method is a prep step for the white cross. Some people find it helpful, but you can skip it. If you’re brand new, start with the white cross.
Is the official guide worth reading?
Yes. The official Rubik’s guide covers the same basic path with diagrams. If you prefer written steps, the beginner guide on SolveTheCube is another easy one to follow.
Conclusion
That’s the whole process of how to solve a Rubik’s cube, one layer at a time. Start with the white cross, build the first layer, finish the middle, and then work through the yellow side. Take your time, practice each step until it feels natural, and don’t worry about speed yet.
If you enjoy puzzles like this, you might also like these puzzle games that sharpen the way you think. It’s a fun way to keep your brain sharp between cube sessions.
