Beginner method · layer by layer
Solve a
Rubik’s Cube
Seven steps and six short recipes. Follow along step by step, and check your work at every checkpoint.
Letters name the faces
Each letter is one quarter-turn clockwise — judged while looking straight at that face.
R, R′ and R2
Rturn clockwise ↻
R′turn counterclockwise ↺
R2turn twice · half turn
Three rules
- Keep the same hold. Same front and top for the whole recipe.
- Finish every recipe. Stopping halfway makes solved pieces look broken.
- Complete each checkpoint before continuing.
Step 1 of 7 · white layer · edges
Make the white cross
Hold: white center on top
- Find a white edge and move it into the bottom layer, white sticker facing straight down.
- Turn the bottom (D) until the edge’s side color sits under the center of the same color.
- Turn that side face twice. The edge moves up into the cross, already aligned.
- Repeat for all four white edges.
Check 1White cross on top — and every cross edge matches the side center below it.
Troubleshooting
If a cross edge’s side color does not match: turn that face twice to bring the edge back down, turn D to the matching center, and lift it again.
Each double turn lifts one edge into the white cross.
Step 2 of 7 · white layer · corners
Finish the white layer
Hold: keep white on top
- Find a white corner in the bottom layer. Turn D until it sits directly below its slot — between the two side centers it matches.
- Hold that corner at bottom-front-right.
- Run the recipe until the corner is in place: 1, 3, or 5 full rounds.
Check 2The whole top is white, and the top row of every side is one solid color.
Troubleshooting
If a white corner sits in the wrong top slot: hold it at top-front-right and run the recipe until it moves to the bottom. Then place it below the correct slot.
White stays on top while the bottom-front-right corner rises into place.
Between steps 2 and 3
Turn the whole
cube over
Step 3 of 7 · middle layer · edges
Fill the middle row
Hold: yellow top, white bottom
- Find a top edge with no yellow on either sticker.
- Turn the top (U) until its front sticker matches the front center — it makes an upside-down T.
- Check its top color. If that color’s center is on the right, use Goes right. If it is on the left, use Goes left.
Check 3The bottom two rows of all four sides are solid.
Troubleshooting
If no top edge is free of yellow: run either recipe to move an incorrect middle edge to the top, then insert it correctly.
The tabs switch between the right and left insertions.
Step 4 of 7 · yellow top · cross
Make the yellow cross
Hold: yellow stays on top
- Look only at the top edges. The yellow stickers make a dot, an L, a line, or a cross.
- Hold the shape: point an L’s arms back and to the left. Hold a line horizontally.
- Run the recipe. Check the pattern, adjust your hold, and repeat until the cross is complete.
Check 4All four top edges show yellow. Their side colors can still be messy.
One recipe turns the horizontal line into the yellow cross.
Step 5 of 7 · yellow top · edges
Match the cross to the sides
Hold: yellow stays on top
- Turn the top (U) until two cross edges match their side centers.
- Hold two adjacent matches at the back and right. If the matches are opposite each other, run the recipe once from any angle, then check again.
- Run the recipe until all four edges match.
Check 5All four cross edges match their side centers.
The back and right edges stay in place while the other two move into position.
Step 6 of 7 · yellow top · corners
Put each corner in its spot
Hold: yellow stays on top
- Find a correctly placed corner. Its three colors match the three surrounding centers — yellow may still face sideways.
- Hold that corner at top-front-right. If no corner is correctly placed, run the recipe once from any angle, then check again.
- Run the recipe until all four corners are correctly placed.
Check 6Every corner has the correct three colors for its position. Yellow does not need to face up yet.
The front-right corner stays in place while the other three change places.
Step 7 of 7 · yellow top · final twist
Twist the last corners
Hold: yellow on top — do not rotate the cube
- Hold an unsolved corner at top-front-right.
- Run the recipe 2 or 4 times until its yellow sticker faces up. Always finish the last D.
- Turn only the top (U) to bring the next unsolved corner to top-front-right. Repeat.
Keep the same front face and finish every four-move round.
Check 7All six faces are solid. Turn U to align the top layer.
This corner needs two rounds. Yours may need four.
Quick reference
All moves on one card
- 1White cross
white up · match under center · side face twice - 2White corners
R′ D′ R D - x2Flip the cube
white stays down from here - 3Middle edge →
U R U′ R′ U′ F′ U F - 3Middle edge ←
U′ L′ U L U F U′ F′ - 4Yellow cross
F R U R′ U′ F′ - 5Match edges
R U R′ U R U2 R′ U - 6Place corners
U R U′ L′ U R′ U′ L - 7Twist corners
R′ D′ R D · finish every round
2×2 beginner method · corners only
Solve a
2×2 Cube
Four steps and only two short recipes. A 2×2 is the eight corner pieces of a 3×3, with no edges or fixed centers.
No centers to guide you
Start with one white corner. Its two side colors establish where the other white corners belong.
Two recipes
R′ D′ R Dinsert or twist one cornerU R U′ L′ U R′ U′ Lplace the last four cornersKeep your hold
Do not rotate the whole cube during a recipe. Finish every move before checking the result.
Step 1 of 4 · white layer · corners
Solve the white layer
Hold: white on top
- Choose one white corner as your starting point. Its side colors establish the colors of those two sides.
- Find the next white corner. Turn the whole cube so its target slot is at top-front-right.
- Put the corner below its slot at bottom-front-right, with its two side colors matching the growing layer.
- Repeat the recipe until the corner rises into place. Add the remaining white corners the same way.
Check 1The top is all white, and each side has a matching pair of stickers along the top.
Troubleshooting
If a white corner is in the wrong top slot: hold it at top-front-right and do the recipe until it drops out, then insert it in the correct slot.
Repeat all four moves until the corner reaches the white layer.
Step 2 of 4 · change your hold
Turn the whole cube over
Finish: yellow top, white bottom
- Rotate the entire cube by 180 degrees. This is written as
x2. - Keep the white layer on the bottom for both remaining recipes.
- Use the solved bottom pairs in place of center stickers when checking where a top corner belongs.
Check 2White faces down. The unsolved yellow layer faces up.
This changes your hold, not how the pieces relate to each other.
Step 3 of 4 · yellow layer · position
Put each corner in its spot
Hold: yellow top, white bottom
- Ignore which way yellow faces. A corner is correctly placed when its two side colors match the pairs below it.
- Find one correctly placed corner and hold it at top-front-right. If none are correct, run the recipe once from any angle.
- Run the recipe and check again. Repeat until all four corners are in their correct locations.
Check 3Every top corner has the right three colors for its location. Yellow may still face sideways.
The held corner stays while the other three exchange locations.
Step 4 of 4 · yellow layer · final twist
Twist the yellow corners
Hold: do not rotate the cube
- Put an unsolved corner at top-front-right.
- Repeat the four-move recipe 2 or 4 times until yellow faces up. Always finish the final D.
- Turn only the top (U) to bring the next unsolved corner to top-front-right, then repeat.
Keep the same front and complete every four-move round.
Check 4All six faces are solid. Turn U at the end if the top needs aligning.
This corner needs two rounds. Yours may need four.
2×2 quick reference
The whole solve on one card
- 1White layer
white up · corner below front-right · R′ D′ R D - 2Turn over
x2 · white down from here - 3Place corners
U R U′ L′ U R′ U′ L - 4Twist corners
R′ D′ R D · 2 or 4 times · only U to next