How to solve a 3x3 cube
Learn to solve a 3x3 cube in five manageable stages. No previous cubing experience is needed, and every algorithm is illustrated move by move.
Before you start
This guide demonstrates a white-first solve, but the same method works from any starting colour. Once you are comfortable, try beginning on another colour to develop better recognition.
- Centres have one colour and determine the colour of each face.
- Edges have two colours.
- Corners have three colours.
Solve the cross
Build four white edges and match every side colour.
Start with a daisy
Find the four edges containing white and place them around the yellow centre. At this stage, concentrate on bringing the white stickers to the top; the side colours do not need to match yet.
Next, turn the top layer until an edge's side colour matches its centre. Turn that face twice to move the white edge to the bottom. Repeat for all four edges.
Solve the first layer
Insert the four white corners without breaking the cross.
Find a corner containing white. Use the other two colours to identify its destination, then turn the top layer until the corner sits directly above that slot.
In the example, the white-red-green corner is above the gap between the red and green cross edges. The other first-layer corners are deliberately shown grey because they are not relevant to this insertion.
Hold the target slot at the front-right and repeat the following four moves until the corner is inserted correctly. It may take up to five repetitions.
R U R' U'Solve the second layer
Insert the four edges that do not contain yellow.
Find a top-layer edge without yellow. Match its front colour to the front centre. The edge's other colour tells you whether it belongs in the slot to the right or to the left.
The first layer remains solved on the bottom throughout this step. Its visible side stickers form the solid bottom rows.
Insert an edge to the right
Keep the matched colour facing you and perform:
U R U' R' U' F' U FInsert an edge to the left
Keep the matched colour facing you and perform:
U' L' U L U F U' F'Edge stuck incorrectly?
Hold the incorrectly inserted edge in the front-right slot and perform the right-insertion algorithm. This removes it without damaging the first layer, after which you can insert it correctly.
Orient the last layer
Make the entire top face yellow without worrying about side positions.
4A. Make the yellow cross
Ignore the corners and look only at the four yellow edge stickers. Hold the cube with yellow on top and use the cross algorithm.
F R U R' U' F'4B. Make the whole top yellow
Once the cross is complete, orient the four corners. Repeat the algorithm below, adjusting the top layer between attempts, until every top sticker is yellow.
R U R' U R U2 R'Permute the last layer
Move the yellow pieces into their final positions.
5A. Position the corners
Look for two adjacent corners whose side colours match. Turn the top layer so this matching pair is at the back, then perform the corner-permutation algorithm. If no pair matches, perform it once from any angle and check again.
R' F R' B2 R F' R' B2 R25B. Position the edges
If one edge is already solved, turn the top layer so that solved edge is at the back. Perform the edge-cycle algorithm once or twice until the cube is solved. If no edge is solved, perform it once from any angle first.
R U' R U R U R U' R' U' R2Algorithm summary
| Corner | R U R' U' |
|---|---|
| Middle right | U R U' R' U' F' U F |
| Middle left | U' L' U L U F U' F' |
| Yellow cross | F R U R' U' F' |
| Yellow corners | R U R' U R U2 R' |
| Position corners | R' F R' B2 R F' R' B2 R2 |
| Position edges | R U' R U R U R U' R' U' R2 |