How to Solve a Rubik's Cube

3x3 Beginner Method

The easiest beginner method for the 3x3 Rubik's Cube, teaching you the fundamentals you need to become a speedcuber.

You will solve the cube in 8 simple steps

Understanding the cube

Pieces

The cube is made up of pieces, not individual stickers.
Each piece moves as a unit.

Corner Pieces (8)

Edge Pieces (12)

Center Pieces (6)

Fixed in place. They define each side's color.

Notation

Each letter is a 90° clockwise turn
Add ' for anti-clockwise
Add 2 for a double turn

The ' notation is called prime. U' is spoken as U-prime.

Face turns

Front (F)

F Clockwise

F' Anti-clockwise

F2 Double turn

Right (R)

R Clockwise

R' Anti-clockwise

R2 Double turn

Top (U)

U Clockwise

U' Anti-clockwise

U2 Double turn

Left (L)

L Clockwise

L' Anti-clockwise

L2 Double turn

These are the only ones you need to start. See the full notation guide for every face turn and cube rotation.

Let's start solving!

Follow each step in order. Every step builds on the one before it, allthough sometimes you'll get lucky: a piece is already in place, or you skip a step entirely.

Step 1

Make a daisy

Hold the cube with yellow on top. Find a white edge, lift it up next to the yellow center, then turn the whole cube to face the next one - four petals make a daisy flower.

Repeat 4 times

Checkpoint

This is what your cube should look like before moving on to the next step.

Step 2

Make the white cross

Turn each daisy petal until its side color matches the center below it, then drop it straight down onto the white face. The white cross forms on the bottom.

Repeat 4 times

Checkpoint

Step 3

First Layer Corners

The Rightie Algorithm

This step uses one algorithm - the Rightie, RUR'U' . Watch what repeating it does to the front-right corner:

×1

Moves the corner up or down

One Rightie shuttles the corner between its slot and the top layer.

×2

Rotates the corner one step

Two Righties leave the corner in its slot but twist it a third of a turn.

×6

Changes nothing

Six Righties bring everything back exactly as it started.

Position a white corner above the empty front-right corner spot (its slot), between the two matching edge pieces.

White on side

Rightie ×1

White on top

Rightie ×3

White in front

Rightie ×5

Corner in slot

Stuck in the wrong slot? A Rightie pops it back out to the top.

Instead of doing the Rightie 5 times, you can do it in reverse once - URU'R' !

You can also experiment with doing the Lefty L'U'LU with the slot on the left side instead. It inserts and rotates the corner the opposite direction!

Checkpoint

Step 4

Middle Layer Edges

New move: y (cube rotation)

y Rotate clockwise

y' Rotate anti-clockwise

This step uses the reverse Rightie - URU'R' - and the reverse Lefty - U'L'UL : the Rightie and Lefty from the last step, run backwards.

Insert left

Insert right

What to do if the edge is incorrectly oriented?

Sometimes the edge is already in its slot, but flipped the wrong way. Insert a random edge into the slot to bring it out to the top - then put it back in the right way.

Checkpoint

The last layer

Two layers done, one to go. You'll finish it in two phases: first turn the whole top face yellow, then move the pieces to their right spots. Each step is one short algorithm. Cubers call these phases orientation and permutation.

What's an algorithm?

An algorithm is just a sequence of moves done in order, like RUR'U' . You memorise a few of them to solve the cube. Each step below tells you which one to use and when.

Step 5

Make the Yellow Cross

When you get here, the top of the cube shows a dot, an L, a line, or - if you're lucky - a finished cross.

If it's already a cross, skip ahead. Otherwise do the algorithm F RUR'U' F' up to 3 times, holding the cube as shown for the state you're in between rounds.

No yellow edges up

Hold the cube any way and do the algorithm.

Two yellow edges up, adjacent

Hold the two yellow edges at the back and left.

Two yellow edges up, opposite

Hold the line going left to right.

Already a cross

You got lucky - the cross is already done. Skip to the next step.

Checkpoint

Step 6

Finish the Yellow Face

The top face is in one of the states below. Find yours, hold the cube as shown, and do the algorithm - then follow the arrows until the whole top is yellow.

RUR'URU2R'

This algorithm is called the "Sune"

No yellow corners up

Hold the cube so the top-left corner's yellow sticker faces left.

Two yellow corners up

Hold the cube so the top-left corner's yellow sticker faces you.

One yellow corner up

Hold the cube so the yellow corner is at the top left, facing up.

You might have to do this step twice.

Yellow face solved

Watch the bottom two layers

Watch how the white pieces leave and come back. Seeing that makes the algorithm easier to remember.

Checkpoint

Step 7

Place the Corners

Look for two corners showing the same color on the same side, called headlights. Hold the headlights on the left and do the algorithm.

No headlights anywhere? Do the algorithm once from any angle, then find them and go again.

Headlights

RUR'U' R'FR2U' R'U' RUR'F'

This algorithm is called the "T-Perm" - the pieces it swaps trace a T shape.

With the headlights held on the left, the algorithm swaps the two right corners.

Watch the bottom two layers

Watch how the white pieces leave and come back. Seeing that makes the algorithm easier to remember.

Checkpoint

Step 8

Place the Edges

Only the edges are left. If one already matches its side, hold it at the back and do the algorithm up to 2 times. If none match, do it once from any angle first.

This algorithm is called the "Ua-Perm" - the edges it cycles trace a U shape.

Congratulations!

You can now solve the Rubik's Cube! Practice until you can do it without looking at the guide.

Tip: prefer to solve away from the screen? Get the printable cheat sheet.

What's next?

Time your first solve. Get a baseline to compare against as you develop.
F2L (First Two Layers). Solve the first layer and middle layer at the same time, instead of in two separate steps. This is the biggest speed improvement you can learn.
2-Look OLL & 2-Look PLL. Solve the last layer in just 4 algorithms instead of the beginner steps.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to learn to solve a Rubik's Cube?: Most people reach their first solve in under an hour with this guide, and solve from memory after a few more practice solves.
Do I need to memorize algorithms?: The first two layers are solved by understanding, with a couple of short inserts. The last layer uses four short algorithms you memorize.
Is this the fastest way to solve a Rubik's Cube?: It's the easiest way to learn. The steps grow directly into CFOP, the method most speedcubers use, so getting faster means upgrading steps, not relearning.
Which colour should I start with?: This guide starts with the white cross and solves the white layer first. Any colour works, but sticking with white keeps every step consistent with the pictures.