Steps To Solve A Rubik’s Cube

There are many approaches and steps to solve a Rubik's Cube. All of these methods have varying levels of difficulties, for Rubik’s cube aficionados or complete beginners, or even for solving the cube blindfolded! I'm going to show you the easiest way to solve the cube using the beginner's method.

The following steps to solve a Rubik’s cube divide the cube into layers and you can solve each layer applying a given algorithm not messing up the pieces already in place. There are pictures involved and even a video tutorial if that’s more your style of learning. Good luck!

Steps To Solve A Rubik’s Cube: The Different Rubik’s Cube Pieces

Edge Pieces - Pieces with two colors. There are twelve edge pieces located in the middle rows

Corner Pieces - Pieces with three colors. There are eight corner pieces located on the corners.

Center Pieces - Pieces with one color. There are six center pieces located in the center of each side that do NOT MOVE and represent the color of their side.

Center piece colors are always opposite each other:

• White is opposite yellow

• Orange is opposite red

• Green is opposite blue

Each side of the cube is represented by a letter:

The letter with an “i” after it means an inverted or counter-clockwise move when looking at that face directly.

Note: When completing the steps to solve a Rubik’s Cube as shown above, hold your Rubik’s Cube full-face front with the logo on top as shown. Dark grey on the pictures means that the color does not matter. Each move is a 1/4 turn rotation.

Steps To Solve A Rubik’s Cube

Now that you understand the different pieces and terminologies, let’s get into the steps to solve a Rubik’s cube!

1. White Cross

Start by holding your Cube with the white centerpiece on the top face, creating a white cross as pictured. A lot of this level is achieved with practice and trial and error… but we do have some tips.

Tips:

• Be sure to solve the sections of the white cross in the following order - blue, orange, green, red

• Notice the edge piece colors above match the top white centerpiece and the side red and blue centerpieces. This is how we know the edge pieces are in the correct positions.

• Keeping the white centerpiece on top, move the blue & white edge piece to the bottom face, then rotate it on the bottom until it is directly under the blue centerpiece. Now hold your Rubik’s Cube so the blue centerpiece and blue/white edge piece are on the right face. Rotate the right face until the blue/white edge piece is on the top face and above the blue centerpiece.

• Once your Rubik’s Cube looks like this, hold your Cube so the orange centerpiece is on the right face and start solving the side with the orange centerpiece the same way as stated above.

• Now, do the sequence below making sure the blue centerpiece is on the right face:

Once your Rubik’s cube has a white cross, you can move onto the next steps!

2. White Corners

With the white cross in the top face, you must solve the white corner pieces. As indicated in the picture on the left. If you need some help achieving this step, follow the tips below!

Tips:

• Corner pieces will have one white side plus 2 other colours.

• If the corner piece is already on the bottom face, then rotate the bottom until the corner is directly below its intended location. Once in that position, follow the sequence below 1X, 2X or 3X or UNTIL it is in the correct position.

• Repeat this process for all four corners. If the corner is on the top face of the Cube, move it to the bottom face by doing:

• Once the white layer of your Rubik's Cube looks like the picture, you have completed one-third of the Rubik’s Cube and you can now move to the next step!

3. Middle Layer

With the completed white layer on the bottom, you now have to solve the middle layer, which means positioning the ‘edge pieces’ in the correct place. Here are some tips to help you do this!

Tips:

Create a vertical line of blue by rotating the top face until the front color of the edge piece on the top face without yellow on it matches a side centerpiece. The color on the edge piece’s top face will determine the direction the edge piece should move.

If you’re moving the edge piece in the same direction as indicated in the picture on the right, then follow the sequence of moves pictured below:

If you’re moving the edge piece in the same direction as indicated in this picture, then follow the sequence of moves pictured below:

Continue following these steps until all the edge pieces are in the correct position.

Note: If one of the edge pieces is already in the middle row, but in the wrong position, then do either one of the sequential moves and it will move to the top layer. Then you can follow the correct sequential moves to position it in the appropriate location of the middle layer.

Once you’ve achieved the Rubik’s cube in the first picture, you can move onto the next step!

4. The Top Face

Match the yellow pattern on the top face of your Rubik’s Cube to one of the yellow patterns shown on the Cubes below.

Then follow the appropriate sequence.

Tips:

• Yellow edge pieces on the top face don’t need to match on the side pieces…yet!

• To make a yellow cross, do the following:

Now look at the top face of the Rubik’s Cube and match your face to one of the states below:

State 1

If no corner Cubes are yellow on the top face, you must have a yellow left corner or left face as shown.

State 2

If one corner Cube is yellow match your top face as shown and do the sequence below.

State 3

If any two corner Cubes are yellow don’t worry about their position. You must match the front face with a yellow left corner as shown. Complete this sequence 1, 2, or 3 times until you achieve a complete yellow top face. After you’ve completed each sequence, orient the Rubik’s Cube to rematch the top face to the correct state and then repeat the sequence until all of the corners are yellow.

Once your Rubik’s Cube looks like this picture, then you can move to step 5!

5. Final Layer

Hold the Rubik’s Cube as shown in the picture on the right, then twist the top face until at least 2 corners are in the right location as A, B or A, D or B, C as shown below. If all 4 corners are in the right place you can proceed to the second step.

Step 1:

While holding your Rubik’s Cube as shown above, look at the top face. Place the 2 correct corners in the back A, B or diagonally A, D or B, C across from each other.

If corners A and B are in the right place then to switch C and D, do the sequence below:

If you need to switch diagonal corners like B and C or D and A, then do the sequence again. Now, you need to orient the Rubik’s Cube so that the 2 correct corners are in the back and repeat the sequence once more.

Step 2:

If 1 edge is correct and 3 edges are incorrect, you will need to orient the Cube so that the face with the correct edge is the back face. Then you’ll need to determine if the edge pieces need to move clockwise or counter-clockwise and do the correct sequence below.

If all 4 edges are incorrect, then do either sequence below once, and then determine what direction the three edge pieces need to move and do the correct sequence below.

To cycle EFG Clockwise or EFGH Clockwise:

To cycle EFG Counter-Clockwise or EFGH Counter-Clockwise:

Congratulations! You’ve just solved a Rubik's Cube!