BEGINNER METHOD

How to solve a Rubik's Cube step by step

Follow these seven stages to solve a standard 3×3 cube. Start with yellow on top to make a temporary daisy, then move the white edges to the bottom to form the white cross. Turn the whole cube over to check the white-up picture, then return white to the bottom before Step 2. A plain move turns that face clockwise as you look directly at it, an apostrophe means counterclockwise, and 2 means a half-turn. Keep the cube facing the same way while following an algorithm.

1. ◈Temporary daisy: yellow up → pictured goal: white up → next step: white down

   01

   Make the white cross

   Match each white edge with the side-center color before moving to the corners.

   What to check

   Each white edge must also match the center on its side. A white cross alone is not enough.

   The picture shows the finished white cross with white on top. To make it, first hold yellow on top and build a temporary daisy: place the four white edges around the yellow center.

   For each white edge, turn U until its other sticker matches the center on that side. Turn that side face twice (for example, F2) to move the edge to the white face underneath. Repeat for all four edges. Turn the whole cube over to compare the white-up cross and its matching side colors with the picture. Then turn it back: white down, yellow up, ready for Step 2.

   Common mistake: A white cross is not finished until every edge’s side color also matches its center. Turn the whole cube only when changing the working orientation; do not twist individual layers while making the daisy.

   Beginner tip

   Match an edge’s side color before placing its white sticker into the cross.

2. 02

   Solve the white corners

   Repeat the front-right insertion sequence for each white corner until the first layer is complete.

   What to check

   The white face and the adjacent row on each side should form a completed first layer.

   Keep white down and yellow up. Find a white corner in the top layer and turn U until it sits directly above the slot between its two matching side centers at the front-right. Repeat the sequence until that corner drops into the slot with white facing down. Turn U to line up the next corner and repeat. If a white corner is stuck in the wrong bottom slot, rotate the whole cube to bring that slot to the front-right, use the sequence once to eject the corner, then insert it from above. Once all four corners are solved, flip the whole cube to check the white-up picture, then flip it back so white is down for Step 3.

   Corner insertion sequenceR U R' U'Repeat the four-move sequence until the white sticker points down and the corner is between the correct centers. It may take 1, 3, or 5 repetitions; finish the full sequence each time.

   Common mistake: Do not stop halfway through the sequence. Keep the same front face and turn only U to line up the next corner.

   Beginner tip

   Use all three colors to find a corner’s home, rather than matching white alone.

3. ↻Keep white underneath and yellow on top from stage 2 onward

   03

   Solve the middle layer

   Insert each non-yellow edge into the matching left or right slot.

   What to check

   Keep white underneath. The bottom two rows on every side should now match their centers.

   Keep white down. Find a top-layer edge with no yellow sticker. Turn U until its front color matches the front center. Look at the edge’s other color to decide whether it belongs in the left or right slot, then use the matching insertion sequence. Repeat for the four middle-layer edges. If a needed edge is trapped in the middle layer incorrectly, use either sequence to eject it, then insert it from the top.

   Insert the edge into the right slotU R U' R' U' F' U F

   Insert the edge into the left slotU' L' U L U F U' F'

   Common mistake: Do not use an edge with yellow on it. The front sticker must match the front center before you choose left or right.

   Beginner tip

   Choose edges without yellow for the middle layer.

4. 04

   Make the yellow cross

   Use the dot, L-shape, or line case to orient the four yellow edge stickers.

   What to check

   The four yellow edge stickers face up. Yellow corners and side alignment are not the goal yet.

   How do I solve the yellow cross?

   Keep yellow on top and ignore the corners. If two yellow edge stickers form a line, hold it horizontally; if they form an L, hold it at the back and left. Apply the sequence below, then inspect the top again. If only the yellow center is visible, apply the sequence once from any angle and use the new case. Stop when all four yellow edge stickers point up; their side colors are aligned later.

   Dot

   Apply the sequence, inspect the new case, then continue.

   L shape

   Hold the yellow arms at the back and left, like an L in the upper-left of the top face.

   Line

   Hold the yellow line horizontally from left to right.

   Use this sequenceF R U R' U' F'

   Common mistake: This step makes a yellow cross on top; it does not align the four side colors yet. Keep the whole cube facing the same way while applying the sequence.

   Beginner tip

   A yellow center alone, an L, and a line are different starting cases. Identify yours before choosing moves.

5. 05

   Place the yellow corners

   Move each top corner between the three centers that match its colors.

   What to check

   Check all three colors of every corner: they must belong to the three surrounding centers, even if twisted.

   Keep yellow on top. A corner is in the correct position when its three colors belong between the three centers around it; the yellow sticker can face sideways for now. If one corner is already in the right position, turn the whole cube so that corner is at the upper-front-right. If none is correct, apply the sequence once from any angle, then look again. Repeat until all four corners are in their correct positions.

   Corner-positioning sequenceU R U' L' U R' U' LKeep the correctly positioned corner at upper-front-right. Apply the sequence once, check the other three corners, and repeat if needed. If no corner is correct at first, one application creates a reference corner.

   Common mistake: Position means the corner’s three colors match the surrounding centers. It does not mean yellow faces up yet. This sequence can twist corners; that is fixed in the next step.

   Beginner tip

   Being in the right position and facing the right way are different goals. The dashed outlines mark positions only.

6. 06

   Orient the yellow corners

   Turn each corner in place until yellow faces up, keeping the cube orientation fixed.

   What to check

   All four yellow corner stickers face up. The yellow face is complete, but the side edges may still be out of place.

   Do not rotate the whole cube. Put a corner whose yellow sticker does not face up at upper-front-right. Repeat the sequence until its yellow sticker faces up. Turn only U to bring the next incorrectly oriented corner to upper-front-right and repeat. The other layers may look scrambled during this process; they return when all four corners are oriented and you finish the last sequence.

   Corner-orientation sequenceR' D' R DRepeat the four-move sequence 2 or 4 times for the target corner, completing every repetition. Between corners, turn only U. Keep going even if the cube looks temporarily mixed.

   Common mistake: Never rotate the whole cube between corners, and do not stop midway through the four moves. Both can break the method’s orientation tracking.

   Beginner tip

   Follow a complete corner-orientation method and keep its required grip. Do not twist physical corners by hand.

7. 07

   Match the yellow edges

   Cycle the last-layer edges until all four side colors match their centers.

   What to check

   Check all six faces, including the bottom. Every face should have nine stickers of the same color.

   Check whether a top edge's side sticker matches the center on that side. If one does, turn the whole cube so that matching edge is at the back, then apply one of the two edge cycles below. If none matches, apply either cycle once; then a matching edge should appear. Repeat or use the opposite cycle until all four side stickers match their centers. Finish with U, U', or U2 if the top layer only needs a final alignment.

   Cycle the top edges one wayR U' R U R U R U' R' U' R2

   Cycle them the other wayR2 U R U R' U' R' U' R' U R'

   Common mistake: Keep the whole cube fixed while using a cycle. Turn U only to align the last layer; an edge matching at the back is your reference.

   Beginner tip

   Keep the whole cube fixed while cycling the final edges; use the back edge as your reference.

Scan your cube with the QuickCubeSolve camera solver →