Most people have picked up a Rubik’s Cube at some point — twisted it around hopefully for a few minutes, got exactly nowhere, and quietly put it back on the shelf. If that’s you, you’re in excellent company. Around 500 million cubes have been sold worldwide, and the vast majority of them have spent their lives unsolved.
Here’s the thing: solving a Rubik’s Cube isn’t about being a genius. It’s not even really about raw intelligence. It’s about learning a system. Once you understand the system — how the cube is structured, what the notation means, and which algorithms to apply when — solving it becomes almost mechanical. Satisfying, but mechanical.
This guide will teach you how to solve a Rubik’s Cube using the beginner’s layer-by-layer method. No shortcuts, no cheating. Just a clear, step-by-step walkthrough that will have you completing your first solve within a couple of hours of reading this.
Before You Touch the Cube: Two Facts That Change Everything
Almost every frustration beginners experience comes from not knowing these two things upfront.
Fact 1: The center pieces never move.
Look at the middle piece on each face — the one right in the center. No matter how you turn the cube, those center pieces only rotate in place. They never swap with each other. This means the center piece defines what color that face will be when solved. If the center is blue, that face will always be the blue face. Use this as your anchor.
Fact 2: You solve the cube in layers, not face by face.
This is the mistake almost every beginner makes. They try to complete one full face first — get all the stickers to match — and then realize they’ve completely ruined everything below. The correct approach is horizontal layers. You solve the bottom layer first, then the middle, then the top. Everything clicks once you understand that.
With those two facts locked in, let’s get into the actual solve.
Understanding Rubik’s Cube Notation
Before we can talk algorithms, you need to speak the language. Cube notation looks intimidating — Rs and Us and apostrophes — but it’s genuinely simple once you see the logic.
Each letter refers to one face of the cube:
- U = Upper (top face)
- D = Down (bottom face)
- F = Front (the face facing you)
- B = Back (the face facing away from you)
- R = Right face
- L = Left face
A plain letter means turn that face clockwise 90 degrees (as if you’re looking directly at it). A letter with an apostrophe — like R’ — means turn it counter-clockwise. A letter followed by 2 — like U2 — means turn it 180 degrees.
That’s the entire system. You’ll see combinations like R U R’ U’ in the steps below. Say it out loud as you do it: “Right, Up, Right-prime, Up-prime.” It becomes a rhythm, and the rhythm is half the battle.
How to Solve a Rubik’s Cube: Step-by-Step
Step 1: Solve the White Cross
Start with the white face. Your goal is to form a white cross on the top — four white edge pieces (not corners) arranged around the white center, with each one also matching the center of the adjacent side face.
Hold the cube with the white center facing up.
Find the four white edge pieces. Each one has two stickers — white on one side and one other color. You need to place each edge so that:
- The white sticker faces up
- The colored sticker matches the center of the adjacent side face
That second condition is the tricky part. Getting the white cross shape is easy. Getting it aligned is what trips people up.
Tip: Work through the four edges one at a time. Start with the white-blue edge and match it to the blue center, then do white-red, white-orange, white-green. Intuition works fine here — there’s no single algorithm for this step, just maneuvering.
Step 2: Complete the White Corners (Finish Layer 1)
With your cross done, the first layer is almost complete. Now you need to place the four white corner pieces.
Each white corner has three stickers. It belongs in the corner where all three of its colors meet — white on the bottom, and the two side colors matching adjacent center pieces.
Look for white corners on the top layer (U face). If a white corner is already stuck in the correct bottom-layer slot but twisted wrong, use R U R’ U’ to pop it up to the top layer first.
Once the corner is in the top layer directly above where it needs to go, apply one of these based on which way its white sticker faces:
- White sticker facing the right side: R U R’ U’ (repeat until solved)
- White sticker facing the front: F’ U’ F (repeat until solved)
- White sticker facing up: R U2 R’ U’ R U R’
Take your time here. When in doubt, R U R’ U’ repeated will eventually cycle the corner into the right position without disturbing the bottom layer.
Step 3: Solve the Middle Layer Edges
First layer done. Flip the cube upside down so white is on the bottom. You won’t touch it again.
Look at the top layer (now the U face) for edge pieces that don’t have yellow on them. These belong in the middle layer.
There are two algorithms — one for inserting an edge into the right slot, one for the left:
Insert to the right: U R U’ R’ U’ F’ U F
Insert to the left: U’ L’ U L U F U’ F’
To use them: first rotate the U face until the edge piece’s top-color matches the center below it. Then apply the right or left algorithm based on which side the empty slot is on.
If a middle-layer edge is already placed but twisted incorrectly, use either algorithm to pop it out, then reinsert it correctly.
This step trips up more beginners than any other. The algorithms feel awkward at first, but they become second nature fast. Don’t give up here.
Step 4: Make the Yellow Cross
Now for the top layer. Yellow should be facing up and completely unsolved.
Your goal is a yellow cross on the top face. The cross edges don’t need to align with the side centers yet — just get the cross shape.
Look at the top face. You’ll see one of four patterns:
- A dot (only the yellow center, no yellow edges)
- An L-shape (two adjacent yellow edges)
- A horizontal line (two opposite yellow edges + center)
- A full yellow cross — you’re done with this step
Apply this algorithm:
F R U R’ U’ F’
- Dot: Apply three times total
- L-shape: Hold the L in the top-left corner, apply once
- Line: Hold it horizontally, apply once
Keep applying until the yellow cross appears.
Step 5: Orient the Yellow Corners
The top layer now has a yellow cross, but the corners probably aren’t yellow-side-up yet. This step flips them without disturbing anything else.
Look at the top-right corner. If it’s not yellow-facing-up, apply:
R U R’ U R U2 R’
Then rotate only the U face (not the whole cube) to bring the next unsolved corner to the top-right position. Apply the algorithm again. Keep going until all four corners are yellow-side-up.
Critical reminder: only rotate the U face between applications, never the full cube. This is the number one mistake in this step.
Step 6: Permute the Yellow Corners
The top is all yellow now. But the corners are almost certainly in the wrong positions — their side stickers don’t line up with the centers below. This step fixes that.
Look at the top layer from the sides. Find two adjacent corners whose side stickers already match each other and the center below. Position those two correct corners at the back of the top layer, then apply:
R U’ R D2 R’ U R D2 R2
If no two corners are correct, apply this algorithm once from any angle — it will usually create a pair of correct corners, and then you apply it again.
Step 7: Permute the Last Layer Edges (Final Step)
Almost there. The four top-layer edges are the last pieces.
Look at the top edges from the side. Find one edge whose side sticker matches the center color below it. Position that face toward you and apply:
F2 U L R’ F2 L’ R U F2 — cycles three edges counter-clockwise
Or if they need to go the other direction:
F2 U’ L R’ F2 L’ R U’ F2 — cycles three edges clockwise
If no edge is in the right position, apply either version once to set up a solvable state, then apply again.
When all four edges lock into place — the cube is solved. Put it down, look at it, and feel good about it. You earned it.
The 7-Step Quick Reference
| Step | Goal | Key Move / Algorithm |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | White cross | Intuition + maneuvering |
| 2 | White corners | R U R’ U’ |
| 3 | Middle layer edges | U R U’ R’ U’ F’ U F |
| 4 | Yellow cross | F R U R’ U’ F’ |
| 5 | Orient yellow corners | R U R’ U R U2 R’ |
| 6 | Permute yellow corners | R U’ R D2 R’ U R D2 R2 |
| 7 | Permute last layer edges | F2 U L R’ F2 L’ R U F2 |
Also Read: Wordle+: Why We’re All Obsessed with Little Colored Squares
Common Mistakes That Slow Beginners Down
Rotating the whole cube between algorithms. In steps 5 and 6, only rotate the U face — never the whole cube. Rotating the whole thing repositions your reference and creates chaos.
Using a stiff or low-quality cube. This matters more than people expect. A cube that fights you physically makes it harder to track what you’re doing mentally. Budget cubes from dollar stores are often nearly unusable. A mid-range speed cube from MoYu, QiYi, or GAN runs under $15 and turns completely differently. It’s not cheating — it’s just using the right tool.
Quitting at Step 3. This is where the algorithm complexity jumps. Most people who give up do so right here. Push through it. Steps 4 through 7 are actually more algorithm-friendly once you know what you’re doing.
Memorizing without understanding. If you just copy moves without knowing what each algorithm accomplishes, you’ll forget them within a day. Each one has a job: insert a piece, flip a sticker, cycle a position. When you know the purpose, the sequence sticks.
Not tracking your front face. Always know which face is “front.” If you lose track of your orientation mid-solve, the whole thing falls apart. Some beginners put a piece of tape on one face to anchor their reference point.
After Your First Solve: Where to Go Next
The beginner method will get you solving reliably in 3 to 5 minutes. But once you can do it consistently, the natural next step is going faster.
Solve the cross on the bottom rather than the top. It looks weird at first, but it lets you plan ahead and shaves significant time.
Learn F2L (First Two Layers). This is the biggest upgrade from the beginner method. Instead of solving the first layer and then the middle layer separately, you pair up corners and edges and insert them together in one movement. It cuts your move count dramatically.
Move to full CFOP. CFOP stands for Cross, F2L, OLL, PLL — the four phases of the most popular speedcubing method, developed largely by Jessica Fridrich. It’s what most competitive cubers use. Full CFOP takes months to master but is worth it if you want to break the one-minute barrier.
Get a cube timer. Free cube timer apps and websites let you track your solves and see your rolling average. Watching your average drop from 4 minutes to 2 minutes to 90 seconds is one of the most satisfying progressions in any hobby.
Look into WCA competitions. The World Cube Association organizes events worldwide — and you don’t need to be fast to compete. Most regional competitions welcome anyone who can complete a solve within the time limit.
Does Solving a Rubik’s Cube Make You Smarter?
It’s a fair question, and the answer is nuanced. Regularly practicing cube solves won’t give you a general intelligence boost. What it does do is exercise specific cognitive skills: spatial reasoning, pattern recognition, working memory, and procedural thinking.
There’s also the frustration tolerance piece — learning to stay methodical when something isn’t immediately working is a genuinely transferable skill. And unlike most brain-training apps, the Rubik’s Cube offers real, measurable progress. You can see your times drop. You can feel the algorithms becoming automatic. That feedback loop keeps people engaged in a way that most cognitive exercises don’t.
FAQ
How long does it take to learn how to solve a Rubik’s Cube? Most beginners complete their first full solve within 1 to 2 hours of focused learning. Getting to the point where you can solve it reliably without notes usually takes a few days of casual practice.
What is the easiest method to solve a Rubik’s Cube? The beginner’s layer-by-layer method (LBL) is the most widely taught starting method. It uses simple, repeatable algorithms and a logical structure. It’s slower than advanced systems like CFOP, but far easier to pick up.
What does R U R’ U’ mean? It’s four moves in sequence: turn the Right face clockwise, then the Upper face clockwise, then the Right face counter-clockwise, then the Upper face counter-clockwise. This sequence is nicknamed the “sexy move” in cubing circles and is arguably the most used algorithm in the entire beginner method.
Can every scrambled Rubik’s Cube be solved? Yes — provided the cube hasn’t been physically taken apart and reassembled incorrectly. Every legitimate scramble is solvable. In fact, it’s been mathematically proven that any scrambled state can be solved in 20 moves or fewer. This is known as “God’s Number,” confirmed in 2010.
What is the current world record for solving a Rubik’s Cube? As of 2025, the single-solve world record stands at around 3.05 seconds. The one-handed record is 5.66 seconds, set at a WCA competition in 2024.
Why does my cube seem impossible to solve even after following all the steps? Your cube may have been disassembled and put back together wrong — a common issue with older or toy-store cubes. This creates an “impossible scramble” that no algorithm can fix. The solution: pop out one edge piece, flip it around, and reinsert it. That resets the cube to a solvable state.
What’s the best Rubik’s Cube for beginners? The official Rubik’s Brand cube works, but it tends to be stiff. For something that actually turns smoothly, look at entry-level speed cubes from QiYi or MoYu. Both brands make beginner-friendly options for under $15 that feel dramatically better than store-brand cubes.
How many possible combinations does a Rubik’s Cube have? Exactly 43,252,003,274,489,856,000 — roughly 43 quintillion. Solving by random chance would statistically take longer than the age of the universe. That’s why having a system isn’t just helpful — it’s essential.
Conclusion
Solving a Rubik’s Cube is one of those skills that feels impossible until it suddenly doesn’t. The framework makes sense, the algorithms become muscle memory, and the first time you hold a fully solved cube that you actually solved — it’s genuinely satisfying in a way that’s hard to explain until you feel it.
Start with the two core facts. Learn the notation. Build the white cross. Push through Step 3 when it gets frustrating. And remember that every single person who can currently solve a cube once couldn’t.
Once the beginner method is solid, F2L and CFOP are waiting. The rabbit hole goes as deep as you want it to — all the way to competitive speedcubing if you catch the bug.
Good luck. Enjoy every solve.
