Solve the Rubik’s Cube in 7 easy steps

The Rubik’s Cube has earned a reputation for being very difficult to solve, and without a good understanding of how the cube works, it is.

The solution that I’m going to show you was invented by a man named Danny Dedmore. The beautiful thing about his solution is that you can take a Rubik’s Cube in any configuration, follow a set pattern of moves, and end up with a completed Rubik’s Cube. So, you want to get cracking at the solution? Ok, ok. Not quite yet. First we have to go over a few things.

Rubik’s Cube Vocabulary

There are only two terms you have to remember:

Cubie: Each little cube that makes up the larger cube is called a Cubie.

Facelet: The colored stickers on each Cubie are called facelets.

Rubik’s Cube Notation

The move notation I’m using was developed by Rubik’s, and is pretty self explanatory.

Priming the Rubik’s Cube

The first thing you have to do before solving the Rubik’s cube is to prime it. I know, it sounds hard, but it isn’t!

To prime the Rubik’s Cube, all you have to do is position it like the image on the left. The blue center facelet should be on top, and the white, red, and blue corner cubie should be on the top right corner.

With that done, we’re ready to start solving the Rubik’s cube!

Step 1: Setup the corners

Setting up the corners is really easy, and we can do it in just a few steps.

a. Turn the entire Rubik’s Cube to the left, so that what used to be the upper right cubie is now the upper left cubie.

b. Solve the upper-right cubie.

Because we know that we need a cubie with blue on it (to match the top) and red on it (to match the upper-left facelet), we can conclude that we need to find the corner cubie that has blue, red, and yellow on it.

Now position this cubie so it’s on the bottom right corner of the Rubik’s Cube. The order of the facelets doesn’t matter, just get the cubie in the right spot for now.

c. See the numbers on the black facelets on the diagram to the left? Those numbers represent possible positions that the blue facelet could be in. Identify where your blue facelet is, and then follow these instructions based on the number:

1.

2.

3.

It’s also possible that the blue, red, and yellow cubie is already on the top row, but it’s in the wrong position. If that’s the case, then follow these moves based on the position of the blue facelet:

4.

5.

Now turn your Rubik’s Cube to the left, and work on filling out the other corners in the same manner. Remember: Always make sure that you’re working with a cubie that matches both the top (blue) as well as the top-left color of the side that’s facing you.

Step 2: Finish the top!

If you made it through Step 1 (congratulations!) you should have no trouble at all with finishing the top layer.

Here’s what to do:

a. Turn the bottom two rows until a blue facelet is in one of the positions marked by a black cube on the diagram to the left.

b. Follow the below instructions based on the position of the blue facelet. Once finished, repeat as necessary until all sides are solved. Once you’re finished with this step, the entire top of the Rubik’s cube will be solved. Well done!

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Step 3: Solve the center columns

Alright, now it’s time to solve the dreaded center pieces. This is where it gets really annoying if you’re trying to figure out how to solve a Rubik’s Cube on your own, but if you’re following this guide it will be really easy!

1. Turn the middle row, and try to get the color of the center facelet of at least one side to match the color of the top row.

2. Turn the bottom row so that at least one one side has a center facelet in the bottom row that matches the color of the top row.

3. Check that this is indeed the right cubie. Is the color on the bottom of the matching cubie the same as the color you’re solving for on the right or left? For instance, on the diagram to the left, you would want the bottom of the red cubie to be either yellow (to the right) or white (to the left).

If it is not the correct cubie, then find another match. If it is the right cubie, then follow these steps, depending on whether the facelet on the bottom of the cubie matches the color on the right or the left:

Left:

Right:

In the occasion that none of the cubies fit, use either of the above rotations until they do. You may have to do it a few times, but it’ll work eventually!

Step 4: Arrange the last corners

Are you getting tired yet? No? Good! Because we’re almost done solving the Rubik’s Cube.

1. Turn the cube upside down, so that the blue side is now on the bottom. Notice the green facelet in the center? Well, as you probably guessed, this is going to be our green side.

2. Situate your cube so the front face is the red side, as shown in the diagram to the left.

3. Locate the corners for the front. The correct corners will have one red facelet and one green facelet.

4. Locate the corners for the back. The correct corners will have one orange facelet and one green facelet.

5. Move the facelets into the correct position. NOTE: The facelets don’t have to be turned the right way, you just have to get them into the correct positions.

Here are a couple moves to help you move the corner cubies around as needed to get them into the right positions:

Switch 1 and 2:

Switch 1 and 3:

When you finish step 4, all of your corner cubies will be in the correct position (though not necessarily finished).

Step 5: Finish the last corners

The first thing you’ll have to do to finish off the green corners is identify which side of the Rubik’s Cube is the front.

We’re trying to solve the green cubes right now, and you should see one of the following patterns:

1. Now that you’ve identified the front of your cube, hold it so that you are facing the front of it.

2. Use the following rotation (several times, and for several different configurations, until all four corners are completed).

Step 6: Finish two edges

As you start this step, you should find that at least one of the green edges is in the right position (it may not be turned correctly yet, but we’ll fix that). See the green and white cubie in the example to the left for an example.

1. Turn the cube so that you’re facing the side that has the edge in the correct position. There may be more than one, and if there is, just pick one!

2. With the correctly positioned cubie in front of you, use the following rotation to correct the facelet positioning:

Step 7:

Alright, you’re on the home stretch! Once you finish this step, your Rubik’s Cube will be complete.

At this point, you should notice that the top of your cube should fit one of the following two patterns:

Now, turn the front of the cube towards you, use the matching combination below, and your Rubik’s Cube will be solved. Congratulations!

H Pattern:

Fish Pattern: