How to Solve a Rubik’s Cube: 7-Step Beginner Method

There’s a moment every Rubik’s Cube owner knows: the scramble, the hope, and then the surrender to YouTube tutorials. The path from scrambled to solved is shorter than most people think — the standard 3×3 cube holds 43 quintillion permutations, yet with just a handful of algorithms anyone can crack it in under 10 minutes.

Possible combinations: 43,252,003,274,489,856,000 ·
World record solve (2023): 3.13 seconds (Max Park) (World Cube Association – official governing body) ·
Average beginner solve time: 5–10 minutes ·
Steps in the beginner method: 7 ·
Moves for optimal solution: 20 (God’s number) (Ruwix – Rubik’s Cube resource)

Five facts from the cube’s history and mechanics, each sourced from authoritative references:

How to solve Rubik’s cube step by step?

Understanding the cube notation

• R – Right face clockwise
• L – Left face clockwise
• U – Upper face clockwise
• D – Down face clockwise
• F – Front face clockwise
• B – Back face clockwise
• An apostrophe (e.g., R’) means counter-clockwise (Ruwix – Rubik’s Cube resource)

1. White cross – position four white edges around the white center, matching side colors
2. White corners – insert corners using R U R’ U’
3. Middle layer edges – form T shapes and apply mirror algorithms
4. Yellow cross – apply F R U R’ U’ F’
5. Position yellow corners – swap with U R U’ L’ U R’ U’ L
6. Orient yellow corners – repeat R’ D’ R D
7. Permute final edges – cycle edges with 13-move algorithm

Step 1: Create a white cross

Turn the white center piece upward. Find each white edge piece and move it to the top layer while matching its side color with the corresponding center. CubeSkills (CubeSkills – tutorial platform) emphasizes that the non-white stickers must align with their center colors — a mistake beginners often skip.

Step 2: Solve the white corners

With the white cross on top, bring each white corner into its slot using the algorithm R U R’ U’ (called the “sexy move”). Cubelelo (Cubelelo – cubing equipment store) notes that the white center should be on the bottom while doing corners, which keeps the cross intact.

Step 3: Solve the middle layer edges

Turn the top layer to form an upside‑down T shape with the edge piece, then apply one of two algorithms depending on whether the edge needs to go left or right. SolveTheCube (SolveTheCube – community guide) explains that this step uses U R U’ R’ U’ F’ U F for the right side and U’ L’ U L U F U’ F’ for the left.

Step 4: Create the yellow cross

Ignore the corner colors for now. Use the algorithm F R U R’ U’ F’ to turn the top yellow pieces into a cross. Ruwix (Ruwix – Rubik’s Cube resource) says a dot requires three applications, an L‑shape two, and a line one.

Step 5: Position the yellow corners

Orient the cube so the yellow cross is on top. Turn the top layer until a corner is in its correct location (colors match the adjacent sides), then swap the others using the algorithm U R U’ L’ U R’ U’ L.

Step 6: Orient the yellow corners

Hold the cube so a mis‑oriented corner is in the front‑right position. Do R’ D’ R D repeatedly until the yellow face is on top. SpeedCube US (SpeedCube US – cubing retailer) warns not to change your hold on the cube during this step.

Step 7: Permute the final layer

Cycle the top‑layer edges until all sides match. Use the algorithm R U R’ U’ R’ F R2 U’ R’ U’ R U R’ F’. The cube will be solved.

What are the 7 steps to solving a Rubik’s cube 3×3?

The seven steps correspond exactly to the layer-by-layer sequence above. CubeSkills (CubeSkills – tutorial platform) numbers them as: (1) white cross, (2) white corners, (3) middle layer edges, (4) yellow cross, (5) yellow corners orientation, (6) yellow corners permutation, (7) final edges. Each step requires memorizing one or two short algorithms — seven total.

• Step 1: White cross – no algorithm, just visual matching
• Step 2: White corners – R U R’ U’
• Step 3: Middle layer – two mirror algorithms
• Step 4: Yellow cross – F R U R’ U’ F’
• Step 5: Corner position – U R U’ L’ U R’ U’ L
• Step 6: Corner orientation – R’ D’ R D (repeat)
• Step 7: Edge cycle – 13‑move algorithm

The implication: seven algorithms might sound daunting, but each is just 4–13 moves. SpeedCube US (SpeedCube US – cubing retailer) notes that most learners pick them up in under an hour.

What is the easiest trick to solve Rubik’s cube?

The Daisy trick for the white cross

Instead of building the white cross directly, beginners can first create a “daisy” – four white edges around the yellow center. Then flip the top layer to move those white edges to the white center. Cubelelo (Cubelelo – cubing equipment store) says this reduces confusion about aligning side colors.

Using F R U R’ U’ F’ for the yellow cross

This six‑move algorithm is the easiest way to get a yellow cross from any starting pattern. Ruwix (Ruwix – Rubik’s Cube resource) calls it the “most intuitive” algorithm for last‑layer orientation.

The Sune algorithm for corner orientation

The Sune (R U R’ U R U2 R’) orients three yellow corners at once. It’s shorter than repeating R’ D’ R D and a favorite among beginners who want to speed up.

What this means: shortcuts get you to a solved cube, but the seven-step method builds transferable speed-cubing skills.

How to solve a Rubik’s cube in 3 seconds?

What it takes to solve in 3 seconds

Sub‑3‑second solves demand an advanced method like CFOP (Cross, F2L, OLL, PLL) and lookahead – the ability to plan moves while executing the current ones. Max Park’s world‑record 3.13‑second solve used CFOP with extreme lookahead (World Cube Association – official governing body).

Intermediate methods: CFOP, Roux, ZZ

• CFOP – 119 algorithms, the most widely used among speed cubers
• Roux – fewer moves, strong for one‑handed solves
• ZZ – fewer cube rotations, good for lookahead

SpeedCube US (SpeedCube US – cubing retailer) recommends learning CFOP after the beginner method.

Finger tricks and lookahead

Finger tricks use a single finger turn to execute moves faster. Lookahead involves tracking pieces during the previous step. Both require hundreds of hours of deliberate practice.

Practice routines and drills

Top speed cubers drill the same algorithm set until it’s automatic. A typical practice session includes 50–100 solves and timed “algorithm only” runs.

The pattern: each plateau in solve time requires exponentially more practice — the beginner method delivers the highest satisfaction-to-effort ratio.

How to solve a Rubik’s cube for beginners?

Choosing the right cube

A modern speed cube like the MoYu RS3M 2020 (SpeedCube US – cubing retailer) costs about $10 and turns far more smoothly than the classic Rubik’s brand cube. Beginners who use a stiff cube often give up in frustration.

Learning the layer-by-layer method

The layer-by-layer method is the easiest because each step isolates a small set of pieces. CubeSkills (CubeSkills – tutorial platform) provides a free PDF that breaks down every algorithm with diagrams.

Printable algorithm cheat sheets

Print out a one‑page cheat sheet with the seven algorithms. Keep it under the cube while practicing. SolveTheCube (SolveTheCube – community guide) offers a clean printable card.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

• Rotating the cube incorrectly during corner orientation – keep the front face fixed
• Forgetting to align side colors when building the cross – double‑check before moving on
• Skipping the T‑shape in the middle layer – the edge must match the center below it

The implication: most beginners quit because they feel stuck. Identifying the exact mistake and correcting it instantly reduces solve times from 10 minutes to 5 minutes.

“The cube is a way to challenge the mind – it teaches patience, pattern recognition, and the joy of systematic problem‑solving.”

– Ernő Rubik, in a 2014 interview (Ruwix – Rubik’s Cube resource)

“Max Park’s 3.13‑second solve is the result of thousands of hours of lookahead practice – he sees the next step before finishing the current one.”

– SpeedCube US commentary (SpeedCube US – cubing retailer)

The beginner method works for any scramble – that’s its greatest strength. For the casual solver, the choice is clear: invest 15 minutes in the seven algorithms and you’ll never hold a scrambled cube helplessly again. For the aspiring speed cuber, treat the layer-by-layer method as the first rung on a ladder that leads to CFOP, sub‑10‑second solves, and maybe even a podium spot at a competition.

Many beginners prefer a comprehensive layer-by-layer guide that breaks down the cube into simpler stages.

Frequently asked questions