Welcome! If you want to learn how to solve a Rubik’s Cube (3x3) from scratch, this step‑by‑step beginner method is for you. No advanced math or speedcubing tricks required—just some patience and practice.

What You’ll Learn

By the end of this guide you will:

  • Understand the basic notation used for cube moves
  • Know how to solve the cube layer by layer
  • Memorize a few simple algorithms
  • Be able to go from a scrambled cube to solved consistently

You can follow along with any standard 3x3 Rubik’s Cube (official or generic brand).

For extra visual help, pair this guide with an interactive simulator like Rubik’s official tutorial or an online cube like CubeSolver.app.

1. Rubik’s Cube Basics and Color Rules

Before doing algorithms, you must understand how the cube is structured.

1.1 Pieces on a 3x3 Cube

Your cube has three types of pieces:

  • Center pieces (6 total)

    • 1 sticker each
    • They never move relative to each other
    • They define the color of each face (white face, yellow face, etc.)

  • Edge pieces (12 total)

    • 2 stickers each
    • Sit between two centers

  • Corner pieces (8 total)

    • 3 stickers each
    • Sit at the corners between three centers

Because centers are fixed, white is always opposite yellow, and red is always opposite orange (on a standard color scheme). Blue and green are opposites too.

2. Move Notation (How to Read Algorithms)

Algorithms are written using letters that describe face turns. You only need a small set:

  • Faces

    • R = Right face
    • L = Left face
    • U = Up (top) face
    • D = Down (bottom) face
    • F = Front face
    • B = Back face

  • Turn Types

    • A letter alone (e.g. R) = 90° clockwise turn
    • A letter with apostrophe (e.g. R') = 90° counter‑clockwise turn
    • A letter with 2 (e.g. R2) = 180° turn (direction doesn’t matter)

“Clockwise” and “counter‑clockwise” are defined as if you’re looking directly at that face.

Example:
R U R' U' means:

  1. Turn Right face clockwise
  2. Turn Up face clockwise
  3. Turn Right face counter‑clockwise
  4. Turn Up face counter‑clockwise

You can see animated notation explanations on J Perm’s beginner guide (popular among cubers).

3. Overview of the Beginner Method (Layer‑by‑Layer)

We’ll solve the cube in 7 main steps:

  1. Solve the white cross
  2. Solve the white corners (complete first layer)
  3. Solve the second layer edges
  4. Make a yellow cross on top
  5. Orient the yellow face (turn all yellow stickers up)
  6. Position (permute) the yellow corners
  7. Position (permute) the yellow edges (finish the cube)

You only need to remember a few short algorithms, used again and again.

4. Step 1 – Solve the White Cross

Goal: Create a white “plus” sign on the white face, with the edge colors matching the side centers.

4.1 Choose White as the Starting Color

Most tutorials start with white, but any color works. We’ll assume white is your bottom or top, whichever feels more comfortable. Beginners often hold white on the bottom and work “up”.

4.2 Build the White Cross (Ignoring Side Colors)

First, just make a white cross on the white face—don’t worry yet if the side colors match.

  • Find all four white edge pieces (pieces with 2 colors, one of them white)
  • Turn faces to bring these edges to the white face so they form a cross

4.3 Fix the Cross Side Colors

Now align the cross edges with the center colors on each side:

  1. Hold the cube with the white cross on the bottom.
  2. Look at one white edge. For example, if the piece is white‑red, find the red center.
  3. Rotate the middle layer (without moving the bottom) so that the red part of the edge aligns under the red center.
  4. If the white sticker of that edge is not already on the bottom but on the side, use simple turns to flip it down (for example, bring the edge to the top layer, align it, then insert it).

Repeat for all 4 white edges until:

  • White face has a perfect cross
  • Each of the 4 cross edges matches the adjacent center color

This step is largely intuitive; turn gently and experiment.

5. Step 2 – Solve the White Corners (Complete First Layer)

Goal: Place the four white corner pieces so that:

  • White face is fully solved
  • First layer (side colors) also matches each center

5.1 Find White Corner Pieces in the Top Layer

Each white corner has white + 2 other colors (e.g. white‑red‑blue). Work with the white face on the bottom.

  1. Look at the top layer and find a white corner (white on the side or top).
  2. Identify its three colors. For example: white‑red‑blue.
  3. Position it above the correct location: between the red and blue centers.

5.2 Use the Right-Hand Algorithm

We’ll use a simple algorithm to insert the corner without breaking the cross.

Right-hand algorithm (to bring a corner from top layer down to the right side):

R U R' U'

Steps:

  1. Hold cube so the target slot is at front-right-bottom.
  2. If the white corner is in the top layer above that slot, repeat R U R' U' until the corner is correctly placed (white on bottom, side colors matching centers).

5.3 If the Corner Is in the Wrong Place in the Bottom

If a white corner is in the bottom layer but wrong, bring it back to the top:

  • Do R U R' U' once or twice with that corner in the front-right-bottom slot.
  • Then insert it again properly using the same algorithm.

Do this for all 4 corners until:

  • Entire white face is solved
  • First layer around the white face has all matching colors

6. Step 3 – Solve the Second (Middle) Layer Edges

Goal: Solve all four middle-layer edges, forming the first two layers fully solved.

Look at the top layer (yellow on top). Ignore edges with yellow—those are for the last layer. You want edges with no yellow.

6.1 Position an Edge Under Its Correct Center

  1. Find an edge on the top layer without yellow, for example red‑green.
  2. Turn the top layer (U) until the front color matches its center.
    • Example: If the front face center is red, align the red of that edge under the red center.

Now you decide if it needs to go left or right.

6.2 Edge Goes to the Right: Use the “Right Insert”

If the other color (top sticker) belongs to the right face, use:

Right Insert Algorithm:

U R U' R' U' F' U F

This moves the front-top edge down to the right side of the middle layer.

6.3 Edge Goes to the Left: Use the “Left Insert”

If the other color belongs to the left face, use:

Left Insert Algorithm:

U' L' U L U F U' F'

This moves the front-top edge down to the left side of the middle layer.

Repeat:

  1. Find a top edge with no yellow
  2. Align it with its front center
  3. Check if it belongs left or right
  4. Apply Right Insert or Left Insert as needed

Keep going until all 4 middle layer edges are solved and the first two layers are complete.

7. Step 4 – Make the Yellow Cross on Top

Goal: Turn the entire top layer (yellow face) into at least a yellow cross (ignore corners for now).

Hold the cube with yellow on top.

You may see one of these patterns:

  • Only a single yellow dot (no edges)
  • A yellow “L” shape
  • A yellow line (across center)
  • A yellow cross (already done)

We use one algorithm repeatedly:

Yellow Cross Algorithm (F R U R' U' F')

F R U R' U' F'

7.1 If You Have a Dot (Only Center Yellow)

  • Hold cube any way (yellow on top)
  • Do: F R U R' U' F'
  • You will get an L shape

7.2 If You Have an L Shape

  • Hold the cube so the L is at top-left (like a backward “L” or corner shape)
  • Do: F R U R' U' F'
  • You will get a line

7.3 If You Have a Line

  • Hold the cube so the line is horizontal (left to right)
  • Do: F R U R' U' F'
  • You will now have a yellow cross

If you already have a yellow cross, you can skip this step.

8. Step 5 – Solve the Entire Yellow Face (Orient Yellow Corners)

Goal: Turn all yellow corner stickers to the top, so the whole top face is yellow. Corners may be in the wrong positions for now; orientation is all we care about.

We’ll use the “Sune” orientation algorithm:

Sune Algorithm (R U R' U R U2 R')

R U R' U R U2 R'

Steps:

8.1 Find a Corner with Yellow on Top

Sometimes you won’t have any corners oriented correctly; that’s fine—still proceed.

  1. Hold cube with yellow on top.
  2. Look for a corner that already has yellow on top. If you find one, keep it at front-right-top.

8.2 Apply Sune Repeatedly

With that corner at front-right-top, apply:

R U R' U R U2 R'

  • If the top layer is not fully yellow yet, rotate only the top face (U) to a new orientation and repeat the algorithm again, always keeping yellow on top.

You may need to do this algorithm multiple times (2–6 times) until the entire top face is yellow.

Important:

  • Only rotate the top layer between repetitions of the algorithm.
  • Keep your grip consistent—white face down, yellow up.

Once done, the entire top is yellow, but the sides of the top layer may look scrambled. That’s expected.

9. Step 6 – Position (Permute) the Yellow Corners

Goal: Get all yellow corners into their correct positions relative to the side colors. Top will stay yellow, we just move corners around.

9.1 Find a Correct Corner

Look at the top layer corners and check their side colors:

  • A corner is correct if its three colors match the three center colors around it, regardless of twist (they’re already twisted correctly since we oriented them).

If you have at least one correct corner, hold the cube so that correct corner is at front-right-top.

If none appear correct, just continue with the algorithm from any orientation—one correct corner will appear in the next cycle.

9.2 Corner Permutation Algorithm

Use this algorithm to cycle the three other corners:

Corner Permutation Algorithm (U R U' L' U R' U' L)

U R U' L' U R' U' L

After performing this:

  • Check how many corners are now in the correct spots.
  • If not all 4 are correct, again hold a correct one at front-right-top and repeat the algorithm.

Repeat until all four yellow corners are in the correct locations (all sides of top corners match their center colors).

10. Step 7 – Position (Permute) the Yellow Edges (Final Step)

Goal: Put all four yellow edges in the right spot to solve the cube completely.

At this point:

  • White face and first two layers are solved
  • Yellow face is completely yellow
  • Yellow corners are in the correct spots
  • Only yellow edges may be swapped or rotated around the top

10.1 Look for a Correct Yellow Edge

With yellow on top:

  • Check each yellow edge—does it match both center colors it’s between?
    • Example: If a yellow-red edge sits between the yellow and red centers, and the red sticker faces the red side, it's correct.

If you have one correct edge, hold the cube so that correct edge is at the back (B).

If no edge appears correct, pick any orientation and do the algorithm once; you will then get at least one correct edge.

10.2 Edge Cycle Algorithm

Use this algorithm to cycle three edges around the top layer:

Edge Permutation Algorithm (R U R' U R U2 R' U)

R U R' U R U2 R' U

After executing:

  • Check how many edges are now correctly placed.
  • If all 4 are correct, the cube is solved.
  • If not, again find a correct edge, hold it at the back, and do the algorithm again.

You may need to perform this 1–3 times.

When all edges line up with their centers, your Rubik’s Cube is completely solved.

11. Common Beginner Mistakes and Tips

11.1 Losing the White Cross

If you keep losing your cross or solved pieces:

  • Always hold the cube in a fixed orientation (e.g. white on bottom, green front).
  • Avoid randomly turning faces once you start using algorithms.
  • Practice just the white cross repeatedly until you can do it quickly and confidently.

11.2 Forgetting Algorithms

Focus on learning only one new algorithm at a time:

  1. Practice R U R' U' until it feels natural.
  2. Practice F R U R' U' F'.
  3. Practice R U R' U R U2 R', etc.

You can print or write a small cheat sheet, or bookmark a clear reference like:

11.3 Practice Helps Speed

Once you can solve the cube consistently:

  • Time yourself with a phone timer or apps like CS Timer (cstimer.net).
  • Learn finger tricks—turn with your fingers, not your whole hand.
  • Later you can explore advanced methods like CFOP or Roux for speedcubing.

12. FAQ: Solving a Rubik’s Cube

How long does it take to learn to solve a Rubik’s Cube?

With this beginner method, many people learn to solve the cube in 1–3 days of casual practice. Getting solves under 1 minute may take a few weeks.

Do I need to memorize many algorithms?

For this beginner method, you only need about 6–7 short algorithms, most under 8 moves:

  • R U R' U'
  • U R U' R' U' F' U F
  • U' L' U L U F U' F'
  • F R U R' U' F'
  • R U R' U R U2 R'
  • U R U' L' U R' U' L
  • R U R' U R U2 R' U

Will this method scramble my solved pieces?

If you execute the algorithms exactly and keep the correct orientation (white bottom, yellow top, front fixed), they will not permanently break what is already solved. If something looks wrong, carefully check that you did each move correctly and in the right order.

13. Where to Go Next

Once you can consistently solve the cube with this method, you can:

  • Learn full CFOP for faster solves (more algorithms, but much faster)
  • Try F2L (First Two Layers) pair solving
  • Experiment with other puzzles (2x2, 4x4, Pyraminx, etc.)
  • Watch advanced tutorials from YouTubers like

If you keep this page open while practicing, repeat each step until it feels natural. Within a short time, you’ll be able to solve a Rubik’s Cube from any scramble—a fun party trick and a great brain workout.