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how to solve rubik's cube easy

Here’s an easy, beginner-friendly way to solve a Rubik’s Cube using the classic layer-by-layer method. This is written in a “quick guide” style but still walks you through all the key moves.

How to Solve Rubik’s Cube Easy

Quick Scoop

You’ll solve the cube in three layers : first layer (one face), middle layer, then the last layer on top. For a true beginner, expect around 30–60 minutes the first time; after a few tries, it becomes mostly memory and pattern recognition. I’ll use standard notation:

  • R = turn Right face clockwise
  • L = Left face clockwise
  • U = Up (top) face clockwise
  • D = Down (bottom) face clockwise
  • F = Front face clockwise
  • B = Back face clockwise
  • A letter with a ' (prime), like R’, means turn that face counterclockwise.
  • A letter with 2 (like R2) means turn it 180 degrees.

You always look at the face you’re turning.

Step 1 – Make the White Cross

Goal: Get a white cross on one face, with each white edge also matching the side center color.

  1. Pick white as your starting color and put its center on top.
  2. Find a white edge (two-colored piece with white).
  3. Move that edge so its non-white color matches the side center, then bring white up to form the cross.

Tips:

  • Don’t worry if you temporarily mess things up; it’s normal while learning.
  • Try to fix one white edge at a time and always realign the side color before moving it to the white face.

Once done, you’ll see a plus sign of white on top and the side color of each edge lined up with its center.

Step 2 – Solve the White Corners (First Layer)

Goal: Complete the entire white face and the first layer sides.

  1. Keep the white cross on top.
  2. Find a corner piece with white on it (three-colored piece).
  3. Move that corner to the bottom layer directly under where it should go in the top layer (matching side colors).

Use this very common beginner corner-insertion sequence (white goes to the top-right of the front-right):

  • If the white corner is in the bottom layer below the front-right position, and needs to go to the top front-right:
    • Do:
      • R' D' R D
    • Repeat this until the corner lands correctly with white on top.

If a white corner is stuck in the top but wrong, push it down first using the same sequence (R' D' R D), then bring it back in correctly. When all four corners are done, the entire white face and the ring of side colors below it should be correct.

Step 3 – Solve the Middle Layer Edges

Goal: Fill in the four middle layer edges so the first two layers are solved.

  1. Turn the cube so white is now on the bottom (solved layer stays out of the way).
  2. Look at the top layer for edges that do not contain yellow (assuming yellow is opposite white).
  3. Take one such edge and match its front color with the front center on the middle layer.

Now decide whether that edge needs to go to the right or left :

  • If it needs to go to the right , use:
    • U R U' R' U' F' U F
  • If it needs to go to the left , use:
    • U' L' U L U F U' F'

These are standard middle-layer insertion algorithms. Repeat for each non- yellow edge until all 4 middle edges are in place. If a middle-layer edge is in the wrong place already, kick it out first using one of the above algorithms; it will move to the top, then you can put it back properly.

Step 4 – Make the Yellow Cross (Top Layer)

Goal: Turn the top into at least a yellow cross (ignore corners for now). On the top layer, you might see:

  • Just a single yellow dot
  • An L shape (two yellow edges)
  • A line of yellow edges
  • Already a yellow cross

Hold the cube with yellow on top and:

  • If you have a dot, L, or line , repeatedly do this algorithm until you see a yellow cross:
    • F R U R' U' F'

Orientation tips:

  • For an L shape, hold it so it looks like a backwards L in the top-left corner.
  • For a line, hold it horizontally across the top.

Eventually, all four yellow edges will be oriented as a cross on top.

Step 5 – Orient the Yellow Corners

Goal: Get all yellow corners showing yellow on top (they might still be in the wrong spots around the sides; that’s okay).

  1. Keep the yellow cross on top.
  2. Find a corner that already has yellow on top; put it in the front-right-top position. If none do, just pick any corner in that spot.

Use this sequence:

  • R U R' U R U2 R'

After doing this, turn only the top layer (U) to bring another unsolved yellow corner into the front-right-top position, and repeat the same sequence. Keep doing this until all four corners show yellow on top. Note: While you do this, the rest of the cube may look scrambled for a moment; don’t panic. As long as you:

  • Never turn the bottom layer
  • Only rotate the whole cube to reposition the next unsolved corner
  • Always apply the sequence the same way

…everything will come back together.

Step 6 – Position the Yellow Corners

Goal: Move the yellow corners so they are in the right places (correct colors on each side), even if the cube still isn’t fully solved.

  1. Look at the top layer corners from the side.
  2. Find a corner whose three colors match the three center colors on those sides (even if it’s twisted).

When you find one:

  • Hold the cube so that correct corner is in the front-right-top position.
  • Apply:
    • U R U' L' U R' U' L

If no corners are in the right spot at all, just do the sequence once from any position, and then check again; you’ll usually create at least one correct corner, then repeat with that one in the front-right-top. After one or two uses, all four yellow corners should be in the correct positions.

Step 7 – Position the Yellow Edges (Finish the Cube)

This is the last step: you’ll cycle the top layer edges around the yellow face to solve the cube. Look at the side faces of the top layer:

  • If two adjacent edges already match their side centers, hold those solved sides at the back and left , then use this common “edge-swapping” algorithm:
    • R U R' U R U2 R' U

Do this until all four top edges line up with their centers, and the cube is fully solved. If two opposite edges are correct (not next to each other), you may need to use the algorithm once or twice from different orientations to get the “two adjacent” case, then finish.

Tiny Story-Style Walkthrough

Imagine you’re “building a house”:

  • Step 1–2: You lay a solid white foundation (cross, then corners).
  • Step 3: You build the walls (middle layer edges sliding into place like bricks).
  • Step 4–7: You finish the roof (yellow face and edges), first shaping it (cross), then aligning the tiles (corners and edges) until everything locks into a neat cube.

The first time feels like learning a small dance routine. Once the moves are in your fingers, it becomes something you can do almost on autopilot while chatting.

Quick HTML Table of Key Algorithms

Below is a simple HTML table (as requested) you can save or print:

html

<table border="1" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0">
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Step</th>
      <th>Goal</th>
      <th>Algorithm</th>
      <th>When to Use</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>White corners</td>
      <td>Insert a white corner</td>
      <td>R' D' R D</td>
      <td>Corner under its target, repeat until solved</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Middle layer right</td>
      <td>Insert edge to right</td>
      <td>U R U' R' U' F' U F</td>
      <td>Top edge without yellow goes to right slot</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Middle layer left</td>
      <td>Insert edge to left</td>
      <td>U' L' U L U F U' F'</td>
      <td>Top edge without yellow goes to left slot</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Yellow cross</td>
      <td>Form yellow cross</td>
      <td>F R U R' U' F'</td>
      <td>Top shows dot, L, or line (yellow on top)</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Orient yellow corners</td>
      <td>Make all corners yellow on top</td>
      <td>R U R' U R U2 R'</td>
      <td>Yellow cross done, corners not all yellow on top</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Position yellow corners</td>
      <td>Move corners to correct spots</td>
      <td>U R U' L' U R' U' L</td>
      <td>Use until all four corners are in the right place</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Position yellow edges</td>
      <td>Swap top edges to finish cube</td>
      <td>R U R' U R U2 R' U</td>
      <td>Top face yellow, but side colors not all matching</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

TL;DR

  • Learn a few short sequences and when to use them.
  • Solve layer by layer: white cross → white corners → middle edges → yellow cross → yellow corners → final edge swaps.
  • Practice them slowly; after a few solves, it becomes surprisingly easy.