How to Solve the Rubik’s Cube: A Beginner’s Guide

I’ve always been fascinated by the Rubik’s Cube. Over the years, I’ve picked it up many times, determined to solve it—and each attempt taught me something surprising about myself. For one, I discovered I have almost no coordination! Who knew I’d been missing that skill all this time? So you can imagine the challenge it’s been for me to learn.

I’m still learning, and that’s exactly why I want to share my journey. Most expert tutorials left me more puzzled than the cube itself—their hands move so fast that I couldn’t keep up. If you’ve felt the same, then you’re in good company here.

The Rubik’s Cube was invented in 1974 by Hungarian architect Ernő Rubik, originally called the “Magic Cube.” It became a global sensation in 1980 after being licensed internationally, and today it stands as the world’s bestselling puzzle toy with over 500 million sold.

Less than 6% of the world’s population can solve a Rubik’s Cube — about 1 in 17 people. According to achivx.com

I’ve put together a simple, beginner-friendly method—the way I would explain it to myself. My approach has nine steps. Some are as easy as pie, while others may take a little more patience to grasp. What I’ve learned along the way is that, like anything worth learning, it all comes down to practice, practice, and more practice.

🧩 Much like classic puzzles such as solitaire or other brain teasers, the Rubik’s Cube strengthens memory, coordination, and alertness. With each attempt, your mind adapts—your thinking process evolves, allowing you to grasp new concepts more quickly. Over time, this practice doesn’t just sharpen your puzzle-solving skills; it equips you to handle life’s chaos with greater efficiency and less anxiety.

To make it easier, I’ll write out each step clearly and include drawings so you’ll have a printed guide to follow, repeat, and redo whenever you need. And once you’re comfortable with the basics, you’ll be able to visualize the moves more naturally when you watch my video tutorial.

By now, I’ve solved the cube many times—though not without a few stumbles along the way. Often, I had to go back to my notes and drawings to remind myself of the moves. My approach has always been simple: whenever I made a mistake, I started over from the beginning. Repeating the steps this way helped me remember them more naturally.

The method I’m sharing with you is broken down into nine clear steps. Some are quick and easy, while others may take a little more practice—but that’s part of the fun. Here’s the path we’ll follow together:

1. The Daisy

2. The White Cross

3. The White Side

4. The First Layer

5. The Second Layer

6. The Yellow Cross

7. The Corresponding Center

8. The Corresponding Corner Pieces

9. Fixing the Corners with Matching Colors until the cube is complete

A Rubik’s Cube has six sides, and each side is a different color. On the classic cube, the colors are white, yellow, red, green, blue, and orange. At the center of each side is a single centerpiece—this piece never moves, and it tells you the color of that side. Each corner of the cube is made up of three colors. There are eight such corners. Between the corners are edge pieces, which have two colors. There are 12 such edges. When you start twisting and turning the cube, you’ll see how these pieces move around while the centerpieces stay fixed. Visualizing this is the first step to understanding how the cube works.

Step one: The Daisy

The Daisy Method. To begin, hold the cube so that the yellow center is on top. For most of the solving process, you’ll keep it in this position. The default position (TDP). Your first goal is to create a white cross around the yellow center, forming what’s known as the “daisy”—named after the flower because of  its simple, petal‑like pattern.                                                                                                                

1. Hold the cube correctly Place the yellow center on the top face. This yellow center will stay on top throughout this step and all the way to the end.

2. Find the white edge pieces.  Look around the cube for pieces that have white on them (not the corners, just the edges). Your goal is to move these white edge pieces so they surround the yellow center on top.

3. Move white edges to the top. Rotate the sides of the cube until each white edge piece is positioned next to the yellow center. Don’t worry about the other colors yet—just focus on getting the white edges up to the yellow face.

4. Form the daisy.  Once all four white edge pieces are around the yellow center, you’ll see a white cross pattern with yellow in the middle. This looks like a flower with petals, which is why it’s called the “daisy.” Beginners often get stuck moving white edges without messing up others. The trick is to rotate the bottom layer to bring a white edge under the yellow face, then turn that side up. Repeat until all four petals are in place. If you’ve managed to create the daisy pattern on the Rubik’s Cube, you’ve already conquered the very first step. That shows coordination and progress—something I’m still working toward myself. Solving the cube isn’t something people just “pick up”; it’s a skill we chase with persistence. At every turn, we push ourselves to get better, no matter the cost. For me, the cube is more than a puzzle—it feels like a test of my mind. I often wonder about my IQ, and in some ways, this cube sharpens it. After all, solving requires deep thinking, patience, and problem‑solving at every move. 

Step two: The White Cross

Now that you’ve created the daisy, it’s time to move on to the next step: building the white cross.

1. Keep the yellow center on top. This orientation is important for consistency.

2. Look at each white edge piece. Notice the second color on that edge (for example, white‑blue or white‑red).

3. Match the edge with its center. Rotate the top layer until the non‑white color lines up with the center of the same color.

4. Turn the edge down. Rotate that face 180° so the white sticker moves from the top to the bottom.

5. Repeat for all four edges. Do the same process for each white edge piece, one by one.

When all four are in place, flip the cube over and check the bottom. You’ll see a perfect white cross—congratulations, you’ve completed the second step!

Step three: and Step four: The White Side

Completing the White Face. The first goal in solving the cube is to build the white face. This means not only getting all the white stickers together, but also making sure the edge pieces match the center colors on the sides.

1. Start with the White Cross. Find the white center piece (it’s fixed and doesn’t move).

Your task is to place the four white edge pieces around it to form a cross.

Each white edge must also match the color of the center piece on the adjacent face (for example, the white-red edge should connect the white center and the red center).

To do this, look for white edge pieces on the cube and move them into place using simple turns of the top, front, or side faces.

2. Place the White Corners. Once the cross is complete, you’ll add the four white corner pieces.

Each corner has three colors: white plus two others (e.g., white-blue-red).

Find a corner piece and bring it below where it belongs.

Use this short move sequence to place it correctly:• Right face clockwise (R)

• Bottom face clockwise (D)

• Right face counterclockwise (R’)

• Bottom face counterclockwise (D’)

• Repeat until all four corners are in place.

3. Check Your Work. When finished, the entire white face should be solid white. The side colors of the first layer should also line up with their centers (red with red, green with green, etc.).

At this point, you’ve solved the first layer of the cube also— the white face and its matching sides. This sets the foundation for all the steps that follow.

Step five: The Second Layer

Solving the Second Layer (Beginner Directions)

Now that the white face and first layer are complete, we’ll fix the middle layer edges.

1. Find the Target Edge. Hold the cube with yellow on top and white on bottom. Look at the top layer for an edge piece that does not have yellow on it.

This piece belongs in the middle layer.

2. Match the Front Color. Turn the top face until the edge piece’s front color matches the center color of that face. Example: If the piece is red-blue, rotate until the red sticker lines up with the red center.

3. Decide Left or Right. Look at the other color on the edge piece. If it belongs on the right side, use the Right Sequence. If it belongs on the left side, use the Left Sequence.

4. Perform the Sequences

Right Sequence (edge goes right):1. Top clockwise

2. Right clockwise

3. Top anticlockwise

4. Right anticlockwise

5. Top anticlockwise

6. Front anticlockwise

7. Top clockwise

8. Front clockwise

Left Sequence (edge goes left):1. Top anticlockwise

2. Left anticlockwise

3. Top clockwise

4. Left clockwise

5. Top clockwise

6. Front clockwise

7. Top anticlockwise

8. Front anticlockwise

Repeat Until Done. Keep checking the top layer for non-yellow edge pieces. Use the correct sequence (left or right) until all four middle edges are solved. At this point, the second layer is complete — two solid layers with colors aligned to their centers.

Step Six: Forming the Yellow Cross

Now it’s time to create the yellow cross on the top face of the cube.

Hold the cube so that yellow is on top and white is on the bottom.

Perform the following moves in order:1. Turn the front face clockwise (F).

Turn the right face upward (R).

Turn the top face counterclockwise (U’).

Turn the right face counterclockwise (R’).

Turn the front face counterclockwise (F’).

Repeat this sequence until a yellow cross appears on the top face.

Printed chart can be found on this link

Step Seven: Aligning the Center Line

In this step, you’ll create a straight horizontal line of the same color on one side of the cube.

Hold the cube with yellow on top and white on the bottom.(TDP)

Choose a side (e.g., green) and look for a center line that needs to be aligned — the goal is to make all three squares in that center row the same color.

Perform the following moves in order

1. Turn the top face clockwise (U).

2. Turn the right face counterclockwise (R’).

3. Turn the top face clockwise (U).

4. Turn the right face counterclockwise (R’).

5. Turn the top face clockwise (U).

6. Turn the right face clockwise (R).

7. Turn the top face clockwise (U).

8. Turn the top face clockwise again (U).

9. Turn the right face counterclockwise (R’).

Step Eight: Positioning the Top Four Corners

In this step, we’ll place the top four corner pieces into their correct locations — they don’t need to be rotated correctly yet, just sitting in the right spots.

Hold the cube in its default orientation: yellow on top, white on bottom.

Look for a “good corner” — one that’s already in the correct position (even if it’s not rotated properly).

Turn the cube so that this good corner is on the right front side.

Then perform the following move sequence:

1. Turn the top face clockwise (U).

2. Turn the right face counterclockwise (R’).

3. Turn the top face counterclockwise (U’).

4. Turn the left face clockwise (L).

5. Turn the top face clockwise (U).

6. Turn the right face counterclockwise (R’).

7. Turn the top face counterclockwise (U’).

8. Turn the left face counterclockwise (L’).

Repeat this sequence until all four corners are correctly positioned — even if they still need to be rotated.

Step Nine: Rotating the Top Corners to Match Their Faces

Now that the top corners are in the correct positions, it’s time to rotate them so each color matches its face — red to red, green to green, and so on.

Hold the cube in its default orientation: yellow on top, white on bottom.

Find a corner that’s not yet rotated correctly and bring it to the top right front position.

Then perform the following move sequence:

1. Turn the right face clockwise (R).

2. Turn the bottom face clockwise (D).

3. Turn the right face counterclockwise (R’).

4. Turn the bottom face counterclockwise (D’).

Check the corner. If it’s now correctly rotated, turn the cube to bring the next uncorrected corner to the top right front.Then repeat the same move sequence.

1. Turn the right face counterclockwise (R’).

2. Turn the bottom face clockwise (D).

3. Turn the right face clockwise (R).

4. Turn the bottom face counterclockwise (D’).

Repeat this process until all four top corners are rotated correctly, and each color matches its corresponding face.

Final Step: Completing the Cube

At this point, all four top corners are correctly rotated and sitting in their proper places.

If you look at the cube now, you’ll notice a beautiful pattern: each face shows straight lines of solid color. To finish, simply rotate the cube one face at a time until each side is aligned with its matching center color.

🎉 Congratulations — you’ve solved the Rubik’s Cube!