How to solve a Rubiks cube step by step without losing your mind

Most people think you have to be some kind of math prodigy to figure out a 3x3. They see the 43 quintillion possible combinations and just assume it’s impossible. Honestly? It’s basically just muscle memory and a few patterns. You don't need to calculate anything. You just need to know where the pieces go.

If you’ve ever peeled the stickers off or just left a cube gathering dust on a shelf because it felt too daunting, you're in the right spot. This isn't about being a "speedcuber" who finishes in five seconds using complex methods like CFOP or Roux. This is about finally understanding how to solve a Rubiks cube step by step using the layer-by-layer method. It’s the easiest way to start. It works every single time.

The first thing you have to wrap your head around is that the center pieces don't move. Ever. The white center is always opposite the yellow center. Blue is opposite green. Red is opposite orange. If you try to put a white edge piece next to a yellow center, you’re already fighting physics. You can't win that.

Getting the "Daisy" and the White Cross

Forget the whole cube for a second. We’re just looking for four pieces. Specifically, the white edges. These are the pieces with only two colors. Your goal is to get them around the yellow center. This is called the Daisy. It’s the most beginner-friendly way to start because it doesn’t require any algorithms. You just move the white edges until they surround the yellow center like petals.

Once you have your Daisy, look at the other color on those white edge pieces. If you have a white-and-red edge, turn the top layer until that red part matches the red center piece. Then, flip it 180 degrees so the white part faces the white center. Repeat this for all four edges.

Congratulations. You’ve just built the White Cross. This is the foundation. If your cross doesn't line up with the side centers (red to red, blue to blue), the rest of the solve will fail. Precision matters here more than speed.

Fixing the First Layer Corners

Now we need to fill in the corners. A corner piece has three colors. To learn how to solve a Rubiks cube step by step, you have to master the "Right Hand Trigger." This is the move you'll use for the rest of your life. It’s four moves: Right side up, Top layer left, Right side down, Top layer right.

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Find a corner piece on the top layer that has white on it. Let's say it's White, Red, and Green. Move that piece directly above the spot where it needs to go—the corner between the Red and Green centers. Now, do that Right Hand Trigger.

You might have to do it once. You might have to do it five times. Eventually, that white corner will slot into the bottom layer perfectly. Do this for all four corners. When you’re done, the entire bottom face should be white, and you should see little "T" shapes on all the side faces. If you just have a white bottom but the sides are a mess, you put the corners in the wrong spots. Swap them.

Solving the Middle Layer

This is where things get slightly more technical. We are looking for "edge" pieces on the top layer that don't have any yellow on them. If an edge has yellow, it belongs on the top. We want the ones that belong in the middle.

Let's find the Green and Orange edge. Turn the top layer until the Green side of that edge matches the Green center, forming a vertical line. Now, look at where it needs to go. Does it go to the right or the left?

If it goes to the right:

1. Move the top layer away (to the left).
2. Do the Right Hand Trigger.
3. Rotate the whole cube to the right.
4. Do the Left Hand Trigger (Left side up, Top layer right, Left side down, Top layer left).

It feels like magic when that piece just slides into place. You're basically "disturbing" a corner, then using the rotation to fix it, which drags the edge piece along for the ride. Repeat this for all four middle edges. If a piece you need is stuck in the middle layer but flipped the wrong way, just pop it out by doing the same move with a random yellow piece.

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The Yellow Cross and the Top Face

Turn your attention to the top. You likely have one of three things: a yellow dot, a yellow "L" shape, or a yellow horizontal line. We want a yellow cross.

The move is simple: Front face clockwise, then do the Right Hand Trigger, then Front face counter-clockwise.

If you had a dot, you’ll get the "L." If you had the "L" (keep it in the top-left corner), you’ll get the line. If you had the line (keep it horizontal!), you’ll get the cross. Don't worry if there are extra yellow corners; we just care about the cross for now.

Now, we need to make the yellow face entirely yellow. This uses an algorithm called the Sune.

1. Right side up.
2. Top layer left.
3. Right side down.
4. Top layer left.
5. Right side up.
6. Top layer left twice.
7. Right side down.

This move is designed to rotate the corners. You might have to do it a few times. A pro tip: if you have exactly one yellow corner facing up, put it in the bottom-left of the top face before doing the move.

Positioning the Last Pieces

You’re so close. The cube looks almost done, but the top layer corners and edges are probably in the wrong spots. First, look for "headlights"—two corners of the same color on one side. If you have them, point them away from you. If you don't have them, do this move anyway:

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Right side down, Front clockwise, Right side down, Back twice (the whole back face), Right side up, Front counter-clockwise, Right side down, Back twice, Right side twice.

This is the hardest move to memorize. It’s long. It’s clunky. But it fixes the corners. Finally, you just have to swap the edges. If one side is fully solved, face it away from you. If not, just do this move from anywhere:

1. Front twice.
2. Top layer (left or right depending on where the piece needs to go).
3. Left side down, Right side down.
4. Front twice.
5. Left side up, Right side up.
6. Top layer again.
7. Front twice.

The cube is solved.

Why Most People Fail

People fail because they lose track of the center pieces or they get frustrated when one layer "breaks" while they're working on another. You have to trust the algorithms. When you do the Right Hand Trigger, you will mess up the white bottom temporarily. That's fine. It's part of the process. The math works itself out as long as you finish the sequence of moves.

Another huge mistake is rotating the whole cube too much. Pick a front face and stick with it unless the instructions tell you to rotate. If you keep spinning the cube in your hands, you'll lose your orientation and end up with a scrambled mess.

Actionable Next Steps:

• Memorize the "Trigger": Practice the Right Hand Trigger (R U R' U') until you can do it with your eyes closed. It is the backbone of almost every solve.
• Lubricate your cube: If you’re using an old, stiff brand-name cube, buy a cheap "speedcube" online (like a Moyu or Gan). It makes turning significantly easier on your wrists.
• Slow down: Speed comes from efficiency, not moving your fingers fast. Watch how the pieces move.
• Use a reference sheet: Don't try to memorize everything at once. Keep the notation (R, L, U, D, F, B) handy until it becomes second nature.
• Scramble and repeat: The only way to truly learn is to solve the white cross 50 times in a row. Then move to the next step.