Step-by-Step Instructions to Solve a 2x2 Rubik's Cube

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Learn the algorithms for solving a Rubik's cube with our guide
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If you want a simple start to solving Rubik’s Cubes, a 2x2 or mini cube is the perfect starting point. 2x2 Rubik’s Cubes are a lot easier to solve than the standard cube, and all you have to do is memorize a few specific moves to match all the colors. Keep reading, and we’ll walk you through all the steps and algorithms you need to solve the cube quickly!

Section 1 of 3:

Rubik’s Cube Notation

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  1. Rubik’s Cube expert Phil Yu mentions that to make solving less complicated, people use special notation to name the cube’s faces and which way to turn them. An “algorithm” is just a sequence of moves listed in order to move the colors into the right spots.
    • When you see a letter all by itself, turn the matching face clockwise by 90 degrees.
      • U = the upper face on top
      • D = the down face on the bottom
      • R = the right face on the right side
      • L = the left face on the left side
      • F = the front face
      • B = the back face
    • If the letter is followed by an apostrophe, such as U’ or F’ , then turn the face counter-clockwise by 90 degrees instead.
    • If the number 2 comes after a letter, like D2 or L2 , then turn the face clockwise twice for a total of 180 degrees.
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Section 2 of 3:

Solving the Top Layer of a 2x2 Rubik’s Cube

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  1. Find the corner of your 2x2 Rubik’s Cube that has the white square with the logo printed on it. Position the cube so the white square is on the upper face, the red square is on the front face, and the blue square is on the right face. [1]
    • While you may turn and rotate the cube throughout solving it, you’ll always return to this position to check your progress on the top layer.
    • When you’re finished setting the top layer of your Rubik’s cube, the white squares will all be on the upper face.
  2. Look for the corner that has the white, blue, and orange squares and note its location. If it’s already on the bottom layer, then move on to the next step. If the corner is in the top layer, hold the cube so the corner is positioned in the top-right of the front face and do the following algorithm: [2]
    • (R’, D’, R)
      This shifts the white-blue-orange corner to the bottom layer. It doesn’t matter which squares are on each face.
    • If the white-blue-orange corner is already next to the white square with the logo and both blue squares are next to each other, then the corner is already in the right position.
  3. Hold your Rubik’s Cube so the white square with the logo is in the bottom-left corner of the upper face. Twist the down face until any square of the white-blue-orange corner is in the bottom-right of the front face. The next moves depend on which square is on the front face. [3]
    • If the white square is on the front face, use the algorithm (R)
      This brings the white squares together on the upper face and the blue squares together on the front face.
    • If the blue square is on the front face, use the algorithm (R’, D’, R)
      This positions the blue square on the bottom first, then shifts the white square to the front, and then finally places the white square on the upper face.
    • If the orange square is on the front face, then follow the algorithm (D, R2)
      This shifts the blue square to the back and then brings the white and blue squares together on the upper and front faces.
  4. Hold your Rubik’s cube so the white-blue-orange corner is on the left side of the front face and the white square is on the upper face. Look for the corner with the white, green, and orange squares and note it’s position. If it’s in the top layer already, moving it to the bottom layer makes it easier to position correctly. [4]
    • If the orange square is in the top-right corner of the upper face, then just do (R’)
      This immediately places the corner in the correct position and you can move on to placing the final corner.
    • If the green or white square is in the top-right corner on the upper face, then use the algorithm (R, D’)
      This brings the white-green-orange corner to the bottom layer with one of the squares on the front face.
    • If the orange or green square are on the bottom-right corner of the upper face, then use (R2, D’)
      This first places the corner in the bottom layer on the back face, and then positions it on the front face.
  5. Make sure the orange square of the white-blue-orange corner is at the top-left of the front face. Twist the bottom layer of your Rubik’s cube so the white-green-orange piece is in the bottom-right of the front face. Your next movements depend on which square is facing the front. [5]
    • If the white square is on the front face, use the algorithm (R)
      This places the third white square into the proper spot on the upper face.
    • If the orange square is on the front face, use the algorithm (R’, D’, R)
      This first moves the orange square on the bottom, then moves the white square to the front, and then positions the white square in the correct spot on the upper face.
    • If the green square is on the front face, then follow the algorithm (D, R2)
      This moves the orange square to the back and then brings the white and green squares together on the upper and left faces.
  6. Hold your Rubik’s cube so the white-green-orange square is in the top-left corner and the green square is on the front face. Find the final white-green-red corner and note its position. If it’s already in the top layer and the white square is on the upper face, then the layer is already solved. [6]
    • If the corner is in the top layer but the red or green square is on the upper face, then use the algorithm (R’, D’, R)
      This positions white-green-red corner onto the bottom layer without affecting the other correctly-placed corners.
    • When the corner is in the bottom layer, twist the bottom layer until the piece is in the bottom-right corner of the front face.
      • If the red square is on the front face, use the algorithm (F, D’, F’, D2, D’, R’, D, R)
        The first moves of the algorithm bring the white square to the bottom-right front corner, and then the last 4 moves place the corner back on the top layer.
      • If the white square is on the front face, use the algorithm (D’, R’, D’, R)
        This repositions the final corner so the red squares are touching on the right face, and then moves the white square to the upper face.
      • If the green square is on the front face, then follow the algorithm (R’, D’, R)
        This moves the red square to the right face and then brings the white and green squares together on the upper and front faces.
    • When you’re finished, all 4 white squares will be on the upper face and the 2 squares of each other color will be on the same face.
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Section 3 of 3:

Solving the Bottom Layer of a 2x2 Rubik’s Cube

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  1. Hold your 2x2 Rubik’s Cube so the 4 white squares are on the down face on the bottom. Then, look at the upper face to see if there are any yellow squares already placed there. Reposition the cube so it has one of the following layouts: [7]
    • 1 yellow square is in the bottom-left corner of the upper face
    • No yellow squares on the upper face, and 1 yellow square on the top-right corner of the left face
    • 2 yellow squares in the top corners of the upper face, and 1 yellow square in the top-left corner of the front face
    • 2 yellow squares in the right corners of the upper face, and 1 yellow square in the top-left corner of the front face
    • 2 yellow squares in the top-left and bottom-right corners of the upper face, and 1 yellow square in the top-left corner of the front face
  2. No matter which layout your cube has from the previous step, use the same algorithm. If you do the algorithm once and all the yellow squares still aren’t on the upper face, then reposition your cube to one of the layouts in the previous step and repeat the algorithm again. [8]
    • You may have to repeat the algorithm 2-3 times to move all the yellow squares to the upper face.
  3. Twist the top layer of the cube so 2 of the top corners match the colors of the bottom layer. Position your Rubik’s cube so corners you need to swap are either next to each other or diagonal from each other. Then, use the algorithm to reposition the corners. If the corners are still in the incorrect positions, then keep repeating the algorithm until the cube is completely solved. [9]
    • Tip: To remember the movements of the final algorithm steps, use the chant: “Run to me, Fast, Run to me, Back Back, Run away, Fast, Run to me, Back Back, Run Run away, Up.”
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      • Continue practicing the moves of the algorithms so you’re able to memorize them. Once you commit the correct movements to memory, then you’ll be able to solve any 2x2 Rubik’s Cube and finish completing it even faster.
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      • When you want more of a challenge, move on to try solving a 3x3 cube , a 4x4 cube , or even a 5x5 cube .
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      References

      1. ↑ https://youtu.be/wQS1oHCKMW0?t=206
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/OYw4dg2Mw7k?t=21
      3. ↑ https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6595ca03bcd68f311fd41872/65afebcae0a3534d92a9b921_Rubiks_SolutionGuide_2x2-Mini.pdf
      4. ↑ https://youtu.be/rrSz6SiuPNI?t=9
      5. ↑ https://youtu.be/rrSz6SiuPNI?t=85
      6. ↑ https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6595ca03bcd68f311fd41872/65afebcae0a3534d92a9b921_Rubiks_SolutionGuide_2x2-Mini.pdf
      7. ↑ https://youtu.be/C6wP_bs6Qtc?t=12
      8. ↑ https://youtu.be/C6wP_bs6Qtc?t=71
      9. ↑ https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6595ca03bcd68f311fd41872/65afebcae0a3534d92a9b921_Rubiks_SolutionGuide_2x2-Mini.pdf

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