Solving a Rubik's Cube on your own in one week is a goal most beginners can reach. You don't need a special talent, and you don't need to memorise dozens of algorithms. You need a 3x3 cube, 20 to 40 minutes a day, and a plan broken into small pieces: just one step each day. This post gives you that 7-day plan, with a "where you are now" picture and a "goal of the step" picture for each day, so that by the end of the week you can solve the cube by yourself for the first time.
Every move sequence in this post was tested on the EasyRubic cube simulator.
How long does it take to solve a Rubik's Cube?
There is no single number for everyone. Some people solve it after one afternoon, others need a few weeks. What makes the difference is not how clever you are, but how you split up the work.
The beginner method goes layer by layer: the bottom layer, then the middle layer, then the top layer. Ruwix, a long-running Rubik's Cube guide site, splits this method into 7 stages, from the white cross to placing the yellow corners (Ruwix). The EasyRubic guide has 7 steps too. Seven steps, seven days: one step a day is just the right pace to make it stick.
Why not do it all in one day? Research on "distributed practice" shows that splitting practice into many short sessions over several days usually helps you remember for longer than cramming it into one long session. One example people often mention: Baddeley and Longman (1978) trained postal workers to type on two kinds of schedule, and the group that practised in short sessions spread over more days typed more accurately and faster than the group with long sessions (Wikipedia: Distributed practice). Solving a Rubik's Cube is also a hand-and-eye skill, so the 7-day plan below is built on that idea.
Before you start: what do you need?
- A 3x3 cube that turns smoothly. A stiff cube that keeps getting stuck will put you off very quickly. It doesn't have to be expensive, it just needs to turn easily and not pop apart.
- 20 to 40 minutes a day. One session is enough, and two short sessions are even better.
- Know how to read notation. R, L, U, D, F, B are the six faces; an apostrophe means turn anticlockwise; a 2 means a half turn. If this is new to you, read Rubik's Cube notation for beginners before day 1.
- A sheet of paper. Tick off each day you finish a step. Seeing your own progress helps you keep going instead of giving up halfway.
Four moves.
One at a time.
Tap each symbol and follow one piece. This is an exercise in watching the movement.
The 7-day Rubik's Cube plan
Each day has three parts: go over the previous day's step (5 minutes), get the hang of the new step (15 to 25 minutes), then scramble the cube and solve it again from the start up to the step you just did (5 to 10 minutes). The picture on the left is the cube you have now, the picture on the right is the goal of that day's step.
The full algorithms for each step are in How to solve a 3x3 Rubik's Cube for beginners. The plan below tells you which step to do on which day and how to practise it.
Day 1: get used to the cube and make the white cross
Warm up with the four-move sequence R U R' U': turn the right face up, the top face to the left, the right face down, the top face to the right. Go slowly and say each move out loud.
- You start with (input)
- After the formula
Starting from a solved cube, do this sequence 6 times in a row and the cube goes back to how it was. The picture above shows the last round: on the left is the cube after 5 times, on the right after the 6th. The pieces that move are in colour, the rest are grey. If the cube doesn't come back, you pressed one move wrong: that makes it a great way to check your hands. This four-move sequence comes back again on day 2.
Then do step 1: put the 4 edges with a white sticker around the white centre, so that the other colour on each edge matches the centre of the side face.
- You start with (input)A scrambled cube
- Result you will get after finishing this stepWhite cross done
You do most of this step just by looking. Ruwix also suggests using the first stage to get to know the cube and see how far you can get on your own. Goal for the end of the day: make the white cross 3 times in a row without looking at the guide.
Day 2: the four white corners, finishing layer 1
Bring the 4 corners with a white sticker into place. When you're done, the whole white face and a ring of colour around it are correct.
- You start with (input)White cross done
- Result you will get after finishing this stepFirst layer all correct
This day uses the four-move sequence from day 1 again, so your hands already know it. Goal for the end of the day: finish layer 1 on your own from a scrambled cube.
Day 3: layer 2
The middle layer has only 4 edges, but this is the first time you meet a longer algorithm. Get one side (left or right) really solid before you move on to the other.
- You start with (input)First layer all correct
- Result you will get after finishing this stepFirst two layers all correct
Goal for the end of the day: finish two layers from a scrambled cube. By now two thirds of the cube is correct, which is a milestone worth writing down.
Day 4: the yellow cross
Turn the whole cube so the yellow face is on top. This step flips the 4 edges of layer 3 so their yellow stickers are on the top face. The side colours don't need to match yet.
- You start with (input)First two layers all correct
- Result you will get after finishing this stepYellow cross on top
You will see three shapes: a dot, an L shape and a straight line. Practise spotting each shape before you start turning.
Day 5: the yellow face
Turn the 4 corners of layer 3 so the whole top face becomes yellow.
- You start with (input)Yellow cross on top
- Result you will get after finishing this stepWhole yellow face on top
This is the step many people find the most confusing, because halfway through the cube looks like it has been scrambled again. Don't panic: do the algorithm correctly and the cube will come back. If you really do get lost, scramble it and solve from the start, which is good practice too.
Day 6: putting the layer 3 pieces in place
The last two steps: put the 4 yellow corners in place, then swap the yellow edges around. Once the final step is done, the cube is solved.
- You start with (input)Whole yellow face on top
- Result you will get after finishing this stepYellow corners in place
- You start with (input)Yellow corners in place
- Result you will get after finishing this stepCube solved
Two steps in one day sounds like a lot, but both work the same way: find a face that is already right, hold the cube the right way round, and do the algorithm. If you haven't finished by the end of day 6, move step 7 to day 7.
Day 7: solve the whole cube, then solve it again
Nothing new today. Scramble the cube and solve it from start to finish, at least 5 times. Each time, write down which step made you open the guide. Next time, go over exactly that step.
Once you can solve the whole cube without looking at the guide, try using a timer. Taking a few minutes the first time is completely normal; that number will drop as your hands get used to it.
What if you get stuck during the week?
- A step just won't click: don't move on to the next one. Give that step an extra day. The 7-day plan is a framework, not an exam.
- You forgot yesterday's algorithm: that's normal. The 5-minute review at the start of each session is there to fix exactly this.
- The cube gets all mixed up halfway: usually you turned one move wrong or held the cube the wrong way. Scramble it, solve up to the step you are sure of, then do the tricky step slowly.
- You're bored: stop while you still want to play. As Ruwix says, keep practising and don't give up easily.
After the first week: how to keep going
Once you can solve it, the next thing is to solve it reliably: a few full solves every day, with nothing new to pick up. When you know all 7 steps by heart, you can:
- Try the 2x2 cube, which is smaller and quicker to finish: How to solve a 2x2 Rubik's Cube for beginners.
- Find out about the speed method most speedcubers use: What is CFOP.
- See how an official competition works: WCA Rubik's Cube competitions.
Sources
- How to Solve the Rubik's Cube: Beginner's Method, Ruwix.
- Distributed practice, Wikipedia.
Frequently asked questions
Is it hard to solve a Rubik's Cube on your own?
Not if you break it into small pieces. The beginner method has 7 steps, and each step has a picture to compare with. Doing one step a day, most beginners can solve a 3x3 cube by themselves in about a week.
How long does it take to solve a Rubik's Cube?
It depends on the person and how much time they practise. With the plan in this post, 20 to 40 minutes a day, the goal is your first solve after 7 days. Some people are faster, some need two weeks: both are normal. This is an EasyRubic estimate, not a measured figure.
How long should I practise the Rubik's Cube each day?
For beginners, 20 to 40 minutes a day is enough. Many short, regular sessions usually help you remember for longer than one long session at the weekend.
Do I need to memorise algorithms?
Yes, but only a few. The beginner method uses just a handful of short algorithms, and you pick up one each day. After doing it a few times, your hands will remember it on their own.