How Do I Use an Online Rubik's Cube Solver to Solve My Scrambled 3x3x3 Cube?

Updated

To solve a scrambled 3x3x3 cube with an online solver, open a solver such as SolveMyCube in a browser with JavaScript enabled, enter the nine sticker colors for each of the six faces into the on-screen grids, and press Solve Cube. The site returns a move sequence that you apply to your physical cube. SolveMyCube uses Herbert Kociemba's Two-Phase Solver to produce solutions in a small number of moves, so the output is a short sequence of standard cube notation rather than a beginner's layer-by-layer lesson.

Before You Start

  • A 3x3x3 cube in a scrambled state. The solver is described for 3x3x3 cubes.
  • A JavaScript-enabled browser. The site explicitly states it requires JavaScript to run; if the page does not respond, check your browser's JavaScript setting.
  • A consistent color scheme. Note which color is on top and which is on front when you begin entering stickers, and keep that orientation while you apply the solution.

Entering Your Cube State

The solver shows six face grids, each with nine sticker positions (the page displays counters in the form /9 for each face). Fill every position with the color of the sticker on that face of your cube.

  1. Hold the cube in a fixed orientation and decide which face is Up, Down, Front, Back, Left, and Right.
  2. For each face, enter the nine colors exactly as they appear, reading in a consistent order (for example, top row left to right, then middle row, then bottom row).
  3. Double-check the center stickers: each face's center color identifies that face, and every color should appear exactly nine times across the six grids.
  4. Press Solve Cube. The solution appears in the Solutions area; before you solve, that area reads "There are no solutions yet."

If a face is entered incorrectly — a wrong color, a duplicated sticker, or a count that doesn't match a real cube — the state is not a valid cube and no usable solution will come back. Recheck the grids against the cube before retrying.

Setting Up or Testing a State

The page includes controls for building a state without typing every sticker:

  • Scramble Cube applies a scramble to the current state.
  • Random placement and Random moves generate positions or move sequences for you.
  • Execute Moves runs a move sequence you type in, with an option to auto-clear after the run, and keyboard shortcuts are available.
  • Clear Cube and Reset Cube return the grids to a blank or starting state.

These are useful for practicing: scramble the on-screen cube, solve it, and compare the returned sequence with what you would do by hand.

Reading and Applying the Solution

The solution is a list of moves in standard notation — face letters (U, D, F, B, L, R) with modifiers for direction and double turns. Apply each move in order to your physical cube, keeping the same orientation you used when entering the stickers. Because the two-phase method targets a short move count, the sequence may not look like the familiar beginner steps; follow it literally rather than trying to reinterpret it.

Common Problems

Problem Likely cause What to do
Page doesn't respond to clicks JavaScript disabled Enable JavaScript in the browser and reload
No solution returned Invalid or incomplete cube state Recount colors per face; each color must appear nine times and centers must match
Solution doesn't fix the cube Stickers entered in a different orientation than the cube is held Re-enter the state and apply moves without rotating the cube between moves
Solution seems long or unusual Expected — the solver optimizes move count, not teaching method Follow the sequence as written

What This Solver Is and Isn't

SolveMyCube is a solving tool, not a tutorial. It was developed by Ivik Injerd (online alias zavaboy), first released as version 1.0 beta on 2010-12-10, and built on Herbert Kociemba's Cube Explorer work; the site also lets contributors add Cube Explorer servers to its database. If you want to learn a beginner's method step by step, use a guide instead; if you just want your scrambled cube solved with a short sequence, enter the state and follow the output.