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Rubik's Mini

Solve the Rubik's Mini 2×2

Two layers, eight corner pieces and only two algorithms to memorise. The layered method you learn here is the same one that solves the 3×3 and the 4×4.

Start with the notation →
2
layers
8
corner pieces
6
faces
2
algorithms to memorise

Get to know your cube

Before the first turn, learn the three words this guide keeps using: layer, face and corner.

Layers

A Rubik's Mini has two horizontal layers: a top layer and a bottom layer. Every algorithm here turns one of them.

Faces

Each flat surface is a face, and there are six. The UP face sits on the top layer, the DOWN face on the bottom layer.

Corners

The cube is made of eight corner pieces, each carrying three coloured tiles. There are no centre or edge pieces, so a corner is the only kind of piece you ever move.

  • White is opposite yellow
  • Blue is opposite green
  • Orange is opposite red

Grey tiles mean the colour of that piece does not matter at the stage you are working on.

Notation

Each letter names one face, and each move is a quarter turn of that face. Keep the same side facing you for the whole algorithm.

U
Upper face
D
Lower face
R
Right face
F
Front face
B
Back face
R
A plain letter turns that face 90° clockwise, seen from directly in front of it.
R'
An apostrophe means the inverse: turn 90° counterclockwise.
R2
A 2 means turn the face twice, a half turn. Direction does not matter.

Two stages

The guide is divided into two stages. Finish the first before starting the second.

Stage 1

Solve the top layer

Place all four white corners, one at a time, until the whole top layer is finished.

Stage 2

Solve the second layer

Turn the yellow face upwards, then swap the yellow corners into place. Two algorithms cover every case.

Stage 1

How to hold the cube

Keep the cube on a table so the same side stays at the front for a whole algorithm.

  1. 01Hold the cube so the white tile with the Rubik's logo faces the ceiling. That is the top layer.
  2. 02The red tile goes on the FRONT face and the blue tile on the RIGHT face.
  3. 03Once a corner is placed, turn the cube so the corner you just solved sits on the LEFT, then look for the next one.

Stage 1

First and second corner

Find the corner with a WHITE, a BLUE and an ORANGE tile. If it is already in place, move on. If it sits in the top layer, send it down first; if it is in the bottom layer, twist D until it matches one of the cases below.

Group 1 — First and second corner

4 cases

The corner is in the top layer

Bottom view

CUBE ONE

Bottom view

CUBE TWO

Bottom view

CUBE THREE

Open this case

Group 1 — First and second corner · The corner is in the top layer

Match the coloured tiles in the recognition picture. The animation shows one complete example.

Before the moves, change the holding direction: y2 — turn the whole cube in the direction of U 180°.. y2

R' D' R

Move by move · 3 moves
  1. R' — R' — turn the right face 90° counterclockwise.
  2. D' — D' — turn the lower face 90° counterclockwise.
  3. R — R — turn the right face 90° clockwise.

The target corner is now in the bottom layer. Match an insertion case next.

Reference video

Group 1 — First and second corner · CUBE ONE

Match the coloured tiles in the recognition picture. The animation shows one complete example.

Before the moves, change the holding direction: y — turn the whole cube in the direction of U 90° clockwise.. y

R

Move by move · 1 move
  1. R — R — turn the right face 90° clockwise.

The target white corner is placed; the earlier corners remain solved.

Reference video

Group 1 — First and second corner · CUBE TWO

Match the coloured tiles in the recognition picture. The animation shows one complete example.

Before the moves, change the holding direction: y — turn the whole cube in the direction of U 90° clockwise.. y

R' D' R

Move by move · 3 moves
  1. R' — R' — turn the right face 90° counterclockwise.
  2. D' — D' — turn the lower face 90° counterclockwise.
  3. R — R — turn the right face 90° clockwise.

The target white corner is placed; the earlier corners remain solved.

Reference video

This video opens the section overview because this case has no separate demonstration.

Group 1 — First and second corner · CUBE THREE

Match the coloured tiles in the recognition picture. The animation shows one complete example.

Before the moves, change the holding direction: y — turn the whole cube in the direction of U 90° clockwise.. y

D R2

Move by move · 2 moves
  1. D — D — turn the lower face 90° clockwise.
  2. R2 — R2 — turn the right face 180°.

The target white corner is placed; the earlier corners remain solved.

Reference video

Stage 1

Third corner

Now look for the WHITE, GREEN and ORANGE corner, holding the corner you just solved on the LEFT. Send it to the bottom layer if it is stuck in the top, then insert it.

Group 2 — Third corner

6 cases

CUBE ONE

CUBE TWO and CUBE THREE

CUBE FOUR and CUBE FIVE

Bottom view

CUBE ONE

Bottom view

CUBE TWO

Bottom view

CUBE THREE

Open this case

Group 2 — Third corner · CUBE ONE

Match the coloured tiles in the recognition picture. The animation shows one complete example.

R'

Move by move · 1 move
  1. R' — R' — turn the right face 90° counterclockwise.

The target corner is now in the bottom layer. Match an insertion case next.

Reference video

Group 2 — Third corner · CUBE TWO and CUBE THREE

Match the coloured tiles in the recognition picture. The animation shows one complete example.

R D'

Move by move · 2 moves
  1. R — R — turn the right face 90° clockwise.
  2. D' — D' — turn the lower face 90° counterclockwise.

The target corner is now in the bottom layer. Match an insertion case next.

Reference video

Group 2 — Third corner · CUBE FOUR and CUBE FIVE

Match the coloured tiles in the recognition picture. The animation shows one complete example.

R2 D'

Move by move · 2 moves
  1. R2 — R2 — turn the right face 180°.
  2. D' — D' — turn the lower face 90° counterclockwise.

The target corner is now in the bottom layer. Match an insertion case next.

Reference video

Group 2 — Third corner · CUBE ONE

Match the coloured tiles in the recognition picture. The animation shows one complete example.

Before the moves, change the holding direction: y — turn the whole cube in the direction of U 90° clockwise.. y

R

Move by move · 1 move
  1. R — R — turn the right face 90° clockwise.

The target white corner is placed; the earlier corners remain solved.

Reference video

This video opens the section overview because this case has no separate demonstration.

Group 2 — Third corner · CUBE TWO

Match the coloured tiles in the recognition picture. The animation shows one complete example.

Before the moves, change the holding direction: y — turn the whole cube in the direction of U 90° clockwise.. y

R' D' R

Move by move · 3 moves
  1. R' — R' — turn the right face 90° counterclockwise.
  2. D' — D' — turn the lower face 90° counterclockwise.
  3. R — R — turn the right face 90° clockwise.

The target white corner is placed; the earlier corners remain solved.

Reference video

This video opens the section overview because this case has no separate demonstration.

Group 2 — Third corner · CUBE THREE

Match the coloured tiles in the recognition picture. The animation shows one complete example.

Before the moves, change the holding direction: y — turn the whole cube in the direction of U 90° clockwise.. y

D R2

Move by move · 2 moves
  1. D — D — turn the lower face 90° clockwise.
  2. R2 — R2 — turn the right face 180°.

The target white corner is placed; the earlier corners remain solved.

Reference video

This video opens the section overview because this case has no separate demonstration.

Stage 1

Fourth corner

The last white corner is WHITE, GREEN and RED. Insert it the same way and the top layer is finished.

Group 3 — Fourth corner

4 cases

CUBE ONE and CUBE TWO

Bottom view

CUBE ONE

Bottom view

CUBE TWO

Bottom view

CUBE THREE

Open this case

Group 3 — Fourth corner · CUBE ONE and CUBE TWO

Match the coloured tiles in the recognition picture. The animation shows one complete example.

Before the moves, change the holding direction: y — turn the whole cube in the direction of U 90° clockwise.. y

R' D' R

Move by move · 3 moves
  1. R' — R' — turn the right face 90° counterclockwise.
  2. D' — D' — turn the lower face 90° counterclockwise.
  3. R — R — turn the right face 90° clockwise.

The target corner is now in the bottom layer. Match an insertion case next.

Reference video

This video opens the section overview because this case has no separate demonstration.

Group 3 — Fourth corner · CUBE ONE

Match the coloured tiles in the recognition picture. The animation shows one complete example.

Before the moves, change the holding direction: y — turn the whole cube in the direction of U 90° clockwise.. y

F D' F' D2

Move by move · 4 moves
  1. F — F — turn the front face 90° clockwise.
  2. D' — D' — turn the lower face 90° counterclockwise.
  3. F' — F' — turn the front face 90° counterclockwise.
  4. D2 — D2 — turn the lower face 180°.

After these turns, continue with CUBE TWO.

Reference video

Group 3 — Fourth corner · CUBE TWO

Match the coloured tiles in the recognition picture. The animation shows one complete example.

Before the moves, change the holding direction: y — turn the whole cube in the direction of U 90° clockwise.. y

D' R' D R

Move by move · 4 moves
  1. D' — D' — turn the lower face 90° counterclockwise.
  2. R' — R' — turn the right face 90° counterclockwise.
  3. D — D — turn the lower face 90° clockwise.
  4. R — R — turn the right face 90° clockwise.

The white top layer is complete, with matching side colours.

Reference video

Group 3 — Fourth corner · CUBE THREE

Match the coloured tiles in the recognition picture. The animation shows one complete example.

Before the moves, change the holding direction: y — turn the whole cube in the direction of U 90° clockwise.. y

R' D' R

Move by move · 3 moves
  1. R' — R' — turn the right face 90° counterclockwise.
  2. D' — D' — turn the lower face 90° counterclockwise.
  3. R — R — turn the right face 90° clockwise.

The white top layer is complete, with matching side colours.

Reference video

This video opens the section overview because this case has no separate demonstration.

Stage 2

Make the yellow face

Hold the cube with the finished WHITE face on the bottom. Match the UP face to one of the three pictures, then run the algorithm.

Match the UP face to one of these pictures

Group 4 — Make the yellow face

3 cases
Group 4 — Make the yellow face · Top one

Top one

Group 4 — Make the yellow face · None left!

None left!

Group 4 — Make the yellow face · I see two

I see two

Open this case

Group 4 — Make the yellow face · Top one

Match the coloured tiles in the recognition picture. The animation shows one complete example.

R U R' U R U2 R'

Move by move · 7 moves
  1. R — R — turn the right face 90° clockwise.
  2. U — U — turn the upper face 90° clockwise.
  3. R' — R' — turn the right face 90° counterclockwise.
  4. U — U — turn the upper face 90° clockwise.
  5. R — R — turn the right face 90° clockwise.
  6. U2 — U2 — turn the upper face 180°.
  7. R' — R' — turn the right face 90° counterclockwise.

The UP face is yellow and the white bottom layer is restored. Continue with the yellow corners.

Reference video

Group 4 — Make the yellow face · None left!

Match the coloured tiles in the recognition picture. The animation shows one complete example.

R U R' U R U2 R'

Move by move · 7 moves
  1. R — R — turn the right face 90° clockwise.
  2. U — U — turn the upper face 90° clockwise.
  3. R' — R' — turn the right face 90° counterclockwise.
  4. U — U — turn the upper face 90° clockwise.
  5. R — R — turn the right face 90° clockwise.
  6. U2 — U2 — turn the upper face 180°.
  7. R' — R' — turn the right face 90° counterclockwise.

If the UP face is not all yellow yet, match it again and repeat the algorithm. You may need to do this two or three times.

Reference video

This video opens the section overview because this case has no separate demonstration.

Group 4 — Make the yellow face · I see two

Match the coloured tiles in the recognition picture. The animation shows one complete example.

R U R' U R U2 R'

Move by move · 7 moves
  1. R — R — turn the right face 90° clockwise.
  2. U — U — turn the upper face 90° clockwise.
  3. R' — R' — turn the right face 90° counterclockwise.
  4. U — U — turn the upper face 90° clockwise.
  5. R — R — turn the right face 90° clockwise.
  6. U2 — U2 — turn the upper face 180°.
  7. R' — R' — turn the right face 90° counterclockwise.

If the UP face is not all yellow yet, match it again and repeat the algorithm. You may need to do this two or three times.

Reference video

This video opens the section overview because this case has no separate demonstration.

Notice the pattern: the RIGHT face turns in opposite directions every other time, while the UP face always turns clockwise.

If the UP face is not all yellow yet, match it again and repeat the algorithm. You may need to do this two or three times.

Stage 2

Place the yellow corners

With yellow on the UP face, turn the top layer until the side colours of two corners match the bottom layer. If every side then matches, the cube is solved.

Twist the top layer until two corners match the bottom layer

Group 5 — Adjacent yellow corners

4 cases
Back faceGroup 5 — Adjacent yellow corners · CUBE ONE

CUBE ONE

The red arrow shows the two corners that will swap.

Back faceGroup 5 — Adjacent yellow corners · CUBE TWO

CUBE TWO

The red arrow shows the two corners that will swap.

Back faceGroup 5 — Adjacent yellow corners · CUBE THREE

CUBE THREE

The red arrow shows the two corners that will swap.

Back faceGroup 5 — Adjacent yellow corners · CUBE FOUR

CUBE FOUR

The red arrow shows the two corners that will swap.

Open this case

Group 5 — Adjacent yellow corners · CUBE ONE

Match the coloured tiles in the recognition picture. The animation shows one complete example.

R' F R' B2 R F' R' B2 R2 U'

Move by move · 10 moves
  1. R' — R' — turn the right face 90° counterclockwise.
  2. F — F — turn the front face 90° clockwise.
  3. R' — R' — turn the right face 90° counterclockwise.
  4. B2 — B2 — turn the back face 180°.
  5. R — R — turn the right face 90° clockwise.
  6. F' — F' — turn the front face 90° counterclockwise.
  7. R' — R' — turn the right face 90° counterclockwise.
  8. B2 — B2 — turn the back face 180°.
  9. R2 — R2 — turn the right face 180°.
  10. U' — U' — turn the upper face 90° counterclockwise.

All six faces are uniform. The cube is solved.

Reference video

Group 5 — Adjacent yellow corners · CUBE TWO

Match the coloured tiles in the recognition picture. The animation shows one complete example.

R' F R' B2 R F' R' B2 R2 U'

Move by move · 10 moves
  1. R' — R' — turn the right face 90° counterclockwise.
  2. F — F — turn the front face 90° clockwise.
  3. R' — R' — turn the right face 90° counterclockwise.
  4. B2 — B2 — turn the back face 180°.
  5. R — R — turn the right face 90° clockwise.
  6. F' — F' — turn the front face 90° counterclockwise.
  7. R' — R' — turn the right face 90° counterclockwise.
  8. B2 — B2 — turn the back face 180°.
  9. R2 — R2 — turn the right face 180°.
  10. U' — U' — turn the upper face 90° counterclockwise.

All six faces are uniform. The cube is solved.

Reference video

This video opens the section overview because this case has no separate demonstration.

Group 5 — Adjacent yellow corners · CUBE THREE

Match the coloured tiles in the recognition picture. The animation shows one complete example.

R' F R' B2 R F' R' B2 R2 U'

Move by move · 10 moves
  1. R' — R' — turn the right face 90° counterclockwise.
  2. F — F — turn the front face 90° clockwise.
  3. R' — R' — turn the right face 90° counterclockwise.
  4. B2 — B2 — turn the back face 180°.
  5. R — R — turn the right face 90° clockwise.
  6. F' — F' — turn the front face 90° counterclockwise.
  7. R' — R' — turn the right face 90° counterclockwise.
  8. B2 — B2 — turn the back face 180°.
  9. R2 — R2 — turn the right face 180°.
  10. U' — U' — turn the upper face 90° counterclockwise.

All six faces are uniform. The cube is solved.

Reference video

This video opens the section overview because this case has no separate demonstration.

Group 5 — Adjacent yellow corners · CUBE FOUR

Match the coloured tiles in the recognition picture. The animation shows one complete example.

R' F R' B2 R F' R' B2 R2 U'

Move by move · 10 moves
  1. R' — R' — turn the right face 90° counterclockwise.
  2. F — F — turn the front face 90° clockwise.
  3. R' — R' — turn the right face 90° counterclockwise.
  4. B2 — B2 — turn the back face 180°.
  5. R — R — turn the right face 90° clockwise.
  6. F' — F' — turn the front face 90° counterclockwise.
  7. R' — R' — turn the right face 90° counterclockwise.
  8. B2 — B2 — turn the back face 180°.
  9. R2 — R2 — turn the right face 180°.
  10. U' — U' — turn the upper face 90° counterclockwise.

All six faces are uniform. The cube is solved.

Reference video

This video opens the section overview because this case has no separate demonstration.

Group 6 — Diagonal yellow corners

2 cases
Back faceGroup 6 — Diagonal yellow corners · CUBE FIVE

CUBE FIVE

The red arrow shows the two corners that will swap.

Back faceGroup 6 — Diagonal yellow corners · CUBE SIX

CUBE SIX

The red arrow shows the two corners that will swap.

Open this case

Group 6 — Diagonal yellow corners · CUBE FIVE

Match the coloured tiles in the recognition picture. The animation shows one complete example.

R' F R' B2 R F' R' B2 R2 U'

Move by move · 10 moves
  1. R' — R' — turn the right face 90° counterclockwise.
  2. F — F — turn the front face 90° clockwise.
  3. R' — R' — turn the right face 90° counterclockwise.
  4. B2 — B2 — turn the back face 180°.
  5. R — R — turn the right face 90° clockwise.
  6. F' — F' — turn the front face 90° counterclockwise.
  7. R' — R' — turn the right face 90° counterclockwise.
  8. B2 — B2 — turn the back face 180°.
  9. R2 — R2 — turn the right face 180°.
  10. U' — U' — turn the upper face 90° counterclockwise.

If the cube is not solved yet, match it again and repeat. The same algorithm works every time.

Reference video

This video opens the section overview because this case has no separate demonstration.

Group 6 — Diagonal yellow corners · CUBE SIX

Match the coloured tiles in the recognition picture. The animation shows one complete example.

R' F R' B2 R F' R' B2 R2 U'

Move by move · 10 moves
  1. R' — R' — turn the right face 90° counterclockwise.
  2. F — F — turn the front face 90° clockwise.
  3. R' — R' — turn the right face 90° counterclockwise.
  4. B2 — B2 — turn the back face 180°.
  5. R — R — turn the right face 90° clockwise.
  6. F' — F' — turn the front face 90° counterclockwise.
  7. R' — R' — turn the right face 90° counterclockwise.
  8. B2 — B2 — turn the back face 180°.
  9. R2 — R2 — turn the right face 180°.
  10. U' — U' — turn the upper face 90° counterclockwise.

If the cube is not solved yet, match it again and repeat. The same algorithm works every time.

Reference video

This video opens the section overview because this case has no separate demonstration.

If the cube is not solved yet, match it again and repeat. The same algorithm works every time.