Every step, in pictures
Each picture below was made by actually doing the moves on a simulated cube, so it matches its algorithm exactly. Tap any of them to watch it move, one turn at a time, in the player.
Your cube may have different colors on the sides. That's fine: only the arrangement matters. If your front center is blue, just read "red" as "blue" everywhere.
Pick a method to practice
CFOP
Cross, then the first two layers in pairs (F2L), then orient (OLL) and permute (PLL) the last layer.
Notation
Every letter is one turn. The arrow shows which way the stickers move. The brighter layer is the one that turns.
A plain letter means clockwise, as if you were looking straight at that face. Add ' for counterclockwise, or 2 for a half turn. Switch here to see each version:
Cross
Make a white plus sign on the bottom, with each edge's side color matching the center above it.
- Hold the cube with white on the bottom (some people build it on top, then flip; either works).
- Find one white edge. Turn U until its other color sits over the matching center.
- Use one of the cases below to bring it down. Then do the next edge, without breaking the ones you've placed.
Every case below brings the white-red edge down to the front. For other edges, turn the whole cube (y or y') so that edge's center faces you, then do the same thing.
F2L: first two layers
Pair a white corner with its edge on top, then put them into the slot together. Every case fills the front-right slot.
The big picture shows the cube from the front-right. The small one is the top layer seen from above, with the front at the bottom, so you can see pieces hiding at the back.
The four finishing moves
Most other cases are a few setup moves that bring the pair into one of these positions, then a short insert. When an algorithm ends with an insert like these, it's shown in blue.
OLL: make the top yellow
Get every yellow sticker facing up. Pictures show the top from above; the strips around the edge are side stickers.
Start here: 2-look OLL (10 algorithms)
First make a yellow cross with one of three algorithms, then turn the corners with one of seven.
Then the corners
All 57 OLL cases
Learn these later, to do the whole step in one go.
PLL: move the top pieces home
The top is yellow. Now the pieces swap places. Arrows show where each piece goes.
Start here: 2-look PLL (6 algorithms)
First fix the corners. Look for "headlights": two corners on one side with the same color. If you see them, hold them on the left and do the T perm. If there are none, do the Y perm.