You know the parts of a 4×4 and can read the notation for 3×3 face turns.
Keep the same face at the front. Judge the direction of each turn by looking straight at the face named in the move.
1. Outer turns move only the outer layer
R, U, and F mean the same thing as on a 3×3: turn only the outer layer. Apostrophes reverse quarter-turns; a final 2 makes a half-turn. These are the moves you will use after reduction.
2. Wide turns move neighbouring layers together
Rw turns the outer right layer and the neighbouring inner layer together. Uw turns the top two layers together. Lw turns the left two layers together. The w stands for wide.
There is no need to turn three layers in the 4×4 algorithms taught here.
3. Inner turns exclude the outer face
2R means only the second layer counted from the right. It does not include the outer right face. 2R2 turns that single inner slice 180°.
| Move | Layers | Turn angle and direction |
|---|---|---|
R2 |
Outer right layer only | 180° |
Rw |
Two rightmost layers together | 90° clockwise |
Rw' |
Two rightmost layers together | 90° anticlockwise |
2R2 |
Second layer from the right only | 180° |
The number at the start tells you which layer to turn or how many layers to turn together. A 2 at the end tells you to make a half-turn. Check both ends of the move notation before you turn.
4. Whole-cube rotations change your grip
x rotates the entire cube in the direction of R: the old front becomes the new top. y rotates the entire cube like U. These rotations keep pieces together but change which face the following letters refer to.
The parity animation shows the whole cube rotating for x. Use the new front and top afterwards. In the drill below, each move is followed by its inverse so you can check which layers to turn and still return to the starting position.
Watch, then try
Work through an example
Start by stepping through the example one move at a time. This example demonstrates a specific action. Use the lesson’s setup instructions to recognise when that action applies to your own scramble.
Watch one worked example
Each turn is followed by its inverse. Watch which interior stickers move for Rw and 2R; the two moves do not turn the same layers.
Example grip: yellow up · blue front · red right at the start. Follow any written whole-cube rotations.
0 / 6
Loading 3D cube…
Prepared position · 0 / 6 moves
Use Next move to follow the sequence.
Drag to inspect other faces. When the cube has focus, use the arrow keys to rotate the view.
Copy this exact example on your own cube
Start with a solved 4×4, with yellow on top and blue at the front. Apply the setup moves below from left to right. This gives you the starting position for the example. Keep this separate from the scramble you’re solving throughout the course.
R U R' F2 D L2 B U2 Rw U FwThen follow the lesson sequence. If your cube has a different colour scheme, use your own colours to identify the corresponding pieces.
Compare the starting position and the result
Drag each cube to inspect its other faces.
Explain it to yourself
Check your understanding
Now use your own cube
Your turn
Perform each move followed by its inverse. Count the layers with a finger before turning: R, Rw, 2R.
Open a 4×4 Digital Cube for practiceThe Digital Cube opens in a new tab so you can keep this lesson open while you practise. Check for yourself whether you’ve met the lesson goal, as the Digital Cube doesn’t assess your result.
If you get stuck
My centre blocks break up during a parity algorithm.
Check which layers to turn first. R, Rw and 2R are different. For x, rotate the whole cube and use the new face directions afterwards.
Before moving on
Check your result
Preparation · no solving yet
Return to the same scramble
Each practice move is undone while you learn outer, inner, and wide turns. The cube stays scrambled; begin solving the centres in the next lesson.
Confirm these on your cube. Watching the animation alone does not complete the lesson.
Tick each item when you can do it yourself.