Six solved center blocks and twelve fully matched edge groups.
White center down, yellow up. Treat every center block and edge group as one large piece.
1. Read the cube as a 3×3
A whole center block acts like one center. A complete two-piece edge group acts like one edge. The actual corner pieces already behave like 3×3 corners.
From now on, use only outer R, U, F, L, D, and B turns for the ordinary solving steps. R means the outer face only; replacing it with Rw splits the reduction.
2. Follow the same checkpoints
| Order | Target | Instructions |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | White edge groups aligned with centers | Daisy, then white cross |
| 2 | White corners and side row match | First layer |
| 3 | Middle edge groups match their centers | Middle edges |
| 4 | Four yellow edge groups face up | Yellow cross |
| 5 | Top corners face yellow up | Yellow corners |
| 6 | Top corners match the side centers | Corner positions |
| 7 | Remaining edges complete every side | Final edges |
Keep your physical 4×4 in its current state when opening a linked explanation. Its pictures show smaller pieces, but the outer-turn relationships are the same. Skip a stage if its checkpoint is already satisfied.
3. Recognize when to leave the ordinary path
If exactly one or three yellow edge groups face up after the first two layers are solved, use the next lesson on OLL parity, then return to the yellow-cross check. If all corners are placed but exactly two complete edge groups need exchanging, use the PLL parity lesson, then resume final-layer positioning. These cases are possible even when your earlier work was correct.
4. Keep your grouped pieces intact
After an algorithm, every center must still be a solid block and each edge still a complete group. A single outer turn cannot split a matched group. If the grouping has broken, check whether an inner or wide move slipped into your 3×3 sequence.
The player below reviews the final three-edge cycle. Watch each grouped edge move as one unit. It is one stage of the reduced solve, not a sequence to apply to every reduced scramble.
Need a reminder of the move notation?
R right · L left · U top · D bottom · F front · B back. A plain letter is 90° clockwise looking directly at that face. An apostrophe (′) reverses it; 2 means 180°. Keep the front fixed during an algorithm.
Rw turns the rightmost two layers together. 2R turns only the second layer from the right. 3Rw turns three layers. x rotates the whole cube like R, so the old front becomes the new top.
Watch, then try
Work through an example
Use one move at a time first. This prepared case teaches a specific action; use the lesson’s setup instructions to recognize when it applies to your own scramble.
Watch one worked example
The outer-turn edge cycle works on all 4×4 layers as grouped pieces. The back group and all corners stay fixed while the other three top groups cycle.
Example grip: yellow up · blue front · red right at the start. Follow any written whole-cube rotations.
0 / 11
Loading 3D cube…
Prepared position · 0 / 11 moves
Use Next move to follow the sequence.
Drag to inspect other faces. Arrow keys rotate the view when the cube is focused.
Copy this exact example on your own cube
Start with a solved 4×4, yellow up and blue front. Apply the setup below from left to right. This creates the example’s starting position. Keep this separate from the ongoing scramble you are solving through the course.
R2 U R U R' U' R' U' R' U R'Then follow the lesson sequence. If your cube’s color scheme differs, match the piece relationships using your own colors.
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
Follow the linked 3×3 stages in order using only outer turns. Check that centers and paired edges remain intact after each complete algorithm.
Open a 4×4 Digital Cube for practiceOpens in a new tab so you can keep this lesson beside your practice. Check the lesson goal yourself; the Digital Cube does not grade it.
If you get stuck
A paired edge breaks during a 3×3 algorithm.
Check that every ordinary face turn moved only the outer layer. Undo an accidental wide or inner turn if known; otherwise repair reduction before continuing.
Before moving on
Check your result
Your cube at this stage
All six faces solved
Every face is one color. Check the back and bottom as well as the faces you can see here.
Confirm these on your cube. Watching the animation alone does not complete the lesson.
Check every item when you can do it yourself.