Single Cell
Click or tap a cell to select it. Selecting a blank area clears the selection.
Puzzle App
Pahzzles Guide
How to select cells, enter answers, use Sudoku marks and colors, and play faster from a keyboard.
Play Basics
- Choose a puzzle from the puzzle list. Sign in when prompted so progress and solves can be saved.
- Select a cell with a click or tap. Drag across cells to select more than one cell.
- Choose DIGIT, CORNER, CENTER, COLOR, or a puzzle-specific item tab, then use the buttons for the selected cells.
- Use corner marks, center marks, colors, and puzzle item marks to track candidates before placing final answers.
- Fill the grid without repeating a digit in any row, column, or box. Conflicting digits are shown in red.
Selecting Cells
Multiple Cells
Drag across the board to add cells to the selection. Digits, marks, and colors apply to all selected cells that can use them.
Range Select
On a computer, hold Shift while selecting another cell to select a rectangular range from the anchor cell.
Toggle Cells
On a computer, hold Ctrl or Command while selecting cells to add or remove them from the selection.
Marks And Colors
Digit Mode
DIGIT mode places final answers. Entering the same final digit again clears it. Entering a final digit also removes any center or corner marks in those editable cells.
Corner Marks
CORNER mode toggles small candidate digits around the corners of each selected blank editable cell.
Center Marks
CENTER mode toggles candidate digits in the middle of each selected blank editable cell.
Cell Colors
COLOR mode changes the number pad into color swatches. Pick a swatch to color selected cells, or pick the slashed white swatch to remove color.
Puzzle Items
Some puzzles add an item tab. Item marks are saved with the grid and can be part of the checked final answer.
Puzzle Buttons
| Button | What It Does |
|---|---|
| 1-9 | In DIGIT mode, places that digit in each selected editable cell, or clears matching existing digits. In CORNER or CENTER mode, toggles that digit as a mark. In COLOR mode, applies the matching color swatch. |
| DIGIT | Selects final-answer entry mode. |
| CORNER | Selects corner-mark mode for small candidates around the cell corners. |
| CENTER | Selects center-mark mode for candidates in the middle of blank cells. |
| COLOR | Selects coloring mode and changes the number pad into color swatches. |
| ITEMS | Appears on puzzles with item placement. Selects item placement mode and changes the pad into the puzzle-specific item button. |
| Color swatches | Apply the chosen color to every selected cell. The slashed white swatch removes color. |
| HOME | Saves progress and returns to the puzzle list. |
| BACK | Appears during contest play. Saves progress and returns to the contest page. |
| UNDO | Reverts the last grid change. |
| REDO | Reapplies the last change that was undone. |
| RULES | Opens the rules for the current puzzle. |
| CLOSE | Closes the puzzle rules overlay. |
| CLR | Clears digits and marks from selected editable cells. In COLOR mode, removes color from selected cells. |
| RESET | After confirmation, clears the puzzle back to givens and resets the timer and move history. |
| PAUSE | Pauses the timer, hides the board, and disables puzzle input. |
| PLAY | Resumes a paused puzzle. |
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| 1-9 | Enter that digit, toggle that mark, or apply that color, depending on the active mode. In DIGIT mode, matching existing digits are cleared. |
| Shift+1-9 | Toggle that digit as a CORNER mark. CORNER mode highlights while Shift is held. |
| Ctrl+1-9 | Toggle that digit as a CENTER mark. CENTER mode highlights while Ctrl is held. |
| 0 | Clear selected editable cells, or remove selected colors in COLOR mode. |
| Backspace | Clear selected editable cells, or remove selected colors in COLOR mode. |
| Delete | Clear selected editable cells, or remove selected colors in COLOR mode. |
| Z | Select DIGIT mode. |
| X | Select CORNER mode. |
| C | Select CENTER mode. |
| V | Select COLOR mode. |
| Arrow keys | Move the selected cell around the grid. |
| P | Pause or resume the puzzle. |
| Ctrl+Z | Undo the last grid change. |
| Command+Z | Undo the last grid change on macOS. |
| Ctrl+Y | Redo the last undone change. |
| Ctrl+Shift+Z | Redo the last undone change. |
| Command+Shift+Z | Redo the last undone change on macOS. |
| Escape | Close the rules overlay or login dialog when one is open. |
Progress And Solves
Progress saves to your account while you play. When the grid is complete and accepted by the server, the timer stops and the solve is recorded. During contests, a solve only counts for contest results if it is completed before the contest ends.