How to Solve a 4×4

The 4×4, also known as the Rubik’s Revenge, is a bigger and trickier version of the 3×3. Unlike the standard cube, the 4×4 has no fixed centers, and it comes with a new challenge: parity errors—situations that can’t happen on a 3×3.

But don’t worry—once you understand the method, solving a 4×4 becomes a matter of patience and practice!

Prefer to watch a video tutorial? We really like this one by Z3Cubing

Step 1: Know the Notation

On a 3×3 you use R (Right), L (Left), U (Up), D (Down), F (Front), B (Back).
On a 4×4, we add wide turns (two layers at once):

• Rw = Right two layers clockwise

• Lw = Left two layers clockwise

• Uw, Dw, Fw, Bw = Same idea

This helps when solving centers and pairing edges.

Step 2: Solve the Centers

On the 4×4, centers move! You need to build a 2×2 block of center pieces for each face.

1. Pick one color to start (usually white).

2. Make a 2×2 block of white center pieces.

3. Flip the cube and make the opposite center (yellow).

4. Then solve the other four centers (red, orange, blue, green).

   • Tip: Always keep the solved centers aligned to avoid color mistakes.

Once centers are done, your cube will look less scary.

Step 3: Pair the Edges

Each edge on a 4×4 is made of two smaller edge pieces. We need to pair them up before solving like a 3×3.

Method (Edge Pairing):

1. Line up two matching edge pieces in the same row.

2. Use a move like:
   (Rw U Rw’)
   to pair them without breaking centers.

3. Repeat until all 12 edge pairs are complete.

Now your cube functions just like a 3×3!

Step 4: Solve Like a 3×3

With centers done and edges paired, solve the cube using the standard 3×3 method (CFOP, beginners method, etc.—whatever you know).

But wait! On a 4×4, you can run into special cases…

Step 5: Handle Parity Errors

This is what makes the 4×4 unique. There are two main parities:

1. Edge Parity (OLL Parity)

You might get one flipped edge pair that doesn’t exist on a 3×3.
Fix it with this algorithm:

(Rw U2) (Rw U2) (Rw’ Fw) (Rw U2) (Rw’ U2) (Rw’ Fw Rw’ Fw)

2. PLL Parity

You might end up with two swapped edges at the end.
Fix it with this algorithm:

(Uw2) (Rw2 Uw2) (Rw2 Uw2 Rw2 Uw2 Rw2 Uw2)

After fixing parity, you can finish solving normally!

Final Tips

• Be patient with edge pairing—it’s the trickiest step for beginners.

• Always check your center color orientation before finishing edges.

• Learn parity algorithms slowly, and practice them until they feel natural.

Conclusion

Solving the 4×4 is just like solving the 3×3—with a few extra steps for centers, edges, and parities. Once you master it, you’ll see that the challenge is more about organization and focus than brute memorization.

Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be able to solve the 4×4 smoothly every time!