How to solve a Rubik’s cube 4×4 for beginners (reduction)

The 4×4 (Rubik’s Revenge) has no fixed centers and each edge is split into two pieces. The most popular approach is reduction: turn the 4×4 into a big 3×3 and then solve it normally.

Step 1: Pair the 6 centers

Each face has 4 center pieces. Build the white center first, then yellow on the opposite face. The remaining four must follow the correct order around the cube: green, orange, blue, red. Use inner-layer turns (r, u…) to slot pieces in.

Step 2: Pair the 12 edges

Find two matching edge pieces, place them on either side of the middle layer and use a pairing algorithm to join them without breaking finished pairs. Repeat for all 12.

Step 3: Solve like a 3×3

Now treat each 2×2 center block as a center and each edge pair as an edge. Solve with the normal 7 steps, turning only the outer layers.

Step 4: Parity

The 4×4 has two special cases that never happen on a 3×3: a flipped last-layer edge (OLL parity) or two edges that need swapping (PLL parity). Each has its own algorithm. In the app you can watch these play out live.