Questions & Answers
Mini Sudoku FAQ
Common questions, answered: the rules, how each button on the board works, the daily streak, and what this site saves.
The Rules
What is Mini Sudoku, and how is it different from classic Sudoku?
Mini Sudoku is Sudoku on a smaller grid. The standard mini is 6×6: fill every row, every column and each of the six 2×3 boxes with the digits 1 to 6, once each. Classic Sudoku is 9×9 with 3×3 boxes and the digits 1 to 9. The logic is identical, so every technique carries over, but a 6×6 has 36 cells instead of 81 and usually takes minutes rather than a long sitting. This site also has 8×8 boards (2×4 boxes) and 10×10 boards (2×5 boxes).
Does every puzzle have exactly one solution?
Yes. All 1,740 puzzles in the library (1,140 at 6×6 and 300 each at 8×8 and 10×10) have been checked with a solver to have a single solution, and the answer the board checks you against is that solution. You never need to guess: every digit can be reached by logic.
What do easy, medium, hard and expert mean here?
Difficulty is graded by the logic a puzzle needs, not just by how many clues it has. Easy boards fall to box scanning alone: pick a digit and find the one cell in a box where it fits. Medium and hard boards are still solved by scanning, with fewer clues (about 14 down to 10 on a 6×6), and some need you to scan a row or column as well. Expert boards are where scanning runs out, so you will need pencil marks and some elimination.
How difficulty is gradedIs Mini Sudoku good for beginners?
Yes. The 6×6 grid is much friendlier than 9×9: six digits instead of nine, fewer cells to scan and fewer candidates to track. Start with an easy 6×6, read the worked example in the how-to-play guide, and move to medium once naked singles feel automatic.
Playing on This Site
How do I enter a number?
Tap or click a cell, then tap a digit on the number pad below the board. On a keyboard you can type the digit instead, move between cells with the arrow keys and clear a cell with Backspace or Delete. On a 10×10 board, use the number pad for 10. The clue digits printed at the start cannot be changed.
How do pencil marks work?
Tap Notes to switch the number pad to pencil marks, and tap it again to go back to full digits. Placing a digit clears that cell's marks, but marks in other cells are not updated for you.
Every tool on the boardWhat happens when I make a mistake?
A digit that does not match the solution turns red as soon as you place it, and so does any digit it repeats in the same row, column or box. There is no mistake limit and no penalty on the timer. Clear the cell, type over it, or press Undo.
How do hints work?
You get three hints per puzzle. A hint points at a cell you can solve next and says why. Press Hint again, or Fill it, to place the digit. If a digit on the board is wrong, Hint points there first. Reset gives all three back.
How Hint picks a cellCan I undo a move?
Yes. Undo, or Ctrl+Z (Cmd+Z on a Mac), steps back through your own moves, up to the last 200. Hints can't be undone.
Undo and the other controlsCan I play on my phone or tablet?
Yes. The site is built for phones first: the board scales to your screen and the number pad sits right under it, so you can play with one thumb. It works the same on tablets and desktop browsers, with keyboard input on a computer.
Is there an app?
Not yet — Mini Sudoku is web-only for now. You can still keep it one tap away on your home screen: on iPhone or iPad, open the site in Safari, tap Share, then Add to Home Screen. On Android, open the browser menu and choose Add to Home screen (Chrome may call it Install app). It opens full screen, without the address bar, and needs no download.
Daily Puzzle, Streaks and Saving
How do the daily puzzle and the streak work?
There is one daily 6×6 puzzle, the same board for everyone, on the homepage and the Daily Sudoku page. Its difficulty follows the week: Monday is a medium board, each day gets a little harder, and Saturday and Sunday are hard. It is never easy, and it never needs pencil marks or guessing. Solve it and your streak goes up by one. Solve the next day's puzzle to keep it going; miss a day and it starts over. Days are counted on US Eastern time. Only the daily board counts toward the streak, not unlimited, practice or library puzzles.
Is my progress saved?
Your streak and your best times are saved in your browser, with no account. A puzzle in progress is not, so a reload starts the board over. New Puzzle also keeps a list of the boards you've had in this tab so it doesn't repeat them, and that list clears when you close the tab.
Streaks and best timesCan I play more than one puzzle a day?
As many as you like. Unlimited mode draws from all 1,140 6×6 boards, with an easy, medium, hard or expert filter, and won't repeat a board in the same session until you have played them all. The puzzle library holds 1,740 boards across 6×6, 8×8 and 10×10, sorted by size and difficulty. And there are nine free printable PDF packs, 20 puzzles each with answer keys, if you would rather solve on paper.
About the Site
Is Mini Sudoku free?
Yes. The daily puzzle, unlimited mode, the full library and the printable packs are all free, with no account, no sign-up and no email address needed. Open the page and play.
Is this the official LinkedIn Mini Sudoku?
No. PlayMiniSudoku is an independent site and is not affiliated with, authorized by, sponsored by or endorsed by LinkedIn. It uses the same 6×6 format as LinkedIn's Mini Sudoku, so it is a good place to practise, and it adds 8×8 and 10×10 boards, an unlimited mode and printable packs.
More Guides
Don't See Your Question?
Use the feedback button in the menu bar or the contact page and tell us what you were trying to do. Questions that come up more than once get added here.