On this page you can find a detailed description on how to solve the last layer corners of the Rubik’s Cube. In the final phase of the solution with the beginner’s method we will orient the yellow corner pieces.The cube is solvedOrient the corner pieces

When you reach this final step all the pieces are on the right spot, you just have to orient the last layer corners which are now on the top of the puzzle.

Hold the cube in your hand so the upper piece you want to orient is on the front-right-top corner, then do this algorithm twice or four times until that specific piece is oriented correctly:

In the meantime it might seem like you messed up the whole cube but don’t worry, it will be all right when all the corner pieces are oriented.

When a yellow corner is oriented correctly, turn the top layer only to move another yellow corner piece you want to orient to the front-right-top corner of the cube and repeat R’ D’ R D again until this specific piece is OK.

Keep doing this until your Cube is solved.

Important!

Many people mess up their cube in this final step because they skip the last D turn as soon as they see the yellow sticker facing up at the top. Make sure you complete the whole R’ D’ R D algorithm.

Don’t rotate the whole cube while doing the steps! Face rotations only and follow the steps carefully.

Example 1.

Two wrong pieces next to each other: do R’ D’ R D twice for one corner and four times for the other.

soluTION: (R’ D’ R D)x2 U’ (R’ D’ R D)x4  U 

1. R’ D’ R D (repeat the process 2 times):

2. U’:

3. R’ D’ R D (repeat the 1. STEP 4 times):

4. U:

When they’re next to each other but the yellow stickers are facing like this the order changes:

solution: (R’ D’ R D)x4 U’ (R’ D’ R D)x2  U 

If you need help check above what shifts you need for this solution…

Example 2.

For three corners: The algorithm has to be applied twice for each corner.

solution: (R’ D’ R D)x2  U  (R’ D’ R D)x2 U2 (R’ D’ R D)x2 U

1. R’ D’ R D  (repeat the process 2 times) :

2. U :

3. R’ D’ R D  (repeat the 1. STEP 2 times) :

4. U2:

R’ D’ R D  (repeat the1. step 2 times) :

U :

Example 3.

Two corners on opposite sides.

solution: U (R’ D’ R D)x2 U2 (R’ D’ R D)x4 U

1. U:

2. R’ D’ R D (repeat the process 2 times) :

3. U2:

4. R’ D’ R D (repeat the 2. step 4 times) :

1. U:

Example 4.

It requires a total of 12 iterations when all yellow corners are twisted.

SOLUTION: (R’ D’ R D)x4 U (R’ D’ R D)x4 U (R’ D’ R D)x2 U (R’ D’ R D)x2 U

SOLUTION: (R’ D’ R D)x2 U (R’ D’ R D)x2 U (R’ D’ R D)x4 U (R’ D’ R D)x4 U

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Watch the video below where Will Smith demonstrates the R’ D’ R D method. He’s using a slightly different down, away, up, back notation though, but that’s doing the same thing.