How to Play Minesweeper
Minesweeper is a logic puzzle on a grid. Some squares hide mines. Your job is to open every square that doesn't, and the numbers you uncover tell you where the mines must be.
Want to learn by doing? Start a Beginner game and keep this page open next to it.
The goal
Open every safe square. You win the moment the last one opens, whether or not you've flagged the mines. You lose if you open a mine.
Your first click
The mines aren't placed until you click. The square you choose and the eight around it are always kept clear, so your first click never loses and always opens a patch of board to work from. Clicking near the middle tends to open more than clicking in a corner.
What the numbers mean
Every open square shows how many of its eight neighbours are mines: the squares above, below, to each side and on the four diagonals. A square on the edge of the board has fewer neighbours, but the rule is the same.
A blank square means none of its neighbours are mines. The game opens them automatically, and if any of those are blank too, it keeps going. That's why a single click can clear half the board.
Your first deductions
Almost all of Minesweeper comes down to two questions you ask about each number.
Does it have exactly enough covered squares?
If a 2 touches exactly two covered squares, both must be mines. Flag them.
Does it already have all its mines?
If a 1 already has a flag next to it, every other covered square around it is safe. Open them.
Work along the edge of your opening asking those two questions, and you'll get a long way on most boards.
Flags
Flags mark squares you've worked out are mines. On a computer, right-click to flag and right-click again to remove it. On a phone or tablet, press and hold, or turn on Flag mode so every tap places a flag. The counter on the left shows the number of mines minus the flags you've placed.
You can switch on question marks in Settings. Right-clicking a flag then turns it into a ? for squares you're unsure about.
Chording
Once a number has the right number of flags around it, click the number itself. All its other covered neighbours open at once. Players call this chording, and it's the biggest time saver in the game. Be sure of your flags first: if one is wrong, chording opens a mine.
When logic runs out
On the classic levels, some boards reach a spot where nothing on screen can tell you which square is safe. You have to guess. Clear everything else first, since new numbers sometimes remove the need. If you'd rather never guess, play No guess mode.
Keyboard shortcuts
| Key | What it does |
|---|---|
| Space | Over a covered square, flags it. Over a number, opens around it. |
| N or F2 | New game |
| H | Hint |
| Arrow keys, Enter, F | Move around the board, open a square, place a flag (click the board or tab to it first) |
Questions people ask
What does a blank square mean?
None of the eight squares around it is a mine. The game opens all of them for you, which is why one click can clear a large area.
What is the highest number in Minesweeper?
Eight, when a square is completely surrounded by mines. It is very rare. Anything above 4 is uncommon outside the Master board.
What happens if I click a mine?
The game ends. All the mines are shown, and any flag you placed on a safe square is marked with a cross.