Beginner step 4

How to Make the Yellow Cross on a Rubik's Cube

The yellow cross orients the four yellow edge pieces on the top face. You are not solving yellow corners yet, and the side positions of the yellow edges can wait.

Last reviewed: May 31, 2026 by the Cubzor Editorial Team.

Start by matching your cube

What does your cube look like?

Look only at the four yellow edge stickers on top. Ignore the yellow corners while choosing the case.

Dot

Do the algorithm once and recheck.

Dot case

If you see: Only the yellow center is facing up. No yellow edge stickers are on top.
Hold it: Any front side is okay. Keep yellow on top.
Do this: Do F R U R' U' F' once, then inspect the new top pattern.
Result: The dot turns into an L-shape or line, so you can continue from that case.

L-shape

Hold the L in the back-left.

L-shape case

If you see: Two yellow edge stickers form a small corner shape.
Hold it: Turn the top so the L sits in the back-left of the top face.
Do this: Do F R U R' U' F'.
Result: The L-shape becomes a line or the full yellow cross.

Line

Hold the line horizontally.

Line case

If you see: Two yellow edge stickers form a straight line across the top.
Hold it: Turn the top so the line is horizontal from left to right.
Do this: Do F R U R' U' F'.
Result: The line becomes the yellow cross.

Cross

Edges are oriented. Corners are next.

Cross already exists

If you see: The four yellow edge stickers already make a plus shape.
Hold it: Stop changing edge orientation.
Do this: Move to yellow corners. Do not wait for the whole yellow face here.
Result: You avoid breaking progress by overusing the yellow-cross algorithm.

Practice this stepTry the same turns on the virtual cube.Scan my cubeUse the solver if your cube does not match the pictures.Full beginner guideGo back to the complete 7-step method.

Your goal

Turn the yellow edge stickers upward.
Recognize whether you have a dot, L-shape, line, or cross case.
Keep the first two layers solved while making the top cross.

You are done when...

The yellow face has a plus shape through the center.
Yellow corners may still point sideways or down.
The first two layers are still solved.
The yellow edge side colors do not need to be permuted yet.

Dot, L-shape, line, then cross

Hold the case correctly before using the algorithm. Repeat until the top face has the yellow cross.

Dot

Only the yellow center faces up.

L-shape

Hold the L in the back-left corner.

Line

Hold the line horizontally.

Cross

Stop here; corners are next.

Ignore yellow corner stickers while checking this step.
Use the same algorithm from the correct case orientation.
After the cross appears, stop and move to yellow corners.

Interactive demo

Yellow cross algorithm

Use F R U R' U' F' to change dot, L-shape, or line cases toward a cross.

Loading interactive cube...

Try this on the 3D cube

Algorithm / move box

New to the letters? Review notation basics before following the move box.

Beginner yellow cross

F R U R' U' F'

Hold a line horizontally before starting.
Hold an L-shape in the back-left before starting.
For the dot case, use the algorithm once, inspect, then continue from the new case.

Common mistakes

Checking only the face color

How to spot it: The face looks right, but side colors do not match the centers.

Fix: Use centers as the map and solve the piece again in the correct slot.

Repeating an algorithm too long

How to spot it: A piece becomes correct, then gets moved out again.

Fix: Pause after each repeat and inspect before continuing.

Breaking solved pieces

How to spot it: A solved layer changes while you focus on the current case.

Fix: Reset the hold position and use only the turns listed for that case.

Practice this stepTry the same turns on the virtual cube.Scan my cubeUse the solver if your cube does not match the pictures.Full beginner guideGo back to the complete 7-step method.

Fix a specific beginner step

Open the focused guide for the exact step that looks wrong on your cube.

White CrossMatch the four white edge pieces with the white center and side centers.White CornersFinish the first layer corners without breaking the white cross.Second LayerPlace the four middle-layer edges before starting the yellow face.Yellow CrossMake the yellow edge cross while keeping the first two layers solved.Yellow CornersOrient and position the last-layer corners without mixing up the two jobs.

How to Make the Yellow Cross on a Rubik's Cube

The yellow cross orients the four yellow edge pieces on the top face. You are not solving yellow corners yet, and the side positions of the yellow edges can wait.

Last reviewed: May 31, 2026 by the Cubzor Editorial Team.

Start by matching your cube

What does your cube look like?

Look only at the four yellow edge stickers on top. Ignore the yellow corners while choosing the case.

Dot

Do the algorithm once and recheck.

Dot case

If you see: Only the yellow center is facing up. No yellow edge stickers are on top.
Hold it: Any front side is okay. Keep yellow on top.
Do this: Do F R U R' U' F' once, then inspect the new top pattern.
Result: The dot turns into an L-shape or line, so you can continue from that case.

L-shape

Hold the L in the back-left.

L-shape case

If you see: Two yellow edge stickers form a small corner shape.
Hold it: Turn the top so the L sits in the back-left of the top face.
Do this: Do F R U R' U' F'.
Result: The L-shape becomes a line or the full yellow cross.

Line

Hold the line horizontally.

Line case

If you see: Two yellow edge stickers form a straight line across the top.
Hold it: Turn the top so the line is horizontal from left to right.
Do this: Do F R U R' U' F'.
Result: The line becomes the yellow cross.

Cross

Edges are oriented. Corners are next.

Cross already exists

If you see: The four yellow edge stickers already make a plus shape.
Hold it: Stop changing edge orientation.
Do this: Move to yellow corners. Do not wait for the whole yellow face here.
Result: You avoid breaking progress by overusing the yellow-cross algorithm.

Your goal

Turn the yellow edge stickers upward.
Recognize whether you have a dot, L-shape, line, or cross case.
Keep the first two layers solved while making the top cross.

You are done when...

The yellow face has a plus shape through the center.
Yellow corners may still point sideways or down.
The first two layers are still solved.
The yellow edge side colors do not need to be permuted yet.

Dot, L-shape, line, then cross

Hold the case correctly before using the algorithm. Repeat until the top face has the yellow cross.

Dot

Only the yellow center faces up.

L-shape

Hold the L in the back-left corner.

Line

Hold the line horizontally.

Cross

Stop here; corners are next.

Ignore yellow corner stickers while checking this step.
Use the same algorithm from the correct case orientation.
After the cross appears, stop and move to yellow corners.