How to Play Minesweeper

THE PLAYBOOK · XYKLJ

How to play Minesweeper

Start Minesweeper by looking at the playing area and its controls. Open all 71 safe cells. Opening a mine ends the round. Flags help you mark suspected mines but do not replace opening safe cells. Choose a clear next step rather than rushing through the instructions. Keep the instructions close while learning this activity. Keep the game area visible while you use its controls.

Focus on one rule

Choose one rule to keep in mind for this round. Apply it consistently rather than guessing what another version might allow. Refer to the controls when needed.

Your goal

Open all 71 safe cells. Opening a mine ends the round. Flags help you mark suspected mines but do not replace opening safe cells. Read that aim before choosing your first action. Take a moment to understand the current position.

Step by step

1. Open a covered square to reveal it.
2. A number counts mines in the surrounding eight positions.
3. Right-click to flag on a computer, or enable Flag mode on a phone.
4. Use safe deductions to open the remaining cells.

Controls

Click/tap to open. Right-click to flag, or use the Flag mode toggle for touch devices. A careful first action helps you become familiar with the layout. Check any mode label before starting.

A useful example

A revealed 1 with only one covered neighbour means that neighbour contains a mine. Focus on why the action is allowed, not only its outcome. Choose a deliberate next step.

Watch out for this

A flag is your own note, not a confirmation from the game. Remove a mistaken flag before opening that square. Read the feedback to see why an action did not have the expected result. When a decision goes wrong, compare it with the common mistake described below. Start again only when you intend to leave the current round.

Common questions