Step 2: How to Solve the White Corners

Put the four white corners in, so the whole bottom layer is finished. You will end up with a white face on the bottom and a neat row of matching colours all the way round it.

Goal of step 2, white corners (cube shown turned over so the white side is on top) — The goal of step 2: The whole white layer finished, with the side colours matching their centres. (Shown turned over so you can see the white side.)

The one algorithm you need

This step uses just R U R' U': right face clockwise, top clockwise, right anticlockwise, top anticlockwise. You will use it again and again, so it is worth learning to do it smoothly.

R: turn the right face clockwise (the front of the right side moves up).

How to put in each corner

Keep white on the bottom. Look in the top layer for a corner with white on it.
Work out where it goes. Its other two colours tell you. A white-red-green corner belongs between the red and green centres.
Line it up. Turn the top (U) until the corner is right above that spot.
Turn the whole cube so that spot is at the front-right, nearest you.
Repeat R U R' U' until the corner drops in with white facing down. It takes 1, 3 or 5 goes depending on which way the white sticker faces.

R U R' U' R U R' U' R U R' U'

This corner needs three goes of R U R’ U’.

When a white corner is stuck in the bottom

Sometimes a white corner is already in the bottom layer, but in the wrong place or twisted. Hold the cube so it is at the front-right of the bottom and do R U R' U' once. That lifts it into the top layer. Now treat it like any other corner.

Common mistakes

Losing count. It doesn’t matter. Just keep repeating until the corner is right. Six goes always brings everything back, so you can’t get lost for ever.
Corner above the wrong spot. Check both side colours, not just one.
Turning the bottom by mistake. Only R and U move in this step.

Practise step 2 in the trainer

Tip: Count your R U R' U' goes out loud. If you lose track, just keep going: the corner always comes out right within six goes.

Questions people ask

Why does the corner sometimes need 5 goes?

R U R’ U’ twists the corner a little each time it goes round. Depending on which way the white sticker faces, it takes 1, 3 or 5 goes to drop in the right way.

Can I use a different algorithm?

Yes, many guides use R’ D’ R D with the white side on top. They do the same job.