How to play Minesweeper
Here’s how to play Minesweeper: open every square that isn’t hiding a mine, using the numbers to work out where the mines are. Each number tells you how many mines touch that square, and your first tap is always safe. It’s free to play online in your browser.
Choose Beginner, Intermediate or Expert, flag the squares you think are mines, and race the clock. The leaderboards rank the fastest time on each board, and phone players get a handy flag mode.
The basics
Somewhere under the squares are hidden mines. Open every square that isn’t a mine to win — as fast as you can.
The basics
- Tap a square to open it. Your first tap is always safe and opens up an area.
- A number tells you how many mines touch that square — above, below, beside or diagonally.
- An open square with no number touches no mines, so everything round it opens by itself.
- Open a mine and it’s game over.
Flags
- Long-press a square (or right-click it) to plant a flag where you think a mine is. Do it again to take the flag away.
- Or switch on Flag mode ( at the bottom): then a tap plants a flag and a long-press opens.
- The counter on the left shows mines minus flags. Flags are just for you — you win by opening the safe squares.
- Question marks can be switched on under New.
Opening round a number (chording)
- Once a number has that many flags next to it, tap the number to open all its other neighbours in one go. If a flag was wrong, you’ll set off a mine!
Boards
- Beginner 9 × 9 with 10 mines · Intermediate 16 × 16 with 40 · Expert 30 × 16 with 99.
- On a phone held upright, Expert is shown turned on its side (16 wide, 30 tall) and the board scrolls up and down. Turn your phone sideways for bigger squares.
- The clock starts with your first tap. The leaderboards rank the fastest time on each board.
- The daily challenge is an Intermediate board that’s the same for everyone, with a safe area already open.
Keyboard
- Arrows move · Enter or Space open (or open round a number) · F flag · C open round a number · M flag mode · N new game.
- With a mouse: left-click opens, right-click flags, middle-click (or left-click on a number) opens round it.
Beginner tips
- Make your first tap count. It is always safe and opens up an area, so you start with numbers to read.
- Start with the numbers that are easy to read. A 1 with only one unopened square next to it means that square is a mine, so flag it and work outwards.
- Use chording. Once a number has that many flags next to it, tap the number to open all its other neighbours in one go, but be sure your flags are right, because a wrong flag sets off a mine.
Frequently asked questions
What do the numbers mean in Minesweeper?
A number tells you how many mines touch that square: above, below, beside or diagonally. An open square with no number touches no mines, so everything round it opens by itself.
Is the first click in Minesweeper always safe?
Yes. Your first tap is always safe and opens up an area.
What are the Minesweeper board sizes?
Beginner is 9 × 9 with 10 mines, Intermediate 16 × 16 with 40 and Expert 30 × 16 with 99. On a phone held upright, Expert is shown turned on its side.
What is chording in Minesweeper?
Once a number has that many flags next to it, tap the number to open all its other neighbours in one go. If a flag was wrong, you’ll set off a mine.
Is it free to play Minesweeper?
Yes. Minesweeper is free to play in your browser, with nothing to download. It is a solo game against the clock, and there is a daily challenge: an Intermediate board that’s the same for everyone, with a safe area already open.
Ready to play Minesweeper?
It’s free and works in your browser — no download. Start against Trevor, the friendliest opponent, and sign up free to climb the ladder of ten computer players all the way to Pete.
Play Minesweeper now