How to play Minesweeper
- Choose a difficulty: Easy (9×9 with 10 mines), Medium (16×16 with 40) or Hard (30×16 with 99).
- Tap a cell to open it. The first one is never a mine. Each number shows how many mines are in the 8 cells around it.
- Flag the cells you are sure contain a mine: right-click, or long-press on a phone (or use the mode button).
- You win when you open every cell without a mine. If you hit a mine, you lose and can start a new game.
Rules and tips to win
Minesweeper is a logic game: it is about deducing, not guessing. A 1 with only one unopened cell around it means that cell is a mine. A number that already has all its flags tells you the rest of its neighbors are safe.
Start with the edges and corners, which have fewer neighbors and are solved sooner. When two neighboring numbers share cells, compare how many mines each one still needs: one of them almost always gives you a safe clue. If a number has as many flags as it shows, tap it to open all the cells around it at once.
Everything happens in your browser: nothing is sent to any server. Only your chosen difficulty and your best times are saved on your device.
Good to know
- On a phone, the Hard level rotates the board to 16×30 so the cells are easy to tap.
- Best times are saved only in this browser: if you clear the site data, they are lost.
- With the keyboard you can move with the arrow keys, open a cell with Enter or Space and flag it with the F key.
Frequently asked questions
Can the first cell be a mine?
No. The first cell you open, and the ones around it, are always mine-free, so you never lose on your first move.
How do you play Minesweeper?
Uncover squares without hitting a mine. Each number shows how many mines are in the 8 squares around it: use it to work out where they are and mark them with a flag. You win when you uncover every square that has no mine.
How do I place a flag on a phone?
Press and hold a cell until it vibrates, or turn on the mode button so every tap places or removes a flag.
What does tapping a number do?
If you have already placed as many flags around it as the number shows, tapping it opens all the remaining unopened cells around it at once. If a flag is wrong, you will hit a mine.
Can you always win without guessing?
Not always: some games reach a point where you have to take a risk. Still, logic solves the vast majority, especially on Easy and Medium.
Is it free? Do I need to install anything?
It is free, needs no sign-up and works right in your browser, on a phone, tablet or computer.