How to Play
- Pick a board: Small (9×9, 10 mines), Medium (12×12, 24 mines) or Large (16×16, 40 mines).
- Tap any square to dig. Your first dig is always safe and usually opens a whole patch of the field.
- Each number tells you how many mines touch that square, including the corners.
- When you are sure a square hides a mine, long-press it (or right-click on a computer) to plant a flag. You can also switch the Dig / Flag toggle and simply tap.
- Open every square that is not a mine to win. The timer starts with your first dig.
Rules
The field hides a fixed number of mines. Digging a square with a mine under it ends the game at once. Digging a safe square shows its number; a square with no mines around it opens all of its neighbouring squares automatically, which is why some taps clear large areas.
Flags are only reminders — they do not have to be correct, and the mine counter at the top simply shows the total mines minus the flags you have placed. Once the number of flags around a clue matches the clue, you can tap the number to dig all the other squares around it in one go. Be careful: if one of those flags is wrong, that quick dig will hit a mine.
Tips & Strategy
- Start with the 1s on a straight edge. A 1 that touches only one hidden square has found its mine. Flag it, and every other square around neighbouring 1s is often safe.
- Learn the 1-2-1 pattern. Along a flat wall of hidden squares, a 1-2-1 means the two squares under the 1s are mines and the one under the 2 is safe.
- Subtract to find safe squares. If a 2 already has two flags beside it, every other hidden square around it is clear. Tap the 2 to open them all at once.
- Chord to save time, not to guess. Chording is the fastest way to play, but only use it when you are certain your flags are right.
- Guess far from the numbers. When logic truly runs out, a random square in open, untouched ground is usually safer than a square squeezed between high numbers.
Game Modes
The Small board is perfect for learning and quick games. Medium adds more mines and bigger chains of reasoning. Large is the classic long challenge; on a phone it scrolls inside its own frame so every square stays big enough to tap.
The Daily Challenge uses a Medium board that is identical for every player on that day. To keep it fair, the daily field opens with the same safe clearing already dug for everyone, so nobody has to gamble on the first move. Clear it to extend your streak.
Play with Friends
Minesweeper is a one-player puzzle, but the daily board turns it into a friendly race. Everyone gets exactly the same mines, so compare clear times with your cousins or classmates. When you finish, tap Share to post your time on WhatsApp or Telegram without revealing where the mines are hidden.
Minesweeper FAQ
Can I lose on my first tap?
No. On normal boards the mines are placed only after your first dig, and never on or next to the square you chose. On the daily board a safe area is opened for you before you begin.
How do I place a flag on a phone?
Press and hold a square for a moment, or switch the toggle above the board to Flag and tap. On a computer, right-click a square or press F while it is selected.
What does tapping a number do?
If the number of flags around a clue equals the clue, tapping it digs every other hidden square around it. If the count does not match, nothing happens.
Can I play with only the keyboard?
Yes. Use the arrow keys to move around the field, Enter or Space to dig, and F to plant or remove a flag.
How is my score counted?
Your score is the number of seconds from your first dig until the field is cleared. Lower is better, and your best time for each board size is saved on this device.
Last updated: 2026-09-30
