How to solve a 2×2 Rubik's Cube in three stages.

Stage 1: the first layer

Hold the cube with white on the bottom. Find a white corner in the top layer, turn the top layer until it is directly above its slot, then use R U R' U' to drop it in. How many times depends on where the white sticker faces:

White sticker faces	Do R U R' U'
On the right-hand side	once
On top	3 times
On the front	5 times (or the mirror trigger F' U' F U once)

The first layer is done when the bottom face is white and the stickers along each side match in pairs. This is the same trigger as step 2 of the 3×3 method, and it is checked on a simulated 2×2 too.

Stage 2: turn the last layer yellow

With the first layer solved, turn the top layer until the yellow stickers on top match one of these seven pictures, then do its algorithm. Only yellow is drawn; everything else is grey.

Count the yellow corners on top. None: the H or the Pi. One: the Sune or the Anti-Sune. Two: the T, the U or the L (diagonal). Repeat until the whole top is yellow.

Stage 3: put the last layer's corners in place

The top is yellow, but the corners may be in the wrong places. Turn the top layer until as many corners as possible match the pieces below them.

• All four match: you are one top-layer turn from the end.
• Two next to each other are wrong: hold the cube so they are on the right and do the T-perm.
• Two diagonal corners are wrong: do the Y-perm.
• Anything else: do the T-perm once from any side and look again. You will never need more than three goes.

These are the same T-perm and Y-perm as on the 3×3, because the 3×3 versions only change corners and edges and a 2×2 has no edges to disturb. Finish with a turn of the top layer if needed.