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Daily Crossword Puzzle
A fresh crossword every day in two sizes: a 5×5 mini you can finish over coffee and a 13×13 puzzle with about 20 to 26 clues. Type straight into the grid, check or reveal when you are stuck, and beat your time.
Last updated:
0:00
Tap a square to start.
Paused
Across
Down
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How to use the Daily Crossword Puzzle
- Pick a size: Mini 5×5 for a quick solve or Daily 13×13 for a longer puzzle. Today's puzzle loads automatically.
- Tap or click a square and type. The highlighted word's clue shows above the grid; tap the same square again (or press Space) to switch between Across and Down.
- Move around with the arrow keys, Tab or Enter for the next clue, or tap any clue in the lists.
- Stuck? Use Check word or Check puzzle to mark wrong letters in red, or Reveal a letter or word.
- Fill every square correctly to stop the timer, then copy your result or play another day from the archive.
Keyboard and touch controls
| Action | Keyboard | Touch screen |
|---|---|---|
| Type a letter | A–Z | Tap a square, then use the on-screen keyboard |
| Switch Across / Down | Space, or click the selected square | Tap the selected square again |
| Move one square | Arrow keys | Tap the square |
| Next / previous clue | Tab or Enter / Shift + Tab | Tap a clue in the list |
| Delete | Backspace (moves back if the square is empty) or Delete | Backspace key |
| Pause the timer | Press Pause; the grid is hidden until you resume | |
Crossword solving tips
- Start with the short words. Three- and four-letter answers have fewer possibilities and give you crossing letters for the longer ones.
- Use the letter count. The number in brackets after each clue is the answer length. A clue such as "Fruit with a narrow top (4)" points to a short, common word.
- Read the grammar. A plural clue ("Picnic pests") usually has a plural answer; a fill-in-the-blank clue ("Frying ___") is often the easiest in the grid.
- Work the crossings. When a long answer is stuck, solve the Down words that cross it; two or three letters are often enough to see the word.
- Check before you reveal. Check puzzle shows which letters are wrong without spoiling the answers, so you can keep solving on your own.
- Come back later. Your progress is saved, and a fresh look often makes a tricky clue obvious.
Mini or 13×13: which to play?
| Mini 5×5 | Daily 13×13 | |
|---|---|---|
| Clues | Usually 5–6 | Usually 20–26 |
| Answer lengths | 3–5 letters | 3–11 letters |
| Typical time | 1–3 minutes | 10–20 minutes |
| Good for | A quick daily habit, phones, warm-up | A longer break, practising crossing letters |
Frequently asked questions
Is there really a new crossword every day?
Yes. Each date has its own mini and 13×13 puzzle, built from a seeded word and clue list, so everyone who opens the page on the same date gets the same grid. A new puzzle appears at midnight in your own time zone.
Can I play yesterday's or older puzzles?
Yes. Use the arrow buttons or the date picker to open any day from January 1, 2024 up to today. Future dates are not available. Your progress on each recent day is saved separately in this browser.
How do I switch between Across and Down?
Tap or click the selected square again, or press the Space bar. Arrow keys also switch direction: pressing Right or Left selects the Across word, Up or Down selects the Down word.
What do Check and Reveal do?
Check word and Check puzzle mark wrong letters in red without showing the answer. Reveal letter, Reveal word and Reveal puzzle fill in the correct answers, marked with an orange corner. Your result notes how many squares were revealed.
How hard are the puzzles?
The clues are straightforward general knowledge: animals, food, nature, science, music and everyday objects, written for adults and older kids alike. The mini usually takes 1 to 3 minutes; the 13×13 takes most people 10 to 20 minutes.
Why does the 13×13 grid have more black squares than a newspaper crossword?
Newspaper puzzles are hand-built so every white square sits in both an Across and a Down word. These daily grids are built automatically each day from a clue list, so some squares belong to only one word. That keeps the clues fair and family friendly.
Is my progress saved?
Yes, your letters, revealed squares and time are stored in your browser's local storage, so you can close the tab and continue later on the same device. Nothing is sent to a server and there is no account.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.
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