Clues · known letters · explanations
How to Use an AI Crossword Solver
CrosswordSolver.app helps you solve crossword clues by combining the clue, known letters, answer length, and AI-generated explanations.
This guide shows the basic workflow: enter a clue, add any letters you already know, then review candidate answers with confidence and reasoning. The goal is to give you better hints — not guaranteed final answers.
Use a clue, known letters, and answer length to get AI-powered crossword hints with explanations.
Step 1: Enter the Crossword Clue
Start by typing the clue exactly as it appears in your puzzle.
For example:
- “Fruit used in pie”
- “Opposite of west”
- “Small songbird”
- “Quick look”
Short clues can have many possible answers, so it is normal to see more than one suggestion.
Step 2: Add Known Letters or Answer Length
If you know the answer length, add it. If you already have crossing letters, enter those too.
Examples:
- 5 letters
A??LE_ _ A _ E- 3,4 for a two-word answer
Known letters help the solver narrow the answer space and avoid suggestions that cannot fit your grid.
Step 3: Review Candidates, Confidence, and Explanations
After you submit the clue, CrosswordSolver.app may return several candidate answers.
Use the results to compare:
- Which answer fits the clue
- Which answer fits your known letters
- Which answer has the strongest explanation
- Which answer works with crossing clues
Confidence can help you prioritize candidates, but it should not be treated as certainty. Crossword puzzles often rely on wordplay, abbreviations, themes, and puzzle-specific context.
Tips for Better Results
Include the exact clue wording
Small wording differences can change the meaning of a clue. Enter the clue as written when possible.
Add crossings as soon as you have them
Even one or two confirmed letters can improve the quality of suggestions.
Use explanations, not just answers
The explanation can help you understand why a candidate might fit. This is especially useful when a clue uses a secondary meaning, abbreviation, or pun.
Check the grid before filling
Always confirm that the answer length and crossing letters match your puzzle.
What the Solver Can and Cannot Do
CrosswordSolver.app is designed to help with standard crossword clues, known-letter patterns, and answer explanations. It can also support cryptic clue workflows through the cryptic solver feature, subject to current free limits.
It does not provide guaranteed answers, official publisher solutions, or a complete daily answer database. It is an independent AI-powered tool for hints and reasoning.
Current MVP free limits may apply, including limited normal and cryptic solves per day.
Privacy-safe hints
Use suggestions carefully
Use “candidate answers,” “suggestions,” “hints,” and “explanations” instead of official answers.
CrosswordSolver.app is independent and is not affiliated with NYT, LA Times, WSJ, The Guardian, USA Today, or any other crossword publisher.
Analytics consent is default denied and must never include raw clues, full known-letter patterns, answers, explanations, OCR text, emails, or image data.
Image upload is not promoted as available here; screenshot solving is a later workflow.
FAQ
How to use the solver FAQ
Is CrosswordSolver.app free?
CrosswordSolver.app currently offers free daily solves with limits. In the MVP, this includes a limited number of normal solves and cryptic solves per day. Future paid options may be added, but the current tool is designed to be useful without requiring a publisher subscription.
Does CrosswordSolver.app save my clues?
The product should be implemented with privacy in mind. Analytics must not include raw clues, full patterns, answers, explanations, OCR text, emails, or image data. Check the site’s privacy notice for the current data handling details.
Can it solve cryptic crossword clues?
CrosswordSolver.app may support cryptic clue solving through a dedicated cryptic solver. Cryptic clues use special wordplay rules, so results should be treated as suggestions and reviewed carefully.
Do I need to know any letters before using it?
No. You can start with just the clue. If you know the answer length or any crossing letters, add them to improve the suggestions.
Are AI crossword answers always correct?
No. AI answers are hints and candidate suggestions. Always verify the answer against your grid, crossings, and clue context.
Start with a clue
Start solving a clue
Use a clue, known letters, and answer length to get AI-powered crossword hints with explanations.
Start solving a clue