Sudoku

Sudoku Interactive

Sudoku puzzles can be played interactively on the computer, offering many features and advantages compared to pencil and paper. This section explains everything about how to play Sudoku Interactive. If you are not yet familiar with the puzzle rules, please go to Sudoku rules.

Placing and deleting numbers (Keyboard: numerical keys)

Placing and deleting numbers

Sudoku Interactive is played by placing numbers in a grid. Click mouse on the desired square to open dial pad and then click on the desired number. To remove a number, repeat the above using X at the bottom of the dial pad. Numbers can also be placed by pointing mouse on the desired square and then typing with the keyboard.

Using pencilmarks (Keyboard: numerical keys)

Using pencilmarks

Sudoku Interactive also supports pencilmarks to help solve hard puzzles. Click mouse on the desired pencilmark square to open dial pad and then click on the desired number. To remove a pencilmark, repeat the above using X at the bottom of the dial pad. Pencilmarks can also be placed by pointing mouse on the desired pencilmark square and then typing with the keyboard. Autofill pencilmarks mode automatically manages all relevant pencilmarks in the grid. To enable automatic pencilmarks, click the Autofill pencilmarks button on the toolbar. Note that in this mode manually removed pencilmarks will not reappear automatically. To delete all pencilmarks and quit the automatic mode, click again to release this button.

Selecting numbers

Selecting numbers is only needed when the Highlight selected number or the Highlight excluded squares preferences are used. To select a number, click mouse on any square containing the number you want to select. The spacebar and arrow keys may also be used to change the selected number.

Toolbar

Toolbar

All game functions are accessed through the toolbar. For some toolbar buttons, keyboard shortcut keys are also available as listed below. Toolbar may be positioned horizontally or vertically using the rotate button on the left edge, and relocated anywhere in the game by dragging its frame.

Zoom in

Zoom in

Enlarge small puzzles for best viewing on your screen.

Zoom out

Zoom out

Reduce large puzzles for best fit on your screen.

Undo (Keyboard: U)

Undo (Keyboard: U)

Go back as many steps in the game as you want.

Redo (Keyboard: R)

Redo (Keyboard: R)

Go forward after using Undo as many steps as you want.

Restart puzzle

Restart puzzle

Restart puzzle to solve from the beginning.

Puzzle assistant (Keyboard: C)

Puzzle assistant (Keyboard: C)

Check errors or get a hint for the next step

Auto pencilmarks mode

Clear all pencilmarks

Automatically manage all relevant pencilmarks in the grid.

Progress

Progress

Show elapsed solving time.

Show solution

Show solution

Show solution of the puzzle. Using this button will also end the game.

Preferences

Preferences

Open Preferences dialog box. New preferences will be automatically saved on the computer.

Preferences dialog box
  • Show conflicts: Check this box to automatically show conflicting number instances during the game. A conflicting number means it already exists in the same row, column or box.
  • Highlight selected number: Check this box to highlight squares in the puzzle which contain the selected number.
  • Highlight excluded squares: Check this box to highlight squares into which the selected number cannot be placed.
  • Font color: Select color of the placed numbers.
  • Sound on: Check this box to turn sound on.

About

About

Open About dialog box to see puzzle size, difficulty, ID, title and other information.

Help

Help

Open Sudoku Interactive page you are reading now.

Print options

Print options

Open Print dialog box. New print options will be automatically saved on the computer.

Print options dialog box
Print
  • Puzzle: Select to print puzzle.
  • Solution: Select to print solution.
  • Current state: Select to print current solution state.
Scaling
  • Preferred image scale: Reduce or enlarge printout.
  • Attempt to reduce to page: Check this box to fit large puzzles on a single page. When this box is unchecked, large puzzles will print in multiple pages according to selected scaling.
  • Attempt to enlarge to page: Check this box to fit small puzzles on a whole page. When this box is unchecked, small puzzles will print according to selected scaling.
  • Select optimal orientation: Check this box to automatically select puzzle orientation.

Save puzzle (Keyboard: S)

Save puzzle (Keyboard: S)

Save current state of the puzzle.