Whole-grid helper · Fills the key for you
Codeword Grid Solver
Enter your starter letters and the numbers of the words in your grid. The solver finds every word with only one possible answer, adds its letters to your key, and keeps going until the grid opens up.
Updated 8 October 2026 · By the LetterCracker team
Step 1 · Your codeword key
Separate the numbers with spaces or commas. Each number must be from 1 to 26.
- Fills the key step by step
- Shows why each letter fits
- British English dictionary
- Free, no sign-up
How it works
How to use the codeword grid solver
The codeword solver on our home page helps with one word at a time. The grid solver works on the whole puzzle: it uses every word you add to decide letters for you, the same way you would with a pencil.
- 1
Copy your starter letters
Type the two or three letters printed in the key under their numbers. Add any letters you have already worked out.
- 2
Add words as numbers
For each word in the grid, type its square numbers in order, such as 13 2 17 3 13 9. Start with the long words and the ones that touch your starter letters.
- 3
Crack the grid
The solver fills every letter it can prove and shows the word that proved it. Copy the new letters into your paper, then add more words.
The logic
How the grid solver cracks a codeword
A codeword grid solver repeats one rule: if a word in the grid has only one dictionary word that fits, its letters must be right, so they go into the key and every other word is checked again.
A codeword is a crossword-style grid with no clues. Each of the numbers 1 to 26 stands for a different letter of the alphabet, and a few starter letters are printed in the key. The solver follows the same rules as the puzzle.
| Codeword rule | What the solver does with it |
|---|---|
| Same number, same letter | Every square numbered 7 must hold the same letter, so repeated numbers must match. |
| Different numbers, different letters | Two numbers can never share a letter, and a letter already in the key can’t appear under a new number. |
| One fit means a sure letter | When only one word fits, its letters are added to the key and shown in lime. |
| Repeat until stuck | Each new letter narrows other words, so the solver keeps passing over the grid until nothing changes. |
Worked example. Press Load example. Only K, W and P are given, yet one word fits 23 11 11 26 1 23 7 13: APPROACH. That gives A, R, O, C and H, which leave PALACE as the only fit for 11 23 25 23 7 2. From there LIZARD, PRIORITY, HEIGHT and the rest follow, until 23 of the 26 letters are known.
Compare
Grid solver vs codeword pattern solver
Both tools use the same 61,000-word British English list. Which one to use depends on how stuck you are.
| Feature | Grid solver | Pattern solver |
|---|---|---|
| Works on | Many words at once | One word at a time |
| You type | Square numbers and the key | Letters, ? and digits |
| Fills the key | Yes, with the reason for each letter | No, you choose the word |
| Best for | Getting a stuck grid moving | Checking a single word |
Strategy
Getting the most from the grid solver
A few habits make the solver find more letters from fewer words.
Add long words first
Words of seven to nine squares have far fewer fits than short ones, so they are the most likely to give you a sure letter.
Look for repeated numbers
A word such as 11 23 25 23 7 2 has a repeated letter in a fixed place, which rules out most of the dictionary straight away.
Check the alphabet strip
Most UK codewords use all 26 letters. The letters still free tell you what the last few numbers can be, especially rare ones such as J, Q, X and Z.
Use it as a hint, not the answer
Add one or two words, crack them, then go back to the paper. You keep the fun and only use the solver when you are stuck.
More tools
More puzzle solvers on LetterCracker
FAQ
Codeword grid solver questions
Do I need to type in the whole grid?
No. Add only the words you are stuck on, plus a few long ones near them. Every extra word gives the solver more to work with.
Why did the solver stop before the grid was finished?
It only adds letters it can prove. If every word still has two or more fits, add more words from the grid or work out one more letter yourself, then crack again.
What if a word shows no fits?
Check that the numbers are in the right order and that every letter in your key is correct. One wrong letter blocks every word that uses it.
Does it work for Codebreaker and cipher crossword puzzles?
Yes. Any puzzle where each number from 1 to 26 stands for a different letter works the same way, whatever the paper or magazine calls it.
Is the grid solver free?
Yes. It is free with no account, and the words you type stay in your browser.
Need help with just one word?
The LetterCracker codeword solver lists every British word that fits a single pattern, using letters, ? and numbers.