How to Solve Lights Out
Press below each lit light, row by row (“chasing”). Then check one table and chase again.
Play Lights Out (free)Chasing plus one table solves 5×5
down row by row
row in the table
in the top row
all lights out
5×5 table: the 7 patterns left in the bottom row
| Left in the bottom row | Press in the top row |
|---|---|
| 2nd | |
| 1st and 4th | |
| 5th | |
| 1st and 2nd | |
| 1st | |
| 3rd | |
| 4th |
Example: step through it one move at a time
- ① Chase down: for each lit light in row 1, press the light directly below it. The blue outline is the next light to press.
- Do the same for rows 2 to 4, pushing the lit lights down.
- ② Look it up: find the bottom row in the table, then press the 2nd from the left in the top row.
- ③ Chase down again: start from the top and press below each lit light.
- All the lights are out.
Start (17 moves in all)
An all-on 5×5 clears in 15 moves
Press each outlined light once, in any order. No solution uses fewer moves.
4×4 clears by chasing alone
If lights are still on in the bottom row after chasing, that 4×4 pattern can’t be solved.
3×3 is always solvable the same way
| Left in the bottom row | Press in the top row |
|---|---|
| 1st and 2nd | |
| 1st, 2nd and 3rd | |
| 3rd | |
| 2nd and 3rd | |
| 1st and 3rd | |
| 1st | |
| 2nd |
- ① Chase down: press the light below each light that is on, pushing them down.
- ② Look it up: find the bottom row in the table, then press the 3rd from the left in the top row.
- ③ Chase down again: start from the top and press below each lit light.
- All the lights are out.
Start (7 moves in all)
6×6 and 7×7 are always solvable too
Their bottom row can end up in 63 or 127 different patterns, too many to learn as a table.
The game’s “Hint” shows the next light to press.
For the fewest moves, work out the presses first
- Mark each light you press: a second press unmarks it. The marks left are the answer
- 3×3, 6×6 and 7×7: only one set of presses clears the board, so it is also the shortest
- 5×5: four sets of presses clear the board. The smallest one is the shortest
A, B and C change nothing. Add one of them to your answer (two presses cancel): it still clears.
Some sizes have unsolvable patterns
Share of random patterns that can be solved
FAQ
- Does the order of presses matter?
- No. Pressing a light twice undoes it, so each light is either pressed or not.
- Why does the table work?
- Your top-row presses decide the whole chase that follows. The table is computed from that.
- What if chasing clears every light?
- Then you’re done. You don’t need the table.
- My bottom row isn’t in the table
- That pattern can’t be solved. Games usually deal only solvable ones, so check for a slip.
- I still can’t solve it
- It may be a variant with other rules, such as diagonal lights that flip too.
- What if the goal is to turn every light on?
- Swap on and off in your head, and the same steps work.
- Is there another way to clear an all-on 5×5?
- Yes. Mirror the 15 presses left to right or top to bottom.
- Is there a Lights Out solver?
- In the game, “Hint” shows the next light. For any other 5×5 or 3×3, chase and use the table.
