Photo crossword solver

Stuck on a clue? Snap the puzzle.

Photograph any crossword and get answers in seconds. Reveal just the clue you are stuck on, or the whole grid, with every answer checked against its crossings — the letters it shares with the words that cross it.

Just looking? — no photo needed.

PNG, JPG or PDF up to 10 MB. Free, no account needed.

Reading a photo usually takes under a minute or two, and nobody reviews it. If the scan misses clues, retake the photo or add them yourself.

  • Newspapers and magazines
  • App screenshots
  • PDF puzzle books
  • Cryptics
1 Across · HEARTCHECKED
Example result: every answer checked against its crossings

Three steps, no typing

You never have to copy clues into a search box or count the blank squares.

  1. 1

    Snap or upload

    A phone photo of the paper is fine. Straight on, even light, the whole grid in frame. An image or PDF works too.

  2. 2

    We read the puzzle

    The grid, the numbers and every clue get matched, so each answer knows its length and the letters it shares.

  3. 3

    Solve your way

    Tap a square for a single clue, or fill the whole grid at once.

Built for solvers

  • Spoiler control

    Get a nudge on the clue you are stuck on without giving away the rest of the grid.

  • Crossing checks

    Answers that agree with every crossing get a Checked tag. Clashes are flagged so nothing slips through.

  • Works like a crossword app

    Tap a square to highlight its word, tap again to switch between Across and Down.

  • Cryptics and arrow-words

    Handles cryptic clues and Swedish-style arrow-word puzzles, not just standard grids.

  • Fix what the scan missed

    Edit a clue, change its length or direction, or add one the scan missed.

  • Made for phones

    Built for one-handed use at the breakfast table, with a clue bar that stays in reach.

Dmitri S

Made by Dmitri S

I built Crossword Solver so a photo of the puzzle is enough.

dmytro.solodovnik@gmail.comGitHub

Questions

How does the crossword solver work?

Take or upload a photo of a crossword. The solver finds the grid, reads the clues, and works out where each answer goes. Then you choose what to reveal: a single clue or the whole puzzle.

Will it spoil the whole puzzle?

Only if you ask it to. Tap a square to pick a clue and use "Solve this clue" to reveal just that answer. "Solve whole puzzle" fills in everything at once.

How do I know an answer is right?

Each answer is compared with the answers that cross it. If every crossing letter agrees, the answer is marked Checked. If a crossing disagrees, both are flagged as a clash so you know where to look.

Which crosswords does it support?

Printed or on-screen crosswords with a numbered grid and clue list, including cryptic crosswords and arrow-word (Swedish-style) puzzles. Clues in English, Ukrainian, German and Spanish are supported.

What makes a good photo?

Shoot straight-on in even light with the whole grid and all clues in frame. Avoid shadows across the page and strong angles. PNG, JPG or PDF files up to 10 MB work.

Do I need an account?

No. You can solve puzzles without signing up. A free account keeps your puzzles so you can come back to them later.

Does this cost anything?

No. There is no paid plan. A Ko-fi tip supports the work and does not unlock anything. If paid plans are added, they will be listed on the Pricing page first.

How long do you keep my puzzle?

A puzzle with no activity for 30 days is deleted, including the photo. An account with no sign-in, upload, or solve for 60 days is deleted too. A puzzle uploaded without an account is held in memory and removed after 30 days, or sooner if the server restarts.

Got a grid in front of you?