Solve sudoku puzzles in News on Mac

1. Go to the News app on your Mac.

2. Open a sudoku puzzle.

3. Do any of the following:

   • Enter a number: With the Pen tab selected, click an empty square, then click a number key onscreen or press a number key on your keyboard.

   • Delete an answer: Click a square where you entered a number, then click or press the Delete key on your keyboard.

   • Step back through your actions: Click or press Command-Z on your keyboard.

     To redo, press Command-Y or Command-Shift-Z on your keyboard.

   • Move around the grid: Press the arrow keys to move to the next square.

4. Continue entering numbers until every square is filled correctly.

   Tip: Turn on Autocheck to indicate when you successfully complete a block, row or column.

You can keep track of which numbers might work in each square by using notes within the puzzle.

1. Go to the News app on your Mac.

2. Open a sudoku puzzle, then click Notes.

   Tip: To switch between Pen Mode and Notes Mode, press the Tab key.

3. Do any of the following:

   • Manually enter notes: Click in a square, then click a number key onscreen or press a number key on your keyboard to add it to the square. Click or press the number again to remove it.

   • Automatically show notes: Click , then select Autofill Notes. Notes representing possible numbers appear in empty squares, based on all filled squares at that moment — givens and your answers (even if incorrect). You can delete and add notes after using Autofill Notes, and automatically showing them doesn’t impact stats or streaks.

   • Update notes as you enter answers: After manually entering or automatically showing notes, click , then select Responsive Notes. When you enter an answer, any matching notes in that square’s row, column or block are removed.

   • Play without notes: Click , then select Hide Notes.

When you think a number in your notes is the right answer, you can commit it by pressing and holding the number on your keyboard.

If you’re unsure of an answer, you can get a little help.

1. Go to the News app on your Mac.

2. Open a sudoku puzzle.

3. Do any of the following:

   • Highlight matching numbers: Click any square with a number in it. The square you select can be a given or one where you entered or revealed the answer. Matching numbers are highlighted in answers and notes. You can turn this feature off — click , select Settings, then untick Highlight Matching Numbers.

   • Identify a solvable square: Click , then select Get Hint. A square that has the most information available to deduce its answer is highlighted. Click to see the strategy and recommended actions, like pairs and triplets that are obvious, hidden, pointing, claiming or cross-wing. Using hints doesn’t impact stats or streaks, but does prevent you from undoing previous actions.

   • Mark incorrect answers as you enter them: Click , then click Autocheck. Any incorrect square you filled before turning on Autocheck displays a red slash through the number. As you enter additional numbers, the app checks whether or not they’re correct.

   • Check answers: Click , then select Check Square or Check Puzzle. A red slash indicates incorrect answers. Checking a square or puzzle doesn’t impact stats or streaks, but does prevent you from undoing previous actions.

   • Check for duplicated numbers: Click , then select Show Conflicts. When you enter a number that already appears more than once in a block, row or column, the squares’ bottom-right corners are marked with red triangles.

   • Reveal answers: Click , select Reveal, then choose Square or Puzzle to display the correct answer.

     Note: When you reveal all or a portion of a puzzle, the puzzle isn’t counted towards stats in your Scoreboard or as part of a streak. To maintain a sudoku streak, solve at least one of the current day’s sudoku puzzles of any difficulty level without revealing answers. Revealing also prevents you from undoing previous actions.

   • Review the sudoku tutorial: Click , then select How to Play.

When you turn on some help features — Show Conflicts, Autocheck or Use Responsive Notes — inside a puzzle, they stay on for only that puzzle. If you want the help features to stay on all the time, follow these steps:

1. Go to the News app on your Mac.

2. Open a sudoku puzzle.

3. Click , select Settings, then turn on any of the following:

   • Always Show Conflicts

   • Always Autocheck

   • Always Use Responsive Notes

4. Click , then turn on the corresponding feature: Show Conflicts, Autocheck or Use Responsive Notes.

The help feature stays on for all puzzles of that type until you turn it off.

If you’d like a fresh start, you can clear a puzzle’s answers and reset the timer.

1. Go to the News app on your Mac.

2. Open a sudoku puzzle.

3. Click , then select Clear Puzzle.

Clearing a puzzle prevents you from undoing previous actions.

You can show or hide the timer that appears above your puzzle.

1. Go to the News app on your Mac.

2. Open a sudoku puzzle.

3. Do one of the following:

   • Click .

   • Click , choose Settings, then select or deselect Show Timer.

You don’t have to solve puzzles all at once. The timer pauses while you’re away.

1. Go to the News app on your Mac.

2. Open a sudoku puzzle.

3. Click , then choose Messages, Mail or another sharing option.