No screenshot needed
Block Blast Solver Manual Mode: Enter Your Board by Hand
Manual mode lets you build your board yourself by tapping cells. It is the fastest way to get an answer, and it works when a screenshot does not.
Short answer
Manual mode lets you enter the board yourself. Tap the squares that are filled, pick your three pieces, and press Solve. Use it when a screenshot won't read well or when you want to test a "what if" board.
Stuck on a board right now? Open the solver and get the best order for your three pieces.
When it helps
When Manual Mode Is the Better Choice
- You want the fastest answer. There is no image to read, so nothing to wait for.
- Something is covering the board in your screenshot, such as a pop-up.
- You want to test a move. Set up the board the way it would look after a move and see what the solver says.
- You would rather not upload an image. Manual mode sends no picture at all.
- You are planning ahead. You can build any board you like, even one from a puzzle.
Step by step
How to Use Manual Mode
- Open the solver and choose Fill Manually at the top.
- Tap the board cells that are already filled in your game.
- Choose your three pieces. Use the quick shape presets, or draw a shape cell by cell.
- Check the board and pieces one more time against your game.
- Press the button to continue to the solver, then press solve.
You will then see the answer one step at a time, the same way as in screenshot mode. Both modes use the same solver.
Handy buttons
Tools for the Board
Undo and redo
Made a wrong tap? Undo it. Changed your mind? Redo it.
Clear board
Wipes every cell so you can start from an empty board.
Fill board
Fills every cell. This is handy when your board is nearly full. Fill it, then tap the few empty cells.
A nearly full board is much faster to enter this way. It is often quicker to fill everything and then tap only the empty cells.
Setting your pieces
Entering Your Three Pieces
You set up three pieces, one at a time. For each one you can tap a preset shape, or draw your own on the small grid. There is also a clear button if you want to start that piece again.
Copy each piece exactly as it looks in your game. Pieces do not rotate, so an L that points left is a different piece from an L that points right. Not sure of a shape? See our guide to the pieces.
A quick example
Entering a Real Board, Step by Step
Say your board is almost full, with only a handful of empty cells left. Entering it cell by cell would be slow. Here is the faster way.
- Press Fill Board. Every cell is now filled.
- Look at your game and find the empty cells. Tap each of those cells to make them empty.
- Check the rows and columns one by one against your game. Two minutes of care here saves a wrong answer.
- Set your three pieces. Choose a preset or draw each one.
- Continue to the solver and press solve.
For a board that is mostly empty, do the opposite. Leave it as it is, and tap only the few filled cells.
Avoid these
Common Slips in Manual Mode
Avoid
Mixing up a piece's direction
An L that points left is not the same as one that points right. Pieces do not rotate, so copy the direction exactly.
Avoid
Missing one cell
One wrong cell can change the whole answer. Take a moment to compare the board with your game before you continue.
Avoid
Forgetting a piece
The solver works best with all three pieces. If you only have two left, set those and leave the third empty.
Avoid
Entering the board after you moved
Enter the board and pieces as they are right now, before you place anything.
After you solve
Getting the Most From the Answer
Manual mode uses the same solver, so the answer reads the same way. See reading the answer.
Keep reading
Read next
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is manual mode?
It is a way to enter your board and three pieces by hand instead of uploading a screenshot. The solver works the same in both modes.
Is manual mode faster than a screenshot?
Usually yes. There is no image to read, so you go straight to solving once your board is entered.
Does manual mode upload anything?
No image is uploaded. You only send the board and the piece shapes you enter, so the solver can work out the moves.
Can I use manual mode to test a move?
Yes. Set up the board as it would look after your move and see what the solver suggests next.
What if my board is not 8x8?
Most Block Blast boards are 8x8. If yours looks different, contact us through the [contact page](/contact) and tell us what you see.
Want an answer right away?
Open manual mode and build your board in a few taps.
Open the Solver