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Kelsey Geller focuses on practical Rubik's Cube learning for beginners. Her guides simplify complex steps, explain the "why" behind moves, and help new cubers build confidence with a reliable solving approach. Every guide follows CubeSolver's editorial review standards before publishing.
Learn what F perm means on a Rubik's Cube, how to recognize it fast in PLL, which algorithm to use, and how to practice it without common mistakes.
X Cross helps you start F2L with less pausing. Learn how to spot easy cases, plan during inspection, and build faster solves without forcing hard starts.
This post provides you with a simple, beginner-friendly guide on how to solve the last layer of a Rubik's cube. There are only four steps.
E Perm PLL is a CFOP last layer case where only the corners need to swap. You may know the name before you can spot it during a solve, especially if you are moving from 2 look PLL to full PLL. In this guide, you will learn what E Perm means, how to recognize it, which algorithm to use, and how to practice it without getting stuck on the D moves.
E Perm PLL appears after you have solved the top face in CFOP. At this point, the last layer edges are already in place, but the corners are not. Your goal is to swap those corners into the correct spots while keeping the solved top face unchanged.
This is the first thing to clear up if you are new to CFOP last layer cases. E Perm is often searched together with other algorithms, but it belongs to PLL.
| Step | What it does | Does E Perm belong here? |
|---|---|---|
| OLL | Makes the top face one color | No |
| PLL | Moves last layer pieces into the right places | Yes |
You should think of E Perm as a position problem, not an orientation problem. If the top face is not solved yet, you are not ready for E Perm. If the top face is solved but the corner colors do not match the side centers, you may be looking at E Perm or another PLL case.
E Perm swaps all four last layer corners into their correct positions. The top color stays solved, and the edge pieces stay where they are. What changes is the corner placement. Each corner needs to move to another spot before the cube can be solved. A simple way to check it is to ask yourself:
If all three are true, you may be looking at E Perm. The case feels awkward at first since the cube looks almost done, but the corners still need a full swap.
You do not need to rush into E Perm if you are still learning the beginner method. You can also wait if you are just starting 2 look PLL. At that stage, it is more useful to build stable last layer habits first.
You should learn E Perm when you are ready to move into full PLL. It helps you solve this corner swap case directly instead of using slower extra steps. If you already know common PLL cases like T Perm, U Perm, and Y Perm, E Perm is a good next case to add.
The E Perm algorithm is not difficult to memorize, but it can feel awkward at first because of the repeated D moves and the grip change. Instead of trying to learn it as one long sequence, it is better to break it into parts and understand the rhythm first.
The main algorithm is: x' R U' R' D R U R' D' R U R' D R U' R' D' x
Tip: In this algorithm, x' and x are whole cube rotations, not layer turns. x' at the start changes your grip before the main moves, and x at the end turns the cube back.
A good way to learn it is to split it into small blocks so you can focus on movement patterns instead of individual letters:
x' R U' R' D
R U R' D'
R U R' D
R U' R' D' x
When you practice, do not rush the turns. The most common mistake is mixing up D and D'. If you are not fully sure of the direction, slow down and say the move in your head before executing it.
Once the sequence feels stable, try to reduce pauses between blocks. At that stage, the algorithm will start to feel like a single continuous flow instead of separate steps.
Before you use the algorithm, you need to make sure you are actually looking at an E Perm case. In real solves, this step is more important than the algorithm itself because many PLL cases can look similar at first glance.
If you are not sure whether your last layer is really E Perm, you can check the case with CubeSolver AI. Scan your cube with the app or enter the colors manually, then follow the detected cube state to see what needs to move. This is helpful when the top face looks solved, but you are still not sure whether the corners match an E Perm pattern.
Start by looking at the last layer edges. If all edges are already solved and match the side centers, you can rule out most PLL cases that involve edge swaps. In E Perm, the edges stay completely unchanged. You should not need to adjust or rotate any edge pieces.
After confirming the edges, focus only on the four last layer corners. In an E Perm case, you will notice:
This combination is the key signal of E Perm.
E Perm is often confused with other corner-focused PLL cases. The easiest way to avoid mistakes is to always check edges first. If even one edge is not solved, you are likely not in E Perm. If edges are solved but only two corners look wrong, you may be in a different PLL case instead.
Learning the E Perm algorithm is only the first step. To use it well in real solves, you need to practice the moves, the recognition, and the timing separately.
Start by doing the algorithm at a slow speed. Your goal is not to finish it quickly, but to make every turn clean. Use this order when you practice:
If you keep turning the wrong D direction, slow down more. Speed will not help until the move order is stable.
Once you can perform the algorithm, practice spotting E Perm before you start turning. Look at the edges first, then check the corners. A simple recognition habit is:
This helps you avoid using the E Perm algorithm on the wrong PLL case.
D moves are the part that makes E Perm feel harder than many other PLL algorithms. If you keep mixing them up, do not keep drilling the full algorithm blindly. Break the formula into small blocks:
Practice each block until the D direction feels clear. Then connect the blocks again.
After you can recognize and execute E Perm on its own, start using it in full CFOP solves. This is where you learn to spot the case without pausing too long.
Do not expect it to feel fast right away. At first, your goal is to recognize E Perm correctly and finish the algorithm without mistakes. Once that feels natural, you can slowly work on turning speed.
E Perm is worth learning when you want cleaner full PLL solves, but you do not need to force speed too early. Start by making the algorithm stable, then train yourself to recognize the case before you turn. Once the D moves feel natural and the corner pattern becomes easy to spot, E Perm will stop feeling like a special case and become one more quick finish in your last layer.
You usually do not need E Perm for basic 2 look PLL. In 2 look PLL, you can solve corner permutation and edge permutation with fewer algorithms, even if it takes more moves. E Perm becomes more useful when you move from 2 look PLL to full PLL and want to solve this case directly with one algorithm.
If the top face is no longer solved, or the last layer edges are no longer in place, you likely turned one move in the wrong direction. The most common issue is a wrong D or D' turn. Go back to slow practice and check the bottom layer direction before speeding up again.
One reliable E Perm algorithm is enough for most cubers. You can try other versions later if your current one feels uncomfortable, but switching too early can slow your progress. Learn one version well first, then decide whether another algorithm fits your turning style better.
It depends on how you practice. If you repeat the full algorithm without checking your mistakes, it may stay awkward for a long time. If you practice the blocks, fix D move errors early, and train recognition separately, E Perm can start to feel stable after a few focused sessions.
