Help

Short pages on every part of Crossmith. Search them, or choose a page.

Start here

Getting started
Start a puzzle, shape the grid, fill it, write the clues and share the finished puzzle.

Shape mode: the grid
Draw a grid or generate one, and see at once whether it follows the rules of a UK blocked grid.
Fill mode: words in the grid
Type words in, or let Crossmith fill the grid from your word lists, and swap any answer you do not like.
Clues mode: writing the clues
Write a clue for every answer, with a dictionary, thesaurus and wordplay tools beside you.
Style mode: how the grid looks
Shade, circle and mark squares, and set the grid's appearance for the editor, print, exports and the player.
Barred grids
Make puzzles divided by bars rather than black squares, with their own rulebook, patterns and generator.
Clue database and AI suggestions
Keep every clue you write, reuse it, and ask for suggestions for quick-crossword clues.

Printing and exports
Print or save a puzzle as a PDF, a Word document, a picture or a file for other crossword software.
Publishing and series
Put a puzzle on a public page in a numbered series that solvers can find, solve and rate.

Accounts and sync
Work without an account, or sign in to keep your puzzles, clues and templates on every device.
Free and Pro
What each plan includes, and what never stops working.

Keyboard shortcuts
Every key that does something in the editor, the clue boxes and the player.
Accessibility
What works with a keyboard and a screen reader today, and what does not yet.
Contact
How to reach us with a question, a problem or an idea.
Cryptic glossary
The main clue types and terms of cryptic crosswords, each explained with an example clue written for Crossmith.