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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11NYT Strands is a themed word-search puzzle played on a 6-by-8 grid. Connect neighboring letters—horizontally, vertically, or diagonally—to find words that fit the clue. The special answer, called the spangram, identifies or reveals the theme and stretches from one side of the board to the opposite side. Find three valid words that are not theme answers to earn a hint.
How the Strands board works
Strands presents a grid of letters and a theme clue. Your goal is to find the words associated with that theme, including the spangram. Independent rules guides describe the board as six rows by eight columns. Strands.Game and Strands Today’s beginner guide explain the core mechanics; Strands Today identifies itself as an independent fan site, not an official New York Times source.
Strands was introduced in 2024, according to a 2026 paper on computational approaches to New York Times games. The paper describes a Strands puzzle accessed on June 26, 2025. Read the paper.
How to trace and submit a word
Choose a starting letter, then follow a continuous path through adjacent cells. Each next letter must be immediately beside the previous one horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. You can turn in any direction as you go, but you cannot use the same cell twice in one word.
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For example, a valid path may begin by moving diagonally, turn to a horizontal step, then continue vertically. A word that appears to be in the grid is not valid if its letters cannot be connected in this way without reusing a tile.
Theme words and the spangram
Theme words
Theme words are the answers that belong to the category suggested by the clue. Finding several can help you infer what the theme means, especially when the clue is broad or playful. The independent rules pages describe discovered theme words as highlighted blue.
The spangram
The spangram is the special word or phrase that names or reveals the theme. Its path must reach two opposite sides of the grid. Because it expresses the category, thinking of a possible category name can give you a candidate to search for—but it is a solving heuristic, not a guaranteed shortcut. Independent rules pages describe the spangram as highlighted yellow when found.
How hints work
Find three valid words that are not theme answers to earn an in-game hint. The hint highlights the letters of one theme word you have not yet found, according to the cited rules descriptions. Non-theme words can therefore help when you are stuck, even though they are not among the puzzle’s theme answers.
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A practical way to approach a puzzle
- Read the clue. Think of a category it might point to, but stay open to other interpretations.
- Consider a category name. Ask whether a word or phrase that captures the category could stretch between opposite sides of the grid. Look for it if a plausible candidate comes to mind, but do not assume it must be the first answer you find.
- Trace likely theme words. Check neighboring letters in every direction, including diagonals, and allow the path to bend. Confirm that each step connects to the next and that no cell is repeated.
- Use found answers to refine the theme. If a candidate word fits the clue but its path fails, set it aside. If several valid theme words point to the same category, search for related words and a possible spangram.
- Try other valid words if needed. Three non-theme words earn a hint for an unfound theme answer. Treat the hint as a nudge to search the highlighted letters, not as a solution to the whole board.
Whether to search for the spangram or theme words first depends on the clue and the board. If the clue strongly suggests a category, a category-defining phrase may be a useful anchor. If it is vague, finding a few category members may clarify it. These are practical deductions from the rules, not experimentally ranked strategies.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What a hint or daily answer guide can—and cannot—do
An in-game hint helps identify one unfound theme word by highlighting its letters. It does not change the adjacency rules or make a disconnected path valid. Daily answer guides are a separate kind of help: Tom’s Guide, for example, published a dated page for game #945 on October 4, 2026. That is one example of daily puzzle coverage, not an official NYT rule or evidence that every player needs an answer guide. See the dated example.
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