How to Play Midi Crossword
A complete guide to playing the free Midi crossword puzzle
What is Midi Crossword?
Midi Crossword is a 9×9 crossword puzzle — bigger than the NYT Mini (5×5), smaller than the full Daily (15×15). Each puzzle has Across and Down clues. Fill every white square with the correct letter to win.
Selecting a Cell
Click any white square to select it. The selected cell is highlighted in green. Click the same cell again to toggle between Across and Down direction. The active word is highlighted in light green.
Typing Letters
Simply type any letter on your keyboard to fill the selected cell. The cursor automatically advances to the next empty cell in the current word.
Deleting Letters
Press Backspace to clear the current cell. If the cell is already empty, the cursor moves back to the previous cell and clears it.
Navigating the Grid
Use Arrow Keys to move the cursor one cell at a time. Pressing Tab or Enter jumps to the start of the next word. Shift+Tab goes to the previous word.
Check & Reveal
Use the Check button to verify your answers — wrong letters are highlighted in red. Use Reveal to fill in the correct answer for a Letter, Word, or the entire Puzzle. Revealed cells are shown in grey.
Keyboard Shortcuts
- A–ZType a letter
- BackspaceDelete letter
- Arrow KeysMove cursor
- TabNext word
- Shift+TabPrevious word
- EnterNext word
Tips for Beginners
- →Start with short 3–4 letter answers — they're usually easier
- →Use crossing letters to unlock longer entries you're unsure about
- →Use Check Letter often to catch mistakes early
- →The theme (if any) often helps with tricky clues