Frequently asked questions
When do new Pips hints come out?
The NYT Pips puzzle changes at midnight in your time zone. Hints for the new Easy, Medium and Hard puzzles appear here as soon as your date changes — usually within minutes — after our own solver has double-checked the answer.
How do the hint levels work?
There are four levels and each opens only when you ask. 1: one sentence on where to start. 2: tap a region to see which pips it holds. 3: tap any cell to see its pip, or tap a domino to see where it goes. 4: the full solution. You can keep solving on the board between hints.
Does using a hint break my streak?
No for the first level. Solving today's puzzle here with no hints, or with only the one-sentence idea, keeps your streak. Revealing regions, cells or the full solution still records the puzzle but doesn't count toward the streak.
What do the Pips symbols mean?
A number means the pips in that colored region add up to exactly that number. “=” means every pip in the region is the same. “≠” means every pip is different. “<N” and “>N” mean the total is less or more than N. Cells with no symbol can hold any pip, and a domino may cross from one region into another.
Where can I find yesterday's Pips answer?
Every day since Pips launched on August 18, 2025 has its own answer page with hints and the full solution for all three levels. Open the answers calendar and pick a date.
Is this site made by The New York Times?
No. Pips Hints is an independent fan site. The puzzles belong to The New York Times; we publish our own hints and explanations of each day's solution.
What else is on Pips Hints besides NYT hints?
Besides hints and answers for the daily NYT Pips puzzle, Pips Hints has its own free Pips-style domino logic game: three daily boards of our own (Easy, Medium, Hard) and unlimited practice puzzles. Place every domino so that each colored region meets its rule — an exact total, all equal, all different, less than or greater than a number.
How do you play the pips game?
Pick a domino from the tray and tap a cell to place it (tap the domino again, or press Rotate, to turn it). You can also drag dominoes onto the board. Every cell must be covered and every domino used. A number badge means the pips in that region add up to that number; “=” means all pips in the region match; “≠” means they are all different; “<N” and “>N” mean the total is under or over N. Cells without a badge can hold anything.
Is there an unlimited version?
Yes. Unlimited practice gives you a brand-new puzzle every time you press Next, in Easy, Medium or Hard. Each practice puzzle has its own link, so you can send a friend the exact puzzle you just solved.
Does every puzzle have exactly one solution?
Yes. Every puzzle — daily and practice — is checked by a solver before you see it, and only puzzles with exactly one answer are used — there is only one way to put pips in every cell, so you never have to guess.
When does our own daily practice puzzle change?
At midnight in your own time zone. Everyone on the same calendar date gets the same three puzzles, so you can compare times with friends. Past dailies stay playable in the archive.
How do hints work in unlimited and daily practice?
Each hint places one correct domino for you and locks it, so you keep solving the rest yourself. Hinted dominoes show as yellow squares in your shared result. For a gentler nudge that doesn't place anything, see the daily hints page.
Do I need an account? Where are my stats saved?
No account, no sign-up. Your streak, times and progress are saved only in your browser on this device. Clearing site data resets them.
Can I play on my phone?
Yes. The game is built for phones first: the board, the dominoes and the buttons all fit on one screen, and you can tap or drag. It also works on tablets and computers, with R to rotate and Z to undo on a keyboard.
Is this the New York Times Pips game?
No. Pips Hints is an independent fan site, not affiliated with or endorsed by The New York Times. We post our own hints and explanations for the NYT Pips puzzle; our unlimited and daily practice boards, generator, design and code are our own.
Is it free?
Yes, completely free. The site may show a few ads to pay for itself; they never cover the board or the dominoes.