Free tool
Word search solver
Type or paste the letter grid one row per line, list the words you are looking for, and the solver loops every word it finds, in all eight directions: forwards, backwards, up, down and along both diagonals. It gives the row, column and direction of each word, flags any it cannot find, and prints the puzzle with its answer key. It runs entirely in your browser, so nothing you type is uploaded.
One row per line, up to 40 × 40. Spaces between letters are fine.
12 × 12 grid read.
One per line or comma-separated. Spaces inside a word are ignored.
10 words.
Found 10 of 10 words.
- WHALERow 12, column 10, right to left
- CORALRow 3, column 9, right to left
- OCTOPUSRow 6, column 11, right to left
- DOLPHINRow 9, column 2, left to right
- SEAWEEDRow 5, column 10, right to left
- STARFISHRow 10, column 5, left to right
- JELLYFISHRow 7, column 10, right to left
- TURTLERow 6, column 1, diagonally up and right
- SHARKRow 4, column 6, right to left
- CRABRow 4, column 12, top to bottom
How does the word search solver work?
It checks every possible line through the grid. For each word, it starts at every square holding the word's first letter and reads outwards in each of the eight directions, keeping any run whose letters spell the word. On a 15 × 15 grid that is 225 squares and 8 directions, so up to 1,800 lines per word. Nothing is guessed, so if a word is in the grid the solver finds it, and if it appears twice you are told both times.
How should I type the grid?
Type one row of the puzzle per line, top to bottom, reading each row left to right. Spaces, commas and tabs between letters are ignored, so a grid copied from a document or spreadsheet usually pastes straight in, and upper or lower case both work. Every row must have the same number of letters; if one row is short, the solver names it so you can find the missed letter. Grids up to 40 × 40 are supported.
Why can't it find one of my words?
Almost always it is a typing slip: one wrong or missing letter in a row breaks every word that crosses it. Compare the rows near where you expect the word with the printed puzzle. The other common cause is spelling: the list may say COLOUR where the grid hides COLOR. Words with spaces or hyphens, like ice cream or flip-flops, are searched without them, as puzzles print them.
Can I see one answer without spoiling the rest?
Yes. Switch to One at a time and the grid starts blank; tap a word in the list to loop just that one. When every word is found, the solver also shows the letters left over, in reading order, because some puzzles hide a secret message there.
Need a puzzle rather than an answer?
The word search generator builds a new puzzle from your own word list, and the printable word search library has ready-made sets, from word searches for kids to hard word searches and large print. Every one comes with its answer key.
Frequently asked questions
Is the word search solver free?
Yes. Solve as many puzzles as you like and download the answer key as a Letter or A4 PDF, with no signup.
Does it find backwards and diagonal words?
Yes. It searches all eight directions: left to right, right to left, top to bottom, bottom to top and all four diagonals.
Is my puzzle uploaded anywhere?
No. The solver runs in your browser. Your grid and word list are kept in this browser's storage so a reload does not lose them, and Clear removes them.
Can it solve a puzzle from a photo?
Not yet. Type the grid in row by row; the solver tells you if a row has the wrong number of letters, which catches most typing slips.
What size grids does it handle?
Square or rectangular grids up to 40 × 40 letters, with up to 60 words.