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LinkedIn · Patches

Patches solver

LinkedIn Patches asks you to split the grid into rectangles, one around each clue. Enter the clues — their number and shape badge — and the solver lays out every patch, one at a time if you like.

Grid size

Tap a cell to add a clue, then set its size and shape exactly as shown in your game.

Just want today's answer? See today's Patches hints & answer.

How to use the solver

  1. Choose the grid size that matches your puzzle.
  2. Tap a cell that holds a clue, type its number in “Area” (leave it empty if the clue has no number) and pick its shape: square, tall, wide or any.
  3. Repeat for every clue on the board.
  4. Press “Give me a hint” to reveal the smallest patch first, or “Show full solution” to see them all.

The rules in 30 seconds

  • Divide the whole grid into rectangles — no gaps, no overlaps.
  • Each rectangle contains exactly one clue.
  • A number tells you how many cells that rectangle covers.
  • The badge sets its shape: square (as tall as it is wide), tall (taller than wide), wide (wider than tall) or any.

Solving tips that actually help

  • Start with big numbers in tight spots — a 9 with a square badge can only be 3×3, which rarely fits in more than one place.
  • Clues near edges and corners have fewer directions to grow, so they're easier to pin down.
  • Prime numbers like 5 or 7 must be a single straight line (1×5, 1×7) — combined with a tall or wide badge, that's often decisive.
  • Cells that only one clue can reach belong to that clue — mark them early to shrink everyone else's options.

Questions & answers

Is Patches the same as Shikaku?

It's a close cousin. Classic Shikaku uses only numbers; LinkedIn Patches adds shape badges (square, tall, wide), which makes the logic richer and the solution easier to reach without guessing.

What if a clue has no number?

Leave “Area” empty. The solver then only uses the shape badge and the one-clue-per-rectangle rule for that patch.

When is a new Patches puzzle released?

LinkedIn publishes one every day at midnight Pacific Time (9:00 in most of Europe).