Where to play AARP's crossword puzzle online

AARP publishes a free daily crossword puzzle on its website at aarp.org/games. You do not need an AARP membership to play — the puzzle is open to anyone. Go to the games section, select "Crosswords," and you will see the current day's puzzle ready to solve in your browser.

The puzzle loads as an interactive grid where you can type answers directly into the squares. If you get stuck, the site offers a hint button for individual clues. You can also print the puzzle if you prefer to solve it on paper, though you will need to fill in your answers by hand and check them yourself.

The crossword resets each day at midnight, so a new puzzle appears every morning. If you miss a day, you can usually find recent puzzles in an archive, though the archive depth varies and older puzzles may not be available indefinitely.

Key Takeaways

  • AARP's daily crossword is free and does not require membership — visit aarp.org/games and select Crosswords to start playing.
  • You can solve the puzzle online in your browser, print it to solve on paper, or use the hint button if you get stuck on a clue.
  • A new puzzle appears each day at midnight, and recent past puzzles are usually available in the archive.
  • The difficulty level is moderate — designed for a general audience rather than competitive solvers or complete beginners.

How the puzzle difficulty is set

AARP's crossword is written for a broad audience, not for informed solvers or people new to crosswords. The clues tend to be straightforward rather than tricky, and the vocabulary is everyday language rather than obscure references. Most people who do crosswords regularly can finish it in 15 to 30 minutes.

The puzzle uses a standard 15-by-15 grid, which is the same size as the New York Times crossword. The theme — if there is one — is usually accessible: wordplay, puns, or a category that ties some of the longer answers together. Some days have no theme at all.

Printing and solving offline

If you prefer paper and pencil, the print button on the puzzle page will generate a PDF you can print when ready. The PDF includes both the blank grid and a separate answer key, so you can check your work after you finish.

Printing is useful if you want to solve during a commute, at a doctor's office, or straightforward because you prefer the feel of pencil on paper. Keep in mind that if you print, you will need to check your answers against the key yourself — the online version will highlight mistakes as you type.

What to do if you cannot access the puzzle

If the puzzle does not load, try clearing your browser's cache and refreshing the page. If you are using an older browser, update it — the puzzle requires a reasonably current version of Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or Edge to work properly.

If you cannot reach aarp.org at all, check your internet connection. If the site is down, wait a few minutes and try again. AARP's website is usually stable, but occasional maintenance happens without warning.

If you have a technical problem that persists, AARP's website has a contact form under its Help section. Response times vary, but the site does monitor technical issues.

Other games and puzzles on AARP's site

Beyond the daily crossword, AARP offers other word and logic puzzles: Sudoku, Mahjongg, Solitaire, and Trivia. All are free and do not require membership. You can browse all available games from the same games page where you find the crossword.

Some people play multiple puzzles each day as part of a routine. The games are designed to be low-pressure — there is no score, no timer, and no penalty for taking your time or walking away and coming back later.

Playing on a phone or tablet

The crossword works on phones and tablets through any web browser. The grid adjusts to fit your screen size, and you can tap squares to enter letters. The experience is slightly different from a desktop — the grid may feel cramped on a small screen, and typing can be slower — but it is fully playable.

AARP does not have a dedicated crossword app. You access the puzzle through the website on whatever device you use. Bookmarking the games page makes it faster to return each day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to be an AARP member to play?

No. The crossword is free and open to anyone, regardless of membership status. You do not need to create an account or provide any personal information to play.

Can I save my progress and come back to it later?

The online puzzle saves your answers automatically as you type, so you can close the browser and return to the same puzzle later in the day. Once the day changes at midnight, a new puzzle appears and the previous day's puzzle moves to the archive.

What if I want harder crosswords?

AARP's puzzle is intentionally moderate in difficulty. If you want more challenging crosswords, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the Los Angeles Times all publish daily crosswords of varying difficulty levels, though most require a subscription.

Can I print multiple puzzles at once?

You can print one puzzle per day from the current puzzle page. To print older puzzles, you would need to navigate to each one in the archive and print individually. There is no batch-print feature.

Is there a way to compete with other players?

AARP's crossword does not have a leaderboard or competitive feature. It is designed for solo play at your own pace. Some other puzzle sites offer timed competitions or social features if that interests you.