2026-07-21
This is a LinkedIn daily from the archive. Use the Solution tab below to reveal the complete answer, or keep practicing with a new puzzle anytime.
Try a random puzzle →Keep playing
Browse nearby LinkedIn dailies, try today's board, or explore similar puzzles and random mode.
Puzzle guide
Full breakdown using the Solver walkthrough format — patch placements, tiling analysis, and strategy notes.
Overview
LinkedIn Patches #126 is the LinkedIn Patches daily for July 21, 2026. Patches is LinkedIn's tiling puzzle: partition a 7×7 grid into non-overlapping rectangles — one per clue — matching area and shape hints until every cell is covered. This page includes the live board, a solved-board view, and a step-by-step Solution walkthrough. Difficulty: Easy. Estimated solve time: 3–5 min.
Answer
This board has 12 clues on a 7×7 grid — each maps to one non-overlapping patch.
12 rectangles tile the 7×7 grid (49 cells): clue 1 → 2×2, clue 2 → 1×2, clue 3 → 3×2, clue 4 → 3×2, clue 5 → 4×1, clue 6 → 1×2, clue 7 → 1×2, clue 8 → 4×1, clue 9 → 4×1, clue 10 → 3×3, clue 11 → 1×2, clue 12 → 2×2. No overlap, every clue covered exactly once.
Analysis
I solve LinkedIn Patches #126 patch by patch on a 7×7 grid. 12 clues to satisfy, 6 with numbered areas. My tiling order: clue 1 (2×2) → clue 2 (1×2) → clue 3 (3×2) → clue 4 (3×2) → clue 5 (4×1) → clue 6 (1×2) → clue 7 (1×2) → clue 8 (4×1) → clue 9 (4×1) → clue 10 (3×3) → clue 11 (1×2) → clue 12 (2×2). I draw the tightest rectangles first and check that the remaining space can still partition cleanly before committing each shape.
Before the first drag I scan for the largest area clues and strict shape icons — on this board that means Most clues specify a strict shape icon (square, tall, or wide) — shape constraints often pin down dimensions before you can draw anything.
General Patches strategy on 7×7: rectangles cannot overlap, every cell must belong to exactly one patch, and each patch must contain precisely one clue at its anchor cell. When a clue shows area 12 and a tall icon, only a few height×width pairs are legal — list them before drawing. After each placement, mentally partition the leftover white space: if any region cannot host its remaining clues, back up and try the next candidate.
I draw patch 1 next — 2×2 at Row 2, column 2. The clue shows area 4, so this patch must cover exactly 4 cells (2×2 = 4). The shape icon requires a square. After placing this 4-cell rectangle, 45 cells remain for 11 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
I draw patch 2 next — 1×2 at Row 3, column 1. The clue shows area 2, so this patch must cover exactly 2 cells (1×2 = 2). The shape icon requires a wide rectangle (wider than tall). After placing this 2-cell rectangle, 43 cells remain for 10 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
I draw patch 3 next — 3×2 at Row 3, column 3. The clue shows area 6, so this patch must cover exactly 6 cells (3×2 = 6). The shape icon requires a tall rectangle (taller than wide). After placing this 6-cell rectangle, 37 cells remain for 9 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
I draw patch 4 next — 3×2 at Row 3, column 6. This patch covers 6 cells (3×2). The shape icon requires a tall rectangle (taller than wide). After placing this 6-cell rectangle, 31 cells remain for 8 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
I draw patch 5 next — 4×1 at Row 4, column 1. The clue shows area 4, so this patch must cover exactly 4 cells (4×1 = 4). The shape icon requires a tall rectangle (taller than wide). After placing this 4-cell rectangle, 27 cells remain for 7 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
I draw patch 6 next — 1×2 at Row 4, column 3. The clue shows area 2, so this patch must cover exactly 2 cells (1×2 = 2). The shape icon requires a wide rectangle (wider than tall). After placing this 2-cell rectangle, 25 cells remain for 6 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
I draw patch 7 next — 1×2 at Row 4, column 5. This patch covers 2 cells (1×2). The shape icon requires a wide rectangle (wider than tall). After placing this 2-cell rectangle, 23 cells remain for 5 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
I draw patch 8 next — 4×1 at Row 4, column 7. This patch covers 4 cells (4×1). The shape icon requires a tall rectangle (taller than wide). After placing this 4-cell rectangle, 19 cells remain for 4 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
I draw patch 9 next — 4×1 at Row 5, column 2. The clue shows area 4, so this patch must cover exactly 4 cells (4×1 = 4). The shape icon requires a tall rectangle (taller than wide). After placing this 4-cell rectangle, 15 cells remain for 3 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
I draw patch 10 next — 3×3 at Row 5, column 5. This patch covers 9 cells (3×3). The shape icon requires a square. After placing this 9-cell rectangle, 6 cells remain for 2 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
I draw patch 11 next — 1×2 at Row 5, column 7. This patch covers 2 cells (1×2). The shape icon requires a wide rectangle (wider than tall). After placing this 2-cell rectangle, 4 cells remain for 1 clue. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
I draw patch 12 next — 2×2 at Row 6, column 6. This patch covers 4 cells (2×2). The shape icon requires a square. This 4-cell patch completes the grid — all 49 cells are now assigned to exactly one clue.
Done — every cell colored, no overlaps, all clues satisfied. Most clues specify a strict shape icon (square, tall, or wide) — shape constraints often pin down dimensions before you can draw anything.
Patches
Shape & area
The clue shows area 4, so this patch must cover exactly 4 cells (2×2 = 4). The shape icon requires a square.
After placing this 4-cell rectangle, 45 cells remain for 11 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Solving note
First patch: After placing this 4-cell rectangle, 45 cells remain for 11 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Shape & area
The clue shows area 2, so this patch must cover exactly 2 cells (1×2 = 2). The shape icon requires a wide rectangle (wider than tall).
After placing this 2-cell rectangle, 43 cells remain for 10 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Solving note
Second patch: After placing this 2-cell rectangle, 43 cells remain for 10 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Shape & area
The clue shows area 6, so this patch must cover exactly 6 cells (3×2 = 6). The shape icon requires a tall rectangle (taller than wide).
After placing this 6-cell rectangle, 37 cells remain for 9 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Solving note
Third patch: After placing this 6-cell rectangle, 37 cells remain for 9 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Shape & area
This patch covers 6 cells (3×2). The shape icon requires a tall rectangle (taller than wide).
After placing this 6-cell rectangle, 31 cells remain for 8 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Solving note
Fourth patch: After placing this 6-cell rectangle, 31 cells remain for 8 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Shape & area
The clue shows area 4, so this patch must cover exactly 4 cells (4×1 = 4). The shape icon requires a tall rectangle (taller than wide).
After placing this 4-cell rectangle, 27 cells remain for 7 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Solving note
Fifth patch: After placing this 4-cell rectangle, 27 cells remain for 7 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Shape & area
The clue shows area 2, so this patch must cover exactly 2 cells (1×2 = 2). The shape icon requires a wide rectangle (wider than tall).
After placing this 2-cell rectangle, 25 cells remain for 6 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Solving note
Sixth patch: After placing this 2-cell rectangle, 25 cells remain for 6 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Shape & area
This patch covers 2 cells (1×2). The shape icon requires a wide rectangle (wider than tall).
After placing this 2-cell rectangle, 23 cells remain for 5 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Solving note
Seventh patch: After placing this 2-cell rectangle, 23 cells remain for 5 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Shape & area
This patch covers 4 cells (4×1). The shape icon requires a tall rectangle (taller than wide).
After placing this 4-cell rectangle, 19 cells remain for 4 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Solving note
Eighth patch: After placing this 4-cell rectangle, 19 cells remain for 4 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Shape & area
The clue shows area 4, so this patch must cover exactly 4 cells (4×1 = 4). The shape icon requires a tall rectangle (taller than wide).
After placing this 4-cell rectangle, 15 cells remain for 3 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Solving note
Ninth patch: After placing this 4-cell rectangle, 15 cells remain for 3 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Shape & area
This patch covers 9 cells (3×3). The shape icon requires a square.
After placing this 9-cell rectangle, 6 cells remain for 2 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Solving note
Tenth patch: After placing this 9-cell rectangle, 6 cells remain for 2 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Shape & area
This patch covers 2 cells (1×2). The shape icon requires a wide rectangle (wider than tall).
After placing this 2-cell rectangle, 4 cells remain for 1 clue. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Solving note
Patch 11: After placing this 2-cell rectangle, 4 cells remain for 1 clue. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Shape & area
This patch covers 4 cells (2×2). The shape icon requires a square.
This 4-cell patch completes the grid — all 49 cells are now assigned to exactly one clue.
Solving note
Patch 12: This 4-cell patch completes the grid — all 49 cells are now assigned to exactly one clue.
Verification
I trust this tiling because every patch I placed was the only rectangle that still allowed the whole grid to complete. Wrong sizes would either break area math, violate a shape icon, or trap remaining clues in untileable gaps.
Solve path
Phase 1: Partition the 7×7 grid into 12 non-overlapping rectangles — one per clue, matching area and shape hints. Patch 1: draw 2×2 at Row 1, column 1 for the clue at Row 2, column 2. The clue shows area 4, so this patch must cover exactly 4 cells (2×2 = 4). Patch 2: draw 1×2 at Row 3, column 1 for the clue at Row 3, column 1. The clue shows area 2, so this patch must cover exactly 2 cells (1×2 = 2). Patch 3: draw 3×2 at Row 1, column 3 for the clue at Row 3, column 3. The clue shows area 6, so this patch must cover exactly 6 cells (3×2 = 6). Patch 4: draw 3×2 at Row 1, column 5 for the clue at Row 3, column 6. This patch covers 6 cells (3×2). Patch 5: draw 4×1 at Row 4, column 1 for the clue at Row 4, column 1. The clue shows area 4, so this patch must cover exactly 4 cells (4×1 = 4). Patch 6: draw 1×2 at Row 4, column 3 for the clue at Row 4, column 3. The clue shows area 2, so this patch must cover exactly 2 cells (1×2 = 2). Patch 7: draw 1×2 at Row 4, column 5 for the clue at Row 4, column 5. This patch covers 2 cells (1×2). Patch 8: draw 4×1 at Row 1, column 7 for the clue at Row 4, column 7. This patch covers 4 cells (4×1). Patch 9: draw 4×1 at Row 4, column 2 for the clue at Row 5, column 2. The clue shows area 4, so this patch must cover exactly 4 cells (4×1 = 4). Patch 10: draw 3×3 at Row 5, column 3 for the clue at Row 5, column 5. This patch covers 9 cells (3×3). Patch 11: draw 1×2 at Row 5, column 6 for the clue at Row 5, column 7. This patch covers 2 cells (1×2). Patch 12: draw 2×2 at Row 6, column 6 for the clue at Row 6, column 6. This patch covers 4 cells (2×2). Complete: 49 cells covered, 12 valid patches — full tiling verified.
Pattern
Most clues specify a strict shape icon (square, tall, or wide) — shape constraints often pin down dimensions before you can draw anything.
Learn more in Patches Puzzle Strategies →Takeaways
Patch order clue 1 (2×2) → clue 2 (1×2) → clue 3 (3×2) → clue 4 (3×2) → clue 5 (4×1) → clue 6 (1×2) → clue 7 (1×2) → clue 8 (4×1) → clue 9 (4×1) → clue 10 (3×3) → clue 11 (1×2) → clue 12 (2×2) matched how free space shrank — largest anchors first, then filling narrow gaps around them.
Drawing a rectangle that contains zero or two clues invalidates the patch immediately — always verify the clue cell sits inside and alone.
Retry LinkedIn Patches #126 using only one hint. You should lock the first forced patch within a minute if you scan area 9 anchors first.
Solution
This 7×7 board has 12 clues, 6 of which specify a required area. Shape hints include square, wide, tall proportions. 12 rectangles tile the 7×7 grid (49 cells): clue 1 → 2×2, clue 2 → 1×2, clue 3 → 3×2, clue 4 → 3×2, clue 5 → 4×1, clue 6 → 1×2, clue 7 → 1×2, clue 8 → 4×1, clue 9 → 4×1, clue 10 → 3×3, clue 11 → 1×2, clue 12 → 2×2. No overlap, every clue covered exactly once. Most clues specify a strict shape icon (square, tall, or wide) — shape constraints often pin down dimensions before you can draw anything. Use the Solution tab for a patch-by-patch reveal with live board updates, or the Solved board tab for the complete tiling.