2026-07-16
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Puzzle guide
Full breakdown using the Solver walkthrough format — checkpoint hops, corridor notes, wall map, and strategy notes.
Overview
LinkedIn Zip #486 is the LinkedIn Zip daily for July 16, 2026. Zip is LinkedIn's path puzzle: draw one continuous route through a 7×7 grid, visit every cell exactly once, hit 9 numbered checkpoints in order, and navigate around 8 walls. This page includes the live board, a solved-board view, and a step-by-step Solution walkthrough. Difficulty: Medium. Estimated solve time: 4–6 min.
Answer
This 7×7 Zip route visits all 49 cells once, hits 9 checkpoints in order, and respects 8 walls:
1→2 (5 cells, R5C3→R3C1); 2→3 (11 cells, R3C1→R3C7); 3→4 (7 cells, R3C7→R2C2); 4→5 (5 cells, R2C2→R3C5); 5→6 (5 cells, R3C5→R5C7); 6→7 (5 cells, R5C7→R6C6); 7→8 (11 cells, R6C6→R5C1); 8→9 (7 cells, R5C1→R4C4)
Many blocked edges narrow your options early — map wall bottlenecks before tracing toward the next numbered checkpoint.
Analysis
I solve LinkedIn Zip #486 checkpoint by checkpoint on a 7×7 grid. 9 numbers to hit in sequence, 8 walls to respect. My route breaks into 8 hops: 1→2 (5 cells), 2→3 (11 cells), 3→4 (7 cells), 4→5 (5 cells), 5→6 (5 cells), 6→7 (5 cells), 7→8 (11 cells), 8→9 (7 cells).
Before the first stroke I mark walls and the next checkpoint — on this board that means Many blocked edges narrow your options early — map wall bottlenecks before tracing toward the next numbered checkpoint.
I draw hop 1 next — checkpoint 2 at R3C1 after 5 cells from R5C3. Open corridor — no walls on this hop.
I draw hop 2 next — checkpoint 3 at R3C7 after 11 cells from R3C1. Open corridor — no walls on this hop.
I draw hop 3 next — checkpoint 4 at R2C2 after 7 cells from R3C7. Open corridor — no walls on this hop.
I draw hop 4 next — checkpoint 5 at R3C5 after 5 cells from R2C2. Open corridor — no walls on this hop.
I draw hop 5 next — checkpoint 6 at R5C7 after 5 cells from R3C5. Open corridor — no walls on this hop.
I draw hop 6 next — checkpoint 7 at R6C6 after 5 cells from R5C7. Open corridor — no walls on this hop.
I draw hop 7 next — checkpoint 8 at R5C1 after 11 cells from R6C6. Open corridor — no walls on this hop.
I draw hop 8 next — checkpoint 9 at R4C4 after 7 cells from R5C1. Open corridor — no walls on this hop.
Finished — every cell filled, no revisits, walls respected. Many blocked edges narrow your options early — map wall bottlenecks before tracing toward the next numbered checkpoint.
Checkpoint hops
Corridor insight
I route First stretch toward checkpoint 2 at R3C1. 5 cells link checkpoint 1 at R5C3 to checkpoint 2 at R3C1 with open corridors (no walls on this segment).
Solving note
First stretch: Lock this hop before sketching later detours — 5 cells, 0 walls.
Corridor insight
I route Second stretch toward checkpoint 3 at R3C7. 11 cells link checkpoint 2 at R3C1 to checkpoint 3 at R3C7 with open corridors (no walls on this segment).
Solving note
Second stretch: Lock this hop before sketching later detours — 11 cells, 0 walls.
Corridor insight
I route Third stretch toward checkpoint 4 at R2C2. 7 cells link checkpoint 3 at R3C7 to checkpoint 4 at R2C2 with open corridors (no walls on this segment).
Solving note
Third stretch: Lock this hop before sketching later detours — 7 cells, 0 walls.
Corridor insight
I route Fourth stretch toward checkpoint 5 at R3C5. 5 cells link checkpoint 4 at R2C2 to checkpoint 5 at R3C5 with open corridors (no walls on this segment).
Solving note
Fourth stretch: Lock this hop before sketching later detours — 5 cells, 0 walls.
Corridor insight
I route Fifth stretch toward checkpoint 6 at R5C7. 5 cells link checkpoint 5 at R3C5 to checkpoint 6 at R5C7 with open corridors (no walls on this segment).
Solving note
Fifth stretch: Lock this hop before sketching later detours — 5 cells, 0 walls.
Corridor insight
I route Sixth stretch toward checkpoint 7 at R6C6. 5 cells link checkpoint 6 at R5C7 to checkpoint 7 at R6C6 with open corridors (no walls on this segment).
Solving note
Sixth stretch: Lock this hop before sketching later detours — 5 cells, 0 walls.
Corridor insight
I route Seventh stretch toward checkpoint 8 at R5C1. 11 cells link checkpoint 7 at R6C6 to checkpoint 8 at R5C1 with open corridors (no walls on this segment).
Solving note
Seventh stretch: Lock this hop before sketching later detours — 11 cells, 0 walls.
Corridor insight
I route Eighth stretch toward checkpoint 9 at R4C4. 7 cells link checkpoint 8 at R5C1 to checkpoint 9 at R4C4 with open corridors (no walls on this segment).
Solving note
Eighth stretch: Lock this hop before sketching later detours — 7 cells, 0 walls.
Verification
I trust this route because every hop I reveal still allows a full fill — 8 segments, 49 cells total. Wrong early detours dead-end against walls or trap unchecked squares.
Solve path
Phase 1: Start at checkpoint 1 (R5C3) on this 7×7 grid with 9 checkpoints and 8 walls. Segment 1: Visit checkpoint 2 at R3C1 via 5 cells from checkpoint 1. 5 cells link checkpoint 1 at R5C3 to checkpoint 2 at R3C1 with open corridors (no walls on this segment). Segment 2: Visit checkpoint 3 at R3C7 via 11 cells from checkpoint 2. 11 cells link checkpoint 2 at R3C1 to checkpoint 3 at R3C7 with open corridors (no walls on this segment). Segment 3: Visit checkpoint 4 at R2C2 via 7 cells from checkpoint 3. 7 cells link checkpoint 3 at R3C7 to checkpoint 4 at R2C2 with open corridors (no walls on this segment). Segment 4: Visit checkpoint 5 at R3C5 via 5 cells from checkpoint 4. 5 cells link checkpoint 4 at R2C2 to checkpoint 5 at R3C5 with open corridors (no walls on this segment). Segment 5: Visit checkpoint 6 at R5C7 via 5 cells from checkpoint 5. 5 cells link checkpoint 5 at R3C5 to checkpoint 6 at R5C7 with open corridors (no walls on this segment). Segment 6: Visit checkpoint 7 at R6C6 via 5 cells from checkpoint 6. 5 cells link checkpoint 6 at R5C7 to checkpoint 7 at R6C6 with open corridors (no walls on this segment). Segment 7: Visit checkpoint 8 at R5C1 via 11 cells from checkpoint 7. 11 cells link checkpoint 7 at R6C6 to checkpoint 8 at R5C1 with open corridors (no walls on this segment). Segment 8: Visit checkpoint 9 at R4C4 via 7 cells from checkpoint 8. 7 cells link checkpoint 8 at R5C1 to checkpoint 9 at R4C4 with open corridors (no walls on this segment). Complete: Hamiltonian path covers all 49 cells, checkpoints 1–9 in order, ending on checkpoint 9 at R4C4.
Pattern
Many blocked edges narrow your options early — map wall bottlenecks before tracing toward the next numbered checkpoint.
Learn more in Zip Puzzle Strategies →Takeaways
Mapping checkpoint 9 early made the final sweep obvious. 8 reveals matched how I think while playing.
Longest hop: 11 cells — if a segment feels longer, you are probably on the archive path.
Try LinkedIn Zip #486 again using one hint max per stuck segment — walls (8) matter most on hops 2 and 3.
Solution
This 7×7 board has 9 checkpoints (1@R5C3, 2@R3C1, 3@R3C7, 4@R2C2, 5@R3C5, 6@R5C7, 7@R6C6, 8@R5C1, 9@R4C4) and 8 walls. The solution path covers 49 cells in 8 checkpoint hops: 1→2 (5 cells, R5C3→R3C1); 2→3 (11 cells, R3C1→R3C7); 3→4 (7 cells, R3C7→R2C2); 4→5 (5 cells, R2C2→R3C5); 5→6 (5 cells, R3C5→R5C7); 6→7 (5 cells, R5C7→R6C6); 7→8 (11 cells, R6C6→R5C1); 8→9 (7 cells, R5C1→R4C4). Many blocked edges narrow your options early — map wall bottlenecks before tracing toward the next numbered checkpoint. Use the Solution tab for a checkpoint-segment reveal with live board updates, or the Solved board tab for the complete path at a glance.