2026-07-26
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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 #496 is the LinkedIn Zip daily for July 26, 2026. Zip is LinkedIn's path puzzle: draw one continuous route through a 8×8 grid, visit every cell exactly once, hit 16 numbered checkpoints in order, and navigate around 0 walls. This page includes the live board, a solved-board view, and a step-by-step Solution walkthrough. Difficulty: Hard. Estimated solve time: 6–10 min.
Answer
This 8×8 Zip route visits all 64 cells once, hits 16 checkpoints in order, and respects 0 walls:
1→2 (15 cells, R4C8→R5C1); 2→3 (3 cells, R5C1→R6C2); 3→4 (16 cells, R6C2→R4C7); 4→5 (4 cells, R4C7→R6C6); 5→6 (3 cells, R6C6→R7C7); 6→7 (2 cells, R7C7→R7C6); 7→8 (5 cells, R7C6→R6C3); 8→9 (5 cells, R6C3→R3C4); 9→10 (2 cells, R3C4→R3C3); 10→11 (4 cells, R3C3→R5C2); 11→12 (4 cells, R5C2→R2C2); 12→13 (2 cells, R2C2→R2C3); 13→14 (6 cells, R2C3→R3C7); 14→15 (2 cells, R3C7→R3C6); 15→16 (5 cells, R3C6→R6C5)
Checkpoints sit close together on the grid — short numbered hops still need full-cell coverage between them without revisiting squares.
Analysis
I solve LinkedIn Zip #496 checkpoint by checkpoint on a 8×8 grid. 16 numbers to hit in sequence, 0 walls to respect. My route breaks into 15 hops: 1→2 (15 cells), 2→3 (3 cells), 3→4 (16 cells), 4→5 (4 cells), 5→6 (3 cells), 6→7 (2 cells), 7→8 (5 cells), 8→9 (5 cells), 9→10 (2 cells), 10→11 (4 cells), 11→12 (4 cells), 12→13 (2 cells), 13→14 (6 cells), 14→15 (2 cells), 15→16 (5 cells).
Before the first stroke I mark walls and the next checkpoint — on this board that means Checkpoints sit close together on the grid — short numbered hops still need full-cell coverage between them without revisiting squares.
I draw hop 1 next — checkpoint 2 at R5C1 after 15 cells from R4C8. Open corridor — no walls on this hop.
I draw hop 2 next — checkpoint 3 at R6C2 after 3 cells from R5C1. Open corridor — no walls on this hop.
I draw hop 3 next — checkpoint 4 at R4C7 after 16 cells from R6C2. Open corridor — no walls on this hop.
I draw hop 4 next — checkpoint 5 at R6C6 after 4 cells from R4C7. Open corridor — no walls on this hop.
I draw hop 5 next — checkpoint 6 at R7C7 after 3 cells from R6C6. Open corridor — no walls on this hop.
I draw hop 6 next — checkpoint 7 at R7C6 after 2 cells from R7C7. Open corridor — no walls on this hop.
I draw hop 7 next — checkpoint 8 at R6C3 after 5 cells from R7C6. Open corridor — no walls on this hop.
I draw hop 8 next — checkpoint 9 at R3C4 after 5 cells from R6C3. Open corridor — no walls on this hop.
I draw hop 9 next — checkpoint 10 at R3C3 after 2 cells from R3C4. Open corridor — no walls on this hop.
I draw hop 10 next — checkpoint 11 at R5C2 after 4 cells from R3C3. Open corridor — no walls on this hop.
I draw hop 11 next — checkpoint 12 at R2C2 after 4 cells from R5C2. Open corridor — no walls on this hop.
I draw hop 12 next — checkpoint 13 at R2C3 after 2 cells from R2C2. Open corridor — no walls on this hop.
I draw hop 13 next — checkpoint 14 at R3C7 after 6 cells from R2C3. Open corridor — no walls on this hop.
I draw hop 14 next — checkpoint 15 at R3C6 after 2 cells from R3C7. Open corridor — no walls on this hop.
I draw hop 15 next — checkpoint 16 at R6C5 after 5 cells from R3C6. Open corridor — no walls on this hop.
Finished — every cell filled, no revisits, walls respected. Checkpoints sit close together on the grid — short numbered hops still need full-cell coverage between them without revisiting squares.
Checkpoint hops
Corridor insight
I route First stretch toward checkpoint 2 at R5C1. 15 cells link checkpoint 1 at R4C8 to checkpoint 2 at R5C1 with open corridors (no walls on this segment).
Solving note
First stretch: Lock this hop before sketching later detours — 15 cells, 0 walls.
Corridor insight
I route Second stretch toward checkpoint 3 at R6C2. Tight 3-cell hop — checkpoints 2 and 3 sit near each other; still visit every intervening cell exactly once.
Solving note
Second stretch: Lock this hop before sketching later detours — 3 cells, 0 walls.
Corridor insight
I route Third stretch toward checkpoint 4 at R4C7. 16 cells link checkpoint 3 at R6C2 to checkpoint 4 at R4C7 with open corridors (no walls on this segment).
Solving note
Third stretch: Lock this hop before sketching later detours — 16 cells, 0 walls.
Corridor insight
I route Fourth stretch toward checkpoint 5 at R6C6. 4 cells link checkpoint 4 at R4C7 to checkpoint 5 at R6C6 with open corridors (no walls on this segment).
Solving note
Fourth stretch: Lock this hop before sketching later detours — 4 cells, 0 walls.
Corridor insight
I route Fifth stretch toward checkpoint 6 at R7C7. Tight 3-cell hop — checkpoints 5 and 6 sit near each other; still visit every intervening cell exactly once.
Solving note
Fifth stretch: Lock this hop before sketching later detours — 3 cells, 0 walls.
Corridor insight
I route Sixth stretch toward checkpoint 7 at R7C6. Tight 2-cell hop — checkpoints 6 and 7 sit near each other; still visit every intervening cell exactly once.
Solving note
Sixth stretch: Lock this hop before sketching later detours — 2 cells, 0 walls.
Corridor insight
I route Seventh stretch toward checkpoint 8 at R6C3. 5 cells link checkpoint 7 at R7C6 to checkpoint 8 at R6C3 with open corridors (no walls on this segment).
Solving note
Seventh stretch: Lock this hop before sketching later detours — 5 cells, 0 walls.
Corridor insight
I route Eighth stretch toward checkpoint 9 at R3C4. 5 cells link checkpoint 8 at R6C3 to checkpoint 9 at R3C4 with open corridors (no walls on this segment).
Solving note
Eighth stretch: Lock this hop before sketching later detours — 5 cells, 0 walls.
Corridor insight
I route Hop 9 toward checkpoint 10 at R3C3. Tight 2-cell hop — checkpoints 9 and 10 sit near each other; still visit every intervening cell exactly once.
Solving note
Hop 9: Lock this hop before sketching later detours — 2 cells, 0 walls.
Corridor insight
I route Hop 10 toward checkpoint 11 at R5C2. 4 cells link checkpoint 10 at R3C3 to checkpoint 11 at R5C2 with open corridors (no walls on this segment).
Solving note
Hop 10: Lock this hop before sketching later detours — 4 cells, 0 walls.
Corridor insight
I route Hop 11 toward checkpoint 12 at R2C2. 4 cells link checkpoint 11 at R5C2 to checkpoint 12 at R2C2 with open corridors (no walls on this segment).
Solving note
Hop 11: Lock this hop before sketching later detours — 4 cells, 0 walls.
Corridor insight
I route Hop 12 toward checkpoint 13 at R2C3. Tight 2-cell hop — checkpoints 12 and 13 sit near each other; still visit every intervening cell exactly once.
Solving note
Hop 12: Lock this hop before sketching later detours — 2 cells, 0 walls.
Corridor insight
I route Hop 13 toward checkpoint 14 at R3C7. 6 cells link checkpoint 13 at R2C3 to checkpoint 14 at R3C7 with open corridors (no walls on this segment).
Solving note
Hop 13: Lock this hop before sketching later detours — 6 cells, 0 walls.
Corridor insight
I route Hop 14 toward checkpoint 15 at R3C6. Tight 2-cell hop — checkpoints 14 and 15 sit near each other; still visit every intervening cell exactly once.
Solving note
Hop 14: Lock this hop before sketching later detours — 2 cells, 0 walls.
Corridor insight
I route Hop 15 toward checkpoint 16 at R6C5. 5 cells link checkpoint 15 at R3C6 to checkpoint 16 at R6C5 with open corridors (no walls on this segment).
Solving note
Hop 15: Lock this hop before sketching later detours — 5 cells, 0 walls.
Verification
I trust this route because every hop I reveal still allows a full fill — 15 segments, 64 cells total. Wrong early detours dead-end against walls or trap unchecked squares.
Solve path
Phase 1: Start at checkpoint 1 (R4C8) on this 8×8 grid with 16 checkpoints and 0 walls. Segment 1: Visit checkpoint 2 at R5C1 via 15 cells from checkpoint 1. 15 cells link checkpoint 1 at R4C8 to checkpoint 2 at R5C1 with open corridors (no walls on this segment). Segment 2: Visit checkpoint 3 at R6C2 via 3 cells from checkpoint 2. Tight 3-cell hop — checkpoints 2 and 3 sit near each other; still visit every intervening cell exactly once. Segment 3: Visit checkpoint 4 at R4C7 via 16 cells from checkpoint 3. 16 cells link checkpoint 3 at R6C2 to checkpoint 4 at R4C7 with open corridors (no walls on this segment). Segment 4: Visit checkpoint 5 at R6C6 via 4 cells from checkpoint 4. 4 cells link checkpoint 4 at R4C7 to checkpoint 5 at R6C6 with open corridors (no walls on this segment). Segment 5: Visit checkpoint 6 at R7C7 via 3 cells from checkpoint 5. Tight 3-cell hop — checkpoints 5 and 6 sit near each other; still visit every intervening cell exactly once. Segment 6: Visit checkpoint 7 at R7C6 via 2 cells from checkpoint 6. Tight 2-cell hop — checkpoints 6 and 7 sit near each other; still visit every intervening cell exactly once. Segment 7: Visit checkpoint 8 at R6C3 via 5 cells from checkpoint 7. 5 cells link checkpoint 7 at R7C6 to checkpoint 8 at R6C3 with open corridors (no walls on this segment). Segment 8: Visit checkpoint 9 at R3C4 via 5 cells from checkpoint 8. 5 cells link checkpoint 8 at R6C3 to checkpoint 9 at R3C4 with open corridors (no walls on this segment). Segment 9: Visit checkpoint 10 at R3C3 via 2 cells from checkpoint 9. Tight 2-cell hop — checkpoints 9 and 10 sit near each other; still visit every intervening cell exactly once. Segment 10: Visit checkpoint 11 at R5C2 via 4 cells from checkpoint 10. 4 cells link checkpoint 10 at R3C3 to checkpoint 11 at R5C2 with open corridors (no walls on this segment). Segment 11: Visit checkpoint 12 at R2C2 via 4 cells from checkpoint 11. 4 cells link checkpoint 11 at R5C2 to checkpoint 12 at R2C2 with open corridors (no walls on this segment). Segment 12: Visit checkpoint 13 at R2C3 via 2 cells from checkpoint 12. Tight 2-cell hop — checkpoints 12 and 13 sit near each other; still visit every intervening cell exactly once. Segment 13: Visit checkpoint 14 at R3C7 via 6 cells from checkpoint 13. 6 cells link checkpoint 13 at R2C3 to checkpoint 14 at R3C7 with open corridors (no walls on this segment). Segment 14: Visit checkpoint 15 at R3C6 via 2 cells from checkpoint 14. Tight 2-cell hop — checkpoints 14 and 15 sit near each other; still visit every intervening cell exactly once. Segment 15: Visit checkpoint 16 at R6C5 via 5 cells from checkpoint 15. 5 cells link checkpoint 15 at R3C6 to checkpoint 16 at R6C5 with open corridors (no walls on this segment). Complete: Hamiltonian path covers all 64 cells, checkpoints 1–16 in order, ending on checkpoint 16 at R6C5.
Pattern
Checkpoints sit close together on the grid — short numbered hops still need full-cell coverage between them without revisiting squares.
Learn more in Zip Puzzle Strategies →Takeaways
Mapping checkpoint 16 early made the final sweep obvious. 15 reveals matched how I think while playing.
Longest hop: 16 cells — if a segment feels longer, you are probably on the archive path.
Try LinkedIn Zip #496 again using one hint max per stuck segment — walls (0) matter most on hops 2 and 3.
Solution
This 8×8 board has 16 checkpoints (1@R4C8, 2@R5C1, 3@R6C2, 4@R4C7, 5@R6C6, 6@R7C7, 7@R7C6, 8@R6C3, 9@R3C4, 10@R3C3, 11@R5C2, 12@R2C2, 13@R2C3, 14@R3C7, 15@R3C6, 16@R6C5) and 0 walls. The solution path covers 64 cells in 15 checkpoint hops: 1→2 (15 cells, R4C8→R5C1); 2→3 (3 cells, R5C1→R6C2); 3→4 (16 cells, R6C2→R4C7); 4→5 (4 cells, R4C7→R6C6); 5→6 (3 cells, R6C6→R7C7); 6→7 (2 cells, R7C7→R7C6); 7→8 (5 cells, R7C6→R6C3); 8→9 (5 cells, R6C3→R3C4); 9→10 (2 cells, R3C4→R3C3); 10→11 (4 cells, R3C3→R5C2); 11→12 (4 cells, R5C2→R2C2); 12→13 (2 cells, R2C2→R2C3); 13→14 (6 cells, R2C3→R3C7); 14→15 (2 cells, R3C7→R3C6); 15→16 (5 cells, R3C6→R6C5). Checkpoints sit close together on the grid — short numbered hops still need full-cell coverage between them without revisiting squares. 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.