A .puz file is a crossword puzzle saved in the Across Lite format. To open one, use a crossword solving app: Across Lite on Mac or Windows, Forkyz on Android, or a browser-based solver or constructor that accepts .puz uploads. To edit the grid and clues rather than just solve, import it into a constructor such as Gridsmith (a Gridsmith Plus feature) or XWord.
What is a .puz file?
.puz is the crossword file format created by Literate Software ("Litsoft") for its Across Lite program. It has been a standard way to distribute crosswords since 1996, and many solving apps and construction tools read and write it. The file is binary, not text, so double-clicking it in a text editor shows garbage. It stores the grid, the solution, the clues, and a title and author. It can also hold circled squares and a "scrambled" solution so solvers can't peek.
If your computer doesn't know what to do with a .puz file, it simply has no crossword app associated with the extension. The file is fine.
How do I open a .puz file on Mac?
- Across Lite. Literate Software's support page lists a Mac build (version 2.5 as of this writing), distributed as a disk image you open and drag into Applications. Across Lite is listed as free for personal use. Check litsoft.com/across/alite/download for the current version before installing.
- Black Ink. A paid Mac app for solving crosswords in the Across Lite format.
- A browser solver. If you only want to solve one puzzle, a web app avoids installing anything (see the browser section below).
Once an app is installed, right-click the file, choose Open With, and pick it. To make that permanent, use Get Info and Change All.
How do I open a .puz file on Windows?
Install Across Lite from Literate Software's download page; the latest Windows build listed there is 2.4.5 as of this writing. Then double-click the .puz file. Newer Windows versions may ask which app to use the first time. Pick Across Lite and tick "Always use this app".
XWord, an open-source desktop program, also reads .puz files, and it can recover some corrupted ones.
How do I open a .puz file on iPhone or iPad?
Across Lite itself isn't an iPhone app, and the situation changes often, so verify in the App Store before relying on any of this. Third-party crossword apps that accept .puz files exist for iOS; search the App Store for "crossword .puz" and look for one that supports opening files from Files or the share sheet. If you just need to solve one puzzle, a mobile browser solver that accepts an upload is often the quickest route.
Gridsmith is designed for desktop browsers and isn't built for editing on phones, so use it on a laptop or desktop for editing.
How do I open a .puz file on Android?
Forkyz is a free, open-source Android crossword app, described as a fork of Shortyz. It can open .puz files you download. As with any app, check the Play Store or F-Droid listing for current compatibility with your Android version.
Can I open a .puz file in a web browser?
Yes. Browser-based tools that take a .puz upload include:
- Crosshare. Its upload page accepts .puz files and turns them into a puzzle you can solve and share online.
- Browser solvers. Several free solvers read .puz in the browser; check each site for the formats it lists, because support for features like rebus and circles varies.
- Gridsmith. Import a .puz into the editor to inspect, fix and re-export it. This requires Gridsmith Plus ($4.99/month or $39.96/year).
Browsers can't open .puz natively. A site has to read the file and draw the grid.
How do I edit a .puz file?
A solver only lets you fill in answers. To change a clue, move a black square or fix a typo in the solution, you need a constructor that imports .puz:
- Open the constructor and choose its import option for .puz.
- Check the result: numbering, clues and any circled squares.
- Edit, then export again as .puz.
In Gridsmith, .puz import and export are part of Gridsmith Plus; JSON import and export stay free. If you only have the .puz and want to move it between tools, see crossword file formats for what each format preserves.
Why won't my .puz file open?
- The file is a .puz in name only. Some downloads are HTML error pages saved with a .puz extension. Open it in a text editor; real .puz files don't start with readable markup.
- Wrong association. Right-click and choose an app manually.
- Corrupted download. Re-download it. XWord has a recovery option for damaged files.
- Unusual features. Rebus entries and non-standard numbering are limited in .puz. A puzzle that relies on them may display oddly in some apps; the creator may offer a .jpz or .ipuz version.
- A scrambled solution. Some files are locked until you enter a numeric key. The app will prompt you.
Frequently asked questions
What program opens .puz files?
Across Lite is the original, free program for Windows and Mac. Others include Black Ink (Mac), XWord (desktop), Forkyz (Android) and browser tools like Crosshare.
Is a .puz file safe to open?
A .puz file is puzzle data, not a program, so it can't run code by itself. As with any download, get it from a source you trust and let your solving app, not an unknown script, open it.
How do I convert a .puz file to PDF?
Open it in a solver or constructor that prints, then print to PDF. Gridsmith Plus includes print and PDF output for puzzles you import or build.
Can I open a .puz file without Across Lite?
Yes. Android has Forkyz, desktops have XWord, and browser tools such as Crosshare accept uploads.
What is the difference between .puz and .ipuz?
.puz is an older binary format from Across Lite; .ipuz is an open, JSON-based format. See crossword file formats.