Nonogram No Solution
Updated: May 23, 2026. Use this when the Nonogram Solver reports invalid clues, no solution, or multiple possible solutions.
A no-solution result usually means the row clues and column clues conflict. The solver is not guessing a picture; it is checking whether a grid can satisfy every clue at the same time.
Check clue order first
Rows must be entered from top to bottom. Columns must be entered from left to right. Swapping two lines can make an otherwise valid puzzle impossible.
If you copied clues from the side of a printed puzzle, confirm that each visual row became one input line and each column clue became one input line.
Check clue grouping
A clue written as 1 3 is not the same as 13. The first means one filled cell, at least one blank, then three filled cells. The second means a single run of thirteen filled cells.
Use spaces or commas between separate clue numbers. Use 0 for a row or column with no filled cells.
Compare filled-cell totals
Add the row clue numbers and column clue numbers. The totals should match because both describe the same filled cells. If the totals differ, at least one clue was skipped or typed incorrectly.
Multiple solutions are different
Multiple solutions do not mean the clues conflict. They mean the clues are not restrictive enough to force a single answer. In a puzzle book, this can happen if a clue was copied incorrectly or if the puzzle itself has an ambiguous region.
If your printed puzzle already has some cells filled or crossed out, the current solver does not use those partial marks as extra constraints. Enter only the official row and column clues, then compare the result with the puzzle state manually.
Repair checklist
- Load a small sample in the solver to confirm the tool behavior.
- Re-enter your row clues and column clues from the original puzzle.
- Compare row and column totals.
- Fix grouping mistakes such as 13 vs 1 3.
- Run the solver again and review the status message.
When the puzzle source uses another name
Nonogram, Picross, griddler, hanjie, and picture logic puzzles often use the same clue idea. If your source calls the puzzle Picross, you can still use the same row and column format in the Picross Solver.
Common questions
Why does a nonogram have no solution?
The row clues and column clues conflict, usually because one clue was missed, grouped incorrectly, or entered in the wrong order.
What does multiple solutions mean?
The clues are valid but do not force one unique grid, so more than one picture can satisfy the same clue set.