Crack the Code: The 3-Digit Lock Puzzle Solution (Easy Step-by-Step Guide)-

Can you solve the viral 3-digit lock puzzle? Use these five clues to find the correct combination. We provide the full solution and a step-by-step guide to help you crack the code.

Have you seen this puzzle making the rounds online? It’s a classic logic problem that challenges you to use a series of hints to “crack the code” of a 3-digit numeric lock. If you’ve been scratching your head trying to solve it, you’ve come to the right place.
This puzzle is a great way to sharpen your deductive reasoning skills. It’s not about math, but about systematically eliminating possibilities until only one remains. Ready to unlock the secret? Let’s dive into the clues!
The Clues:

682: One number is correct and well-placed.
614: One number is correct but wrongly placed.
206: Two numbers are correct but wrongly placed.
738: Nothing is correct.
780: One number is correct but wrongly placed.
The Solution: A Step-by-Step Breakdown
The key to solving this puzzle is to start with the most definitive clue and work your way through the others.
Step 1: The Easiest Clue
The most helpful clue is the one that eliminates the most possibilities. Look at 738: “Nothing is correct.”
This is our golden ticket! We can immediately rule out the numbers 7, 3, and 8 from our final 3-digit code.
Possible digits for the code: 0, 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 9
Step 2: Narrowing Down the Options
Now let’s use what we learned in Step 1 to re-evaluate the other clues.
Look at 780: “One number is correct but wrongly placed.”
Since we know from the previous step that 7 and 8 are incorrect, the only remaining number in this clue is 0.
This means 0 is definitely in our code, but not in the last position.
So, our code looks like: _ _ 0 (this is incorrect) or _ 0 _ (also incorrect). The number 0 is in the code, but it’s not in the last position. We’ll revisit this position later.
Step 3: Finding Another Number
Next, let’s look at 682: “One number is correct and well-placed.”
We’ve already eliminated 8. This means either 6 is correct and in the first position, or 2 is correct and in the third position.
Step 4: Putting the Pieces Together
Let’s use the third and most complex clue to confirm our numbers.
Look at 206: “Two numbers are correct but wrongly placed.”
We already know that 0 is a correct number.
This clue tells us there’s one more correct number from the combination 2 and 6.
This also means that the number we found in the previous step (either 6 or 2) is a correct number.
Now let’s compare clues 682 and 614.
682: One number is correct and well-placed.
614: One number is correct but wrongly placed.
If 6 were the correct number, it would be “well-placed” in the first position in the first clue, but “wrongly placed” in the first position in the second clue. A number can’t be both correctly placed and incorrectly placed in the same position. This means 6 is not the correct number.
So, the correct number from the 682 clue must be 2. And the clue says it is “well-placed,” which means 2 is in the third position.
Our code now looks like: _ _ 2.
Step 5: The Final Digit
Let’s go back to our previous findings to fill in the rest of the code.
From 780, we know that 0 is in the code, but it’s not in the last position. Our code’s last position is now 2. This means 0 must be in the first position.
Our code now looks like: 0 _ 2.
Finally, we need the middle number. Let’s use our last clue.
Look at 614: “One number is correct but wrongly placed.”
We’ve already eliminated 6. The number 1 is not in the correct position for the middle. The number 4, however, is not in the first or third position of the clue. This makes it the only remaining possibility for our missing digit.
The number 4 is the only one left that fits the criteria. It must be in the middle, and it is “wrongly placed” in the last spot of the original clue.
The Answer
Putting it all together, the final code is:
042
How did you do? Share this puzzle with your friends to see if they can crack the code!