Original puzzle cipher

Switchstep

Create and decode secret messages and GPS coordinates with Switchstep, a unique number cipher that changes with every character..

1Create a hidden message

Type any clue or GPS coordinates. Letters are capitalized. Spaces and line breaks are encoded too. The same text always produces the same code.

Message or coordinates

Your encoded code — no prefix

Your linked two-digit code groups will appear here.

2Decode a hidden message

Paste the new linked Switchstep pairs (00–99). You can separate pairs with spaces, new lines, commas, or vertical bars.

Two-digit pairs

Decoded message / coordinates

Decode to see your hidden message.

Switchstep — easy pencil-and-paper guide

You need only the character key below, a pencil, and basic adding/subtracting. No grid, special starting square, prefix, or calculator. These instructions also print with a blank worksheet.

1Read in pairsEvery two-digit group hides one character.

2Check the pair before itFor the first group, pretend the previous pair was 00.

3Alternate the rulesUse ODD for groups 1, 3, 5… and EVEN for 2, 4, 6…

4Look up your answerYour calculation gives a character-key number, such as 03 = C.

Encoded code43 59 38 05 13Decoded messageCACHE

First, know these two pairs

When decoding any group, write the current encoded pair beside the previous encoded pair. Use their digits separately — you are never subtracting the whole two-digit numbers.

Current pair (the one you're solving)

Left digit = 4 · Right digit = 3

Previous ENCODED pair

For the first character, ALWAYS use 00

Important: After solving 43, the next group uses 43 as its previous pair — not 03 (the number for C). Do not restart at a space, a new word, or the next coordinate.

Decode: the two simple recipes

Your goal is to calculate the tens digit and the ones digit of the hidden character's reference number. For example, tens 0 and ones 3 make 03, which is C.

ODD-numbered group (1st, 3rd, 5th…)Tens = current RIGHT − previous LEFT − 3Ones = current LEFT − previous RIGHT − 1

EVEN-numbered group (2nd, 4th, 6th…)Tens = current LEFT − previous RIGHT − 2Ones = current RIGHT − previous LEFT − 4

If the result is negative or above 9: add or subtract 10 until you have a single digit (0–9). For example, −7 → 3, −2 → 8 and 12 → 2. Do this separately to each digit.

Follow along: solve the first two letters

1First group: 43ODD rule

There is no earlier code, so use the fixed previous pair 00.

Tens: current right 3 − previous left 0 − 3 = 0

Ones: current left 4 − previous right 0 − 1 = 3

Put 0 and 3 together: 03. Look up 03 = C.

2Second group: 59EVEN rule

The previous encoded group is now 43.

Tens: current left 5 − previous right 3 − 2 = 0

Ones: current right 9 − previous left 4 − 4 = 1

Put 0 and 1 together: 01. Look up 01 = A. So far: CA.

Finish the example

Continue exactly the same way, alternating odd and even. Negative answers wrap back around to a digit from 0 to 9.

Position	Code	Previous	Rule	Calculation (tens; ones)	Result
1	43	00	Odd	3−0−3=0; 4−0−1=3	03 = C
2	59	43	Even	5−3−2=0; 9−4−4=1	01 = A
3	38	59	Odd	8−5−3=0; 3−9−1=−7 → 3	03 = C
4	05	38	Even	0−8−2=−10 → 0; 5−3−4=−2 → 8	08 = H
5	13	05	Odd	3−0−3=0; 1−5−1=−5 → 5	05 = E

Finished message: CACHE. Notice that both Cs use different transmitted pairs: the first C is 43 and the second is 38.

Official character reference (use after decoding)

The numbers below are base/reference numbers, not the final transmitted cipher pairs. You must do the Switchstep calculation first.

Letters

A = 01, B = 02, C = 03 … Z = 26 (alphabet order)

Other

& = 27 ( = 28 ) = 29

Numbers

0 = 30, 1 = 31, 2 = 32 … 9 = 39

Symbols

New line

00 = line break (only after decoding; a transmitted pair of 00 does not necessarily mean a line break)

Creating (encoding) a message by hand

To make a code instead of solving one, start with each character's reference number, then add rather than subtract. Use the same alternating odd/even pattern. The previous encoded pair starts at 00.

ODD-numbered character (1st, 3rd, 5th…)Code LEFT = base ONES + previous RIGHT + 1Code RIGHT = base TENS + previous LEFT + 3

EVEN-numbered character (2nd, 4th, 6th…)Code LEFT = base TENS + previous RIGHT + 2Code RIGHT = base ONES + previous LEFT + 4

Example: encode CA

C = 03, first/odd character, previous 00: code left = 3 + 0 + 1 = 4; code right = 0 + 0 + 3 = 3. Output 43.

A = 01, second/even character, previous encoded pair 43: code left = 0 + 3 + 2 = 5; code right = 1 + 4 + 4 = 9. Output 59.

So CA → 43 59. For digits above 9, keep only the last digit: 13 → 3.

Remember: Keep counting every character, including spaces, punctuation, and coordinate symbols. Never reset to 00 after a word or line break. The output is just groups of two digits: no prefix.

Practice worksheet

For each group, use the current encoded pair, the previous encoded pair (initially 00), and the appropriate odd/even rule. Write the base number and look up its character.

#	Current pair	Previous pair	Odd / even	Base number	Character

See every decoding step

Decode a puzzle to see the exact arithmetic for each character. These calculations can be copied onto paper. The first 120 steps are shown.

#	Pair	Previous	Step	Base	Character
Decode a code to see the steps.

Coordinates included

You can encode a full coordinate such as N 44° 18.280 W 079° 33.258. N, W, digits, spaces, degree signs, and decimal points are all symbols in the standard reference.

One unchanging standard

Every solver starts from the fixed previous pair 00, then uses each encoded pair to unlock the next. The output is always two digits from 00 to 99, with no prefix. There are no custom keys, grids, or selectable starting values.