NYT Mini Crossword hints & answers: Friday, September 11, 2026

Updated: Friday, September 11, 2026 · Hints reviewed by Omer Liban · New puzzle at 10pm ET the night before (6pm ET on weekends). · Puzzle editor: Wyna Liu.

This page has every level of help for the NYT Mini Crossword puzzle of Friday, September 11, 2026: 1 spoiler-free hint tier that narrow things down step by step, followed by the complete answers with explanations — each behind its own tap-to-reveal card.

One clue holding your Mini streak hostage? Check just that answer — every clue below is explained and hidden behind its own reveal.

The Mini is the NYT's free pocket crossword — usually 5×5, solvable in a minute or two. Answers below are hidden until you open them, so you can check just the one clue that's stumping you.

Mini hints (September 11, 2026)

1Today's Mini, spoiler-free

5×5 grid · 5 Across and 5 Down clues · by Wyna Liu.
The longest answer today is 5 letters (1-Across).

Mini answers — September 11, 2026

★Two answers to get you moving

1A — Picture puzzle where 👁️ + ❤️ + 🐑 means "I love you": REBUS
1D — Frees (of): RIDS

★All the Across answers, explained

1A — Picture puzzle where 👁️ + ❤️ + 🐑 means "I love you": REBUS
6A — Its license plates read "Famous Potatoes": IDAHO
7A — After-dinner coffee order: DECAF
8A — Distinctive feature of an aardvark: SNOUT
9A — Long-running show with a cold open, familiarly: SNL

★All the Down answers, explained

1D — Frees (of): RIDS
2D — Utopian places: EDENS
3D — "I'll bring home the turkey if you bring home the ___" (Weezer lyric): BACON
4D — Big name in moving trucks: UHAUL
5D — Word before ware or ball: SOFT

Next in today's routine: Sports Connections → · every game's answers on one page. New puzzle at 10pm ET the night before (6pm ET on weekends). Bookmark this page for tomorrow's hints. Or play Mini on the official site.

More of today's puzzles

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Mini — common questions

What time does the NYT Mini come out?

Unusually early: the next day's Mini is released at 10pm Eastern the evening before on weekdays, and 6pm Eastern on weekends — so 'today's' Mini has usually been available since the previous evening.

Is the NYT Mini Crossword free?

Yes — the daily Mini is free to play, unlike the full NYT Crossword which needs a Games subscription. Only the Mini archive is subscriber-gated.

How big is the Mini Crossword?

Usually a 5×5 grid with around ten clues, taking most solvers under two minutes. Saturday Minis are often larger — typically 7×7 — with a few more clues.

Previous Mini puzzles

Full Mini archive (46 puzzles) → · How to play the Mini (and get faster) →