Solve every data recovery puzzle in An Elmwood Trail with this step-by-step guide. Covers all episodes with clear solutions to unlock chats, photos, and clues on Zoey’s phone.
Table of Contents
Episode 1 – Data Recovery Puzzles
In An Elmwood Trail, Zoey’s phone holds lost clues you must recover by solving puzzles. These appear as mini-games during the story. Here’s how to solve all 4 puzzles in Episode 1 – in order.
Puzzle 1 – Number Grid Swap
When it Unlocks: After talking to Lily
How to Start: On Zoey’s phone → tap the top task “Recovering data…”
What You See:
A 4×4 number grid with scrambled numbers.
Your goal is to swap number tiles until all are in the right spots and turn white.
How It Works:
- Tap one number, then another to swap them.
- You have limited moves to solve it.
Solution:
Swap tiles in this order:
1 ↔ 5, 8 ↔ 14, 8 ↔ 10, 8 ↔ 6, 8 ↔ 7
Puzzle 2 – Arrow Flip Grid
When it Unlocks: Later in the story
What You See: A grid of squares – some with X marks.
What To Do:
Your goal is to highlight all squares that don’t have an X.
How It Works:
- Tap any square to toggle it on or off.
- Each square changes direction of nearby tiles using an invisible arrow (revealed after tapping).
- Arrows shift on every tap.
Tap and observe how surrounding tiles react. Trial and error works here!
Solution:
[X] [ ] [X]
[X] [↑] [↓]
[ ] [←] [ ]
Puzzle 3 – Hidden Math Code
When it Unlocks: After some progress into the story
What You See:
Three circles (changeable numbers) + one result: 71
Goal:
Figure out what numbers to place in the circles to get the result 71 using a hidden formula.
Solution:
Set the numbers to: 27, 3, 10
Why? The formula is: 27 × 3 − 10 = 71
Puzzle 4 – Lights Out Puzzle
When it Unlocks: After calling the car wash and solving Vault8.com puzzle
What You See: A grid of black and gray squares
Goal:
Turn all black tiles gray by tapping squares.
How It Works:
Tapping one square flips its color and also changes the tiles above, below, left, and right.
Solution:
- Tap all 4 corners
- Tap the left gray square inside the top loop
- Tap the left gray square inside the bottom loop
- You’ll now see 2 “+” shapes
- Tap the center of each “+” to finish
Episode 2 – Data Recovery Puzzles
In Episode 2 of An Elmwood Trail, you’ll continue recovering Zoey’s missing data using mini-games. Each puzzle unlocks new messages, photos, emails, or apps and appears only at key story points. Here’s how to solve each one easily.
Puzzle 1 – 5×5 Sudoku Grid
When It Unlocks: After solving Diary Page 6
How to Start: Go to Zoey’s phone → Tap “Recovering data…”
What You See:
A 5×5 number grid. Some numbers are already filled in green (these can’t be changed).
What To Do:
- Tap empty squares to fill in numbers.
- Make sure no number repeats in any row or column—just like Sudoku.
Solution:
Follow Sudoku rules to fill all squares correctly.
2 3 5 4 1
3 1 4 5 2
1 4 3 2 5
4 5 2 1 3
5 2 1 3 4
What You Unlock:
Chats, emails, or photos will be recovered.
Puzzle 2 – Match 4 Green Ticks
When It Unlocks: After discovering the school map
How to Start: Return to Zoey’s phone to begin puzzle.
What You See:
- Several squares at the top
- Circular buttons at the bottom
- Tapping a button lights up certain squares
What To Do:
- Press buttons in the correct combination to make only 4 squares show green ticks.
- Others must remain red X or off.
Solution:
Try button combinations to isolate only the 4 green ticks.
What You Unlock:
1 email and 3 photos
Puzzle 3 – Tap Buttons in Order
When It Unlocks: After your phone is hacked by crossbar_36, and you talk to them on littlehamsters.com
What You See:
- 7 grey buttons
- Tap them in the right sequence to turn them all green
What To Do:
- One wrong tap will turn a button red, and you must start over.
- Find the correct order and complete the sequence without mistakes.
Solution:
Tap carefully to find the pattern. Restart if any turn red.
Possible row wise sequence:
[4]
[6] [1]
[5]
[2]
[7] [3]
What You Unlock:
1 email and 3 photos
Puzzle 4 – Fill the K-Shaped Circles
When It Unlocks: After unlocking Diary Page 8
What You See:
- A grid with circles shaped like the letter K
- Tap squares to place white dots
- Dots in other rows shift right after each move
What To Do:
- Place dots to fill all K-shaped circle spots
- Use the reset button if it gets messy
Solution Steps:
- Row 1: Tap square 1 and 3
- Row 2: Tap square 2 and 5
- Row 3: Tap square 2 and 3
- Row 4: Tap square 1 and 4
- Row 5: Tap square 1 and 4
What You Unlock:
1 email, 2 photos, and 1 app
Episode 3 – Data Recovery Puzzles
In Episode 3, you’ll keep recovering Zoey’s lost data through more brain-teasing puzzles. Each one unlocks after a key moment in the story and reveals new chats, photos, or files.
Puzzle 1 – Nonogram Grid
Unlocks After: Learning about Damon (Kevin’s ex-bandmate)
Start: Go to Zoey’s phone and tap on “Recovering data…”
How It Works:
- A 5×5 grid like a nonogram or picture logic puzzle
- Numbers at the top and left tell how many squares to fill in
- Tap squares to complete the correct pattern
Solution:
Match the numbers to reveal the hidden shape
[ ][*][*][*][ ]
[*][*][*][*][*]
[ ][ ][*][ ][ ]
[ ][ ][*][ ][ ]
[ ][*][*][*][ ]
What You Unlock: Emails and photos
Puzzle 2 – Fill the Grid with Dots
Unlocks After: Talking to Betty and Kyle (Feb 22)
Start: Go to Zoey’s phone
How It Works:
- Grey grid with circles
- Tap a starting square to place a white dot
- Then move dot to adjacent circles only
- Fill every square without getting stuck
Tip to Solve:
Start from the bottom-right 4 squares, then carefully move left and up
What You Unlock: 1 email, photos, and a file
Puzzle 3 – Push the Dot
Unlocks After: Talking to Ray at Riverstone campsite
Start: Go to Zoey’s phone
How It Works:
- A grid with a movable square, white dot, and circle
- Swipe the square to push the dot
- You can’t backtrack, so plan moves carefully
- Goal: Push the white dot into the white circle
Tip to Solve:
Move left → up → push dot right → then down into circle
What You Unlock: 1 email, photos, and a chat
Puzzle 4 – Memory Tap Pattern
Unlocks After: Ordering Jim’s science project
Start: Go to Zoey’s phone
How It Works:
- A 3×3 grid of squares
- A square flashes—tap to copy
- Next, 2 squares flash—repeat them
- The sequence keeps growing—copy it each time
- Complete all 9 steps without making a mistake
Tip to Solve:
Watch closely, the pattern gets longer with each round
Note: The sequence may be different in your game
What You Unlock: Emails and a photo
Puzzle 5 – Connect the Pipes
Unlocks After: Talking to Shane and Damon
Start: Go to Zoey’s phone
How It Works:
- A puzzle with line segments (like pipes)
- Tap to rotate pieces
- Connect all pieces to make one continuous path
- Goal: Connect from top-left to bottom-right
Tip to Solve:
Work from both ends and rotate each pipe piece until the line is complete
What You Unlock: Emails and a photo
Read Next: How to Unlock Zoey’s Diary Pages in An Elmwood Trail, Vault8 Fire Riddle and Vault Code Answer Guide, Unlock Zoey’s Phone in An Elmwood Trail