Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.
Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? It features one of those annoying elements, where the puzzlemakers tie two clues together. In this case, you can’t really solve 4-Across and 7-Across separately, so you need to fill in the other answers to see these answers develop. Read on for all the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.
If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.
Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword
Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.
The completed NYT Mini Crossword puzzle for Jan. 12, 2026.
Mini across clues and answers
1A clue: Internet company that popularized chat rooms
Answer: AOL
4A clue: With 7-Across, “Hey, don’t blame me!”
Answer: THATS
7A clue: See 4-Across
Answer: ONYOU
8A clue: Director of 2026’s “The Odyssey”
Answer: NOLAN
9A clue: Marketing creations
Answer: ADS
Mini down clues and answers
1D clue: Lots and lots
Answer: ATON
2D clue: [Gulp!]
Answer: OHNO
3D clue: Signature hit for Eric Clapton
Answer: LAYLA
5D clue: Mushroom-headed character in the Mario games
Answer: TOAD
6D clue: N.B.A. team from the hottest major city in the United States
Answer: SUNS
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Quick tips for the NYT Mini Crossword
#1: If you’re unsure, put down an answer anyway, but remember your uncertainty. You might find yourself erasing that answer as other letters fill in.
#2: If you’re struggling with a few Across clues, skip to the Down side. You might be able to fill that in and find the Across clues solved for you.
#3: The puzzle-makers love to play little word games, so be on your guard. They may offer a clue where the words don’t mean the obvious. If you’re stumped, try thinking of secondary meanings for phrases in the clue.
