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Manage Anki decks with the right add-ons and your own notes

Pick the add-ons that fit your workflow, then generate flashcards from your own PDFs, slides, notes or photos.

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Add-ons help, but your own material matters more

Most people who want Anki deck add-ons are fixing something specific: a deck that grew too large, cards that repeat too often, or a note type that does not fit the subject. Add-ons from AnkiWeb can handle some of that, but they cannot write the cards for you. DeckOwl starts from the material you already study, such as a lecture PDF or a page of notes, and produces flashcards with spaced repetition scheduling.

Check that an add-on matches your Anki version before installing it.
Back up your collection before you install several add-ons at once.
Hold Shift when starting Anki to open it with add-ons disabled if one breaks startup.
Generate new decks from your own material instead of rebuilding old ones by hand.

Example Anki add-on questions for deck management

What is AnkiConnect?An add-on that exposes Anki over a local HTTP API, so outside scripts and tools can read and edit decks.

Where do you get Anki add-ons?From AnkiWeb, using the add-on's code under Tools > Add-ons > Get Add-ons.

Why hold Shift while starting Anki?It opens Anki with add-ons disabled, which helps when a broken add-on prevents startup.

What language are Anki add-ons written in?Python. Add-ons call Anki's Python code, so they can break when that code changes.

Why back up your collection before installing add-ons?Some add-ons change note types or card fields, and a backup lets you restore the deck if a change goes wrong.

Generate the full set

Flashcards from your own files

Upload a PDF, DOCX, PPTX, set of notes or photos of pages and get a deck built from that material.

Spaced repetition built in

Cards come back on a schedule that adjusts to how well you recall them.

Export to Anki

The Plus plan exports PDF, DOCX, Anki and CSV files, so new cards can join the decks you already use.

How it works

Upload your material

Add a PDF, slide deck, set of notes or photos of pages.

Review the cards

Check the generated flashcards and edit anything that looks off.

Study or export

Study in the browser on the Free plan, or export to Anki on Plus.

Once the cards exist, you can export them to Anki on the Plus plan and keep your scheduling in one place. The Free plan gives you 3 generations per month and study in the browser, which is enough to test whether the cards fit your course before you pay.

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AI Anki Deck Builder

Turn your own notes or slides into a spaced repetition deck, exportable to Anki on Plus.

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Frequently asked questions

How do I install an add-on in Anki?

Open Tools > Add-ons, choose Get Add-ons, and paste the code from the add-on's AnkiWeb page. Restart Anki when prompted so the add-on loads.

Why does an Anki add-on stop working after an update?

Add-ons are written against specific versions of Anki's code, so a major update can break them until the author releases a fix. Check the add-on's page for a compatible version before you upgrade.

How many flashcards should I make for a single lecture?

There is no fixed number. Aim for one card per fact you would need to recall on an exam, since cards that test one idea each are easier to review than long answers.

Can I export flashcards to Anki with DeckOwl?

Yes, on the Plus plan, which also includes PDF, DOCX and CSV export. The Free plan lets you study in the browser but does not include exports.

Generate free flashcards

Keep exploring the topic

Review the main ideas visually or practice recalling them.