Home › Flashcards › Anki › How to download Anki decks on Android

Get shared Anki decks onto your Android phone, step by step

Shared decks arrive as .apkg files that AnkiDroid can import in a few taps. If no deck fits your course, DeckOwl can turn your own PDFs, slides, notes or photos into flashcards with spaced repetition.

Create flashcards nowFree · No credit card required

Drop files here or browsePDF, DOCX, PPTX, text or photos of your notes · several files with Plus

Free · First set needs no signup · Creates flashcards in seconds

What to check before you import a shared deck

Most shared Anki decks reach an Android phone as a single .apkg file, and that is the file you need to open. Once you know how to download Anki decks on Android, the rest is a short import step in AnkiDroid. If no shared deck covers your course, you can also generate flashcards from your own PDFs, slides or notes.

Confirm the file ends in .apkg before you try to open it.
Keep the original deck file so you can re-import it on another device.
Compare a few cards against your textbook or lecture slides.
If a deck feels off, make your own from the same source pages.

Example Anki deck card questions for Android

What file type packages an Anki deck for sharing?.apkg, a single file that holds the cards, notes and media together.

Which app opens .apkg Anki decks on Android?AnkiDroid, the Android Anki app. AnkiMobile is the equivalent on iOS.

What does Anki's spaced repetition schedule decide?When each card appears next, based on how well you recalled it last time.

What should you check before importing a shared deck?That the topic matches your course, the text displays correctly, and images loaded, since a generic deck may not match your exam.

Why might a file fail to import on Android?It may have downloaded incompletely or been saved as a web page or ZIP, so download the .apkg file again.

Generate the full set

Import .apkg files

Open a downloaded Anki deck file in AnkiDroid and the cards, notes and media come across together.

Your own material

Upload a PDF, slide deck, DOCX, text file or photo of a page and get flashcards built from exactly what your class covers.

Spaced repetition

Cards you find hard come back sooner, and easy ones spread out, so review time goes where it helps most.

How it works

Download the .apkg file

Save the shared deck to your phone from the site where it is posted, and confirm the file ends in .apkg and is not an HTML page or a ZIP.

Open it with AnkiDroid

Tap the file and choose AnkiDroid, the Android Anki app, or use the import option inside the app to select the file.

Check the deck before studying

Scroll through a few cards to confirm the topic, formatting and images look right, then start your review.

Shared decks vary in quality, so skim a few cards before you rely on one. Check that the topic matches your course, that the text displays properly, and that any images came through. A deck built from your own lecture material usually fits an exam better than a generic one.

Explore related topics

Download Anki decks or make your own

Download Anki decks from AnkiWeb, or generate custom flashcards from your own PDFs and notes.

Download Anki Decks on iPhone

Import Anki decks on iPhone, or generate custom flashcards from your own notes.

How to Download Anki Decks on Mac

Steps for getting Anki decks on a Mac, plus how to export your own flashcards to Anki.

Anki Flashcards for Android

Turn your own notes into Anki-ready flashcards with spaced repetition, study online or export.

Add Decks to Anki App: Step by Step

Set up Anki decks, import shared files, or make your own flashcards from notes.

Make Your Own Anki Deck

Turn your notes or slides into an Anki-ready deck, with a free plan to start.

Free Anki Decks From Your Own Notes

Turn your PDFs and notes into flashcards. Start free, no credit card needed.

Make Anki decks from your notes

Turn PDFs, slides and notes into flashcards you can study or export to Anki.

Frequently asked questions

Why won't my downloaded Anki deck open on Android?

The file is often incomplete or saved as a web page or ZIP instead of an .apkg file. Download it again, make sure the name ends in .apkg, and open it with AnkiDroid.

How do I know a shared deck is accurate for my course?

Compare several cards with your textbook, lecture slides or syllabus, and look for outdated terms or wrong answers. Decks made from your own course material are usually the most reliable.

Can I export DeckOwl flashcards to Anki?

Yes, export to Anki is included with the Plus plan, which costs $39 per year or $7.99 per month. The free plan lets you study flashcards in the browser but does not include exports.

Is there a free plan?

Yes, the free plan includes 3 generations per month and browser-based study with no credit card needed to start. Students can get 40% off a paid plan with a school email.

Generate free flashcards

Keep exploring the topic

Review the main ideas visually or practice recalling them.