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Save your Anki decks as files you can keep and reimport

Export a copy of any deck, keep your review progress with it, and rebuild cards from your original notes if you ever need to start over.

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Why saving your decks matters

Losing a deck you spent weeks building is frustrating, so how to save Anki decks is worth learning before exam season. An Anki export packages the cards, their media and, if you choose, your review history into a single file.

Export each deck separately so one corrupted file does not affect the rest.
Tick Include scheduling information to keep due dates and review history.
Back up after a big study session, since older exports miss recent reviews.
Keep the original PDF or notes next to the .apkg so you can rebuild the deck later.

Example Anki deck saving questions and answers

What file format does Anki use when you export a single deck?.apkg, the Anki package format that holds the cards, media and optional scheduling data in one file.

In Anki desktop, where do you start an export for one deck?Click the gear icon beside the deck name, then choose Export.

What does Include scheduling information do in an Anki export?It keeps each card's due date and review history, so the deck resumes where you left off after import.

What does AnkiWeb sync protect against that a file export does not?It keeps a cloud copy of your whole collection current across devices, so a lost laptop does not take your decks with it.

Which export option saves cards as plain text for reimport into other apps?Cards in Plain Text or Notes in Plain Text, which save tab-separated text that can be imported back into Anki.

Generate the full set

Export as .apkg

Anki's export writes a deck to one .apkg package that you can store anywhere and import on another device.

Keep review progress

Tick Include scheduling information so due dates and review history travel with the file.

Sync and back up

AnkiWeb sync keeps a cloud copy of your collection, so a second copy exists if a laptop fails.

How it works

Open the deck menu

In Anki desktop, click the gear icon beside the deck name.

Choose Export

Select Export, pick Anki Deck Package (.apkg), and tick Include scheduling information if you want progress kept.

Store and reimport

Save the file somewhere safe, then use File and Import to bring it back into Anki.

If you have not built your decks yet, DeckOwl can work from the start. Upload a PDF, slides, notes or a photo of a page, and it generates flashcards with spaced repetition, which you can export to Anki on the Plus plan. You can regenerate the deck from the original source whenever you need a fresh copy.

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Frequently asked questions

Does exporting an Anki deck keep my review progress?

Yes, if you tick Include scheduling information in the export dialog. Without it, the cards import as new and your review history is lost.

How often should I back up my Anki decks?

Export after each major study session and before switching computers or reinstalling Anki. A file made last week will not include reviews you did since then.

Can DeckOwl export a deck I already made in Anki?

DeckOwl builds new flashcards from PDFs, DOCX, PPTX, notes or images rather than reading existing Anki files. Exporting to Anki is part of the Plus plan at $99.90/year or $9.99/month.

Is exporting from DeckOwl free?

No. The Free plan lets you study in the browser with 3 generations per month, while exports require Plus. Students get 40% off with a school email, and no credit card is needed to start.

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