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Set up your Anki flashcards in three steps, then fill them fast

Anki is free and powerful, but its first run can feel confusing. Here is how to build a working deck, then let DeckOwl turn your own notes and slides into cards you can import.

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Why a clean first setup matters

Learning how to set up Anki flashcards is simpler than it looks: create a deck, pick a note type, and add cards you can review every day. Most beginners stall because they build too many decks or cards at once, so keep the first deck small and focused on one unit.

Name decks by course and unit so subdecks stay organized.
Keep each card to one fact so reviews take seconds, not minutes.
Use Cloze for processes and Basic for definitions.
Review new cards daily instead of batching weeks of material.

Example Anki cards to copy into your first deck

Which Anki note type should you pick for a term and its definition?Basic, which has a Front field and a Back field and makes one card per note. Basic (and reversed card) also makes a second card with the sides swapped.

What syntax creates a cloze deletion in Anki?{{c1::answer}} hides the text inside it during review. Adding a c2 number creates a separate card that hides a different piece of the same note.

What is the default number of new cards per day in a new Anki deck?20. You can raise or lower the limit in the deck options.

What is a deck in Anki?A named group of cards you study together, such as Biology Chapter 4. Subdecks nest inside a parent deck using :: in the name.

What does AnkiWeb do?It is Anki's free sync service, so your reviews carry across devices when you sign in with the same account.

Generate the full set

Decks that match your course

Create one deck per chapter or unit so daily reviews stay focused and easy to track.

Spaced repetition built in

Cards you miss come back sooner, and cards you know drift out to longer gaps.

Cards from your own material

Upload PDFs, DOCX, PPTX, text or photos of pages and get flashcards without typing each one.

How it works

Install Anki and create a deck

Download Anki for your computer or phone, open it, and add a deck named after the course or chapter.

Choose a note type

Use Basic for term and definition pairs, or Cloze for sentences where a key word is hidden.

Add cards or import them

Type cards in the Add window, or import a file. Plus users can export DeckOwl cards to Anki in one step.

Once the deck exists, the hard part is filling it with accurate, well-worded cards. DeckOwl can read your lecture slides or class notes and draft flashcards from them, which you can then review, edit and export to Anki.

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Frequently asked questions

How many cards should I start with in a new Anki deck?

Start with one chapter's worth of cards so you can judge how long daily reviews take. Anki's default limit of 20 new cards per day is a reasonable starting point.

Should I use Basic or Cloze note types for science terms?

Use Basic for term and definition pairs and Cloze for sentences where a key word is hidden, such as a drug name inside a mechanism sentence. Cloze works well for processes because each blank becomes its own review.

Can I export DeckOwl flashcards to Anki?

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.

Do I need a paid plan to use spaced repetition?

Spaced repetition is part of Plus, which costs $99.90/year or $9.99/month and includes unlimited generations. You can start on the free plan, with 3 generations per month, without a credit card.

Generate free flashcards

Keep exploring the topic

Review the main ideas visually or practice recalling them.