Better Anki Settings

DISCLAIMER: Anki now supports a new scheduling algorithm called fsrs. For this reason, these settings are UNNECESSARY and outdated. This article has been left untouched for historical reasons, but I recommend you stick to using fsrs and a more modern version of anki.

These are the settings I use for my own Anki setup:

Better Settings (click on the picture to enlarge)

NOTE: If you are just now viewing this page for the first time, be warned that these Anki settings might not apply to newer versions. Anki has has updated some of its algorithms and options, so not all settings and tips in this page will apply anymore. I am still using Anki Version 2.1.22 and I am happy with it so I don’t plan to update it, but if you are using a newer Anki version just be careful.

If you want some more up-to-date similar setup, you can take a look at the Refold Anki Recommended Options Settings.

I have burned out many times in the past with bad/ugly defaults on Anki#.

After a lot of looking around, and trial and error, this is what I eventually settled on and what I feel works best for me.

Anki’s defaults can be very merciless when it comes to skipping reviews even if it’s only for a day, and let’s face it, who has never skipped a day in their life?

With these improved settings, the experience is more lenient and Anki does not end up piling up reviews over reviews on you if you skip a few days by accident, so there’s less chance of burning out or being overworked by reviews.

Simply open Anki on your machine, navigate to your deck of choice (either pre-made, or custom), click on the small cog, and choose “Options”.

Input the following:

New Cards

  • New Cards/Day: 10 (This is actually up to your preference, but I don’t recommend doing more than 20 from personal experience)
  • Order: Show new cards in order they were added if you’re using a pre-made deck, otherwise use the other option for your custom deck
  • Graduating Interval: 2 days
  • Easy Interval: 2 days
  • Starting Ease: 250%
  • Bury related new cards until the next day: check

Reviews

  • Maximum reviews/day: 9999
  • Easy bonus: 100%
  • Interval Modifier: 100%
  • Maximum Interval: 36500 days
  • Bury related reviews until the next day: check

Lapses

  • Steps (in minutes): 1 20
  • New Interval: 50%
  • Minimum Interval: 2 days
  • Leech threshold: 7 lapses
  • Leech action: Tag Only (this is personal preference, really, but if you aren’t sure what it is, set it like this)

Add-Ons (For Anki version 2.1)

To make Anki really shine, you need to get the No Penalties or Boosting, PassFail, and ResetEZ add-ons. They can all three be downloaded here.

There’s more details and instructions on how to set it all up at this now defunct Mass Immersion Approach# website.

Anki mobile?

Unfortunately, Anki on mobile is a bit of a pain because it is not as extensible with Add-Ons as the desktop version. With the ResetEZ Add-On, you might be able to fix some issues that the mobile version defaults as (mostly for card related penalties). Just make sure you log onto the desktop version every day after doing your reviews on mobile, so it fixes the penalties and intervals… or so I was told. I have never tried it myself as I don’t use Anki on mobile. In general I recommend sticking to PC/desktop if you can.

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