The BEST Anki Settings and Algorithm Explained (by an expert!)

This video compiles all the knowledge I have gained about Anki's settings and algorithm in the last 3 years to help give you the best advice possible. It goes over how the spaced repetition works, what happens when you click each button, and what each of the preferences/options settings do to affect your studies. It includes settings I would recommend with the new V3 scheduler options.

Overall, this video is an attempt to show that there are no perfect settings. The most important thing is understanding how the settings work so that you can adjust them for your individual needs.

## TABLE OF CONTENTS ##

00:08 Why am I making this video (again)?
02:04 Get individualized help
02:40 Important Terms
03:40 Anki’s default settings and algorithm
05:30 My adjustments to Anki’s defaults settings
06:53 Answering learning cards
07:16 Answering graduated cards
08:47 How ease is affected by different answers
10:00 Relearning settings
12:30 Anki Mastery Course and Palace Butler Add-on (Automatically configure settings and install add-ons)
13:02 Where all the settings are located in Anki (Preferences and Options)
15:27 Preferences Basic Tab
17:20 Preferences Scheduling Tab
19:59 The KING of Study Timers Add-on (A Pomodoro style add-on)
20:41 Preferences Network Tab
21:18 Preferences Backups Tab
21:35 Options groups (Including “Set for All Subdecks”)
22:42 Options - Daily Limits
24:03 Options - New Cards
26:21 Options - Lapses
27:48 Options - Timer
28:27 Options - Burying
29:50 Options - Audio
30:02 Options - Advanced
34:47 Options - Display Order (for the v3 scheduler)
39:00 Straight Reward Add-on, stay out of Ease Hell
41:20 Anki Palace Butler Add-on

## Videos and Links mentioned ##

Instagram/Facebook/TikTok/Twitter: @AnKingMed

Venmo: @AnKingMed

[AnKingMed]

Check below for the timecodes. Don't forget to like and leave a comment below with your thoughts!

00:08 Why am I making this video (again)?
02:04 Get individualized help
02:40 Important Terms
03:40 Anki’s default settings and algorithm
05:30 My adjustments to Anki’s defaults settings
06:53 Answering learning cards
07:16 Answering graduated cards
08:47 How ease is affected by different answers
10:00 Relearning settings
12:30 Anki Mastery Course and Palace Butler Add-on (Automatically configure settings and install add-ons)
13:02 Where all the settings are located in Anki (Preferences and Options)
15:27 Preferences Basic Tab
17:20 Preferences Scheduling Tab
19:59 The KING of Study Timers Add-on (A Pomodoro style add-on)
10:41 Preferences Network Tab
21:18 Preferences Backups Tab
21:35 Options groups (Including “Set for All Subdecks”)
22:42 Options - Daily Limits
24:03 Options - New Cards
26:21 Options - Lapses
27:48 Options - Timer
28:27 Options - Burying
29:50 Options - Audio
30:02 Options - Advanced
34:47 Options - Display Order (for the v3 scheduler)
39:00 Straight Reward Add-on, stay out of Ease Hell
41:20 Anki Palace Butler Add-on

[icysamurai]

These settings are phenomenal. Thank you very much
I've been using these exact settings to learn 25 Korean vocabulary cards a day, and I am now at about 1000 cards. It works very well, and it only takes me a little over an hour each day to get through my reviews and new cards.

[eagle_]

The best anki video I have ever watched. I now understand how Anki works in the background and how to set the best settings to learn permanently. Thank you a lot.

[christophersallurday]

Laughed so hard when you called the other channels who posted anki videos as influencers!! I found your video very helpful as a first year medical student! Glad the king has reclaimed the throne!

[pratyaksh]

00:00 🤖 Video contains the best Anki settings and algorithm explanations.
01:23 🛠 New versions of Anki and SuperMemo led to changes in settings.
03:12 🔄 During learning or relearning phases, Ease remains constant.
08:52 ⏰ Personalization matters - settings depend on your activities.
11:45 🔄 "Hard" buttons can decrease Ease, causing excessive load.
18:40 📅 Today - if a card is reviewed and rescheduled for tomorrow, it appears tomorrow. The start of "tomorrow" - at 00:00 or 1:00/2:00 AM - depends on settings.
19:08 🔄 Limit for future learning - if you review a card with a "90-minute limit, " it reappears after 90 minutes, aiding quicker card refinement.
19:36 ⏲ Study time limit - a timer appearing after a study minute, applying the Pomodoro technique. However, the "Pomodoro" addon works better.
20:47 💾 Data synchronization - set proper sync settings for multiple devices and data preservation.
22:42 🎛 Card settings and regimen - recommendations for "New Cards per Day" and "Reviews per Day" settings vary based on personal needs and learning type (languages, medicine, etc.).
36:56 👨‍🏫 Tips for template-based card sorting, reviewing new cards, and review cards allow customization of Anki according to your needs.
37:38 🃏 Sequence of new card and review card repetition (new cards in review order) is a personal choice. Choose between displaying new cards after reviews or mixing them.
38:08 📅 Sorting cards by due date settings allow selecting order - overdue first, then random or increasing complexity (ascending ease).
39:17 🔄 Using the "Straight Reward" addon helps avoid "ease hell" and automatically increases ease for continuously repeating cards.
41:24 🛠 The "Anki Butler" addon enables quick Anki customization and automatically installs 50+ useful addons to enhance learning.

[Deibi]

hey dude I was just starting to learn English back in 2018 like in October, I wish I found your channel back then, but now I can take advantage of it and learn how to use Anki properly, God bless you

[CityLights-vu]

I love when someone actually explains, so you know they know their stuff. Great video :)

[Pixels_and_Neurons]

Nobody could've explained it better than the king himself.. Absolutely Amazing.<3

[dereknicolas]

@2:30 solid flex sir, I think we can all agree on the credibility of this man’s advice. 🙌

[chaseedwards]

This was super helpful. I've been using Anki daily for about 3 weeks (language learning) and really enjoying it, but none of the other tutorials I had come across explained the details of Anki as well as this one. I've adjusted a few settings which should make Anki work even better for me; I now have a much better understanding of how Anki works behind the scenes. Thanks for this video.

[tonho]

Daddy Nick Anking is here to save us from these bad med influencers ❤️

[GestionLecavalierRuizInc]

Merci, c'est un vidéo très utile qui permet de constater un travail basé sur l'expérience et non sur une volonté d'influence. Vous avez ajouté plusieurs détails intéressants. Salutation du Québec.

[bandito]

Thank you for the explanation! I wish I’d watched this video right when it came out, would have saved me a lot of frustration with Anki this past year xD
Also your passion for Anki is so infectious. My determination to maintain the streak this year has been renewed…

[ashmorris]

If there's anyone you wanna take advice from regarding anki this guy must be it

[drshaikfahadali]

I love you anking. I love you i need you i want you lmao ❤️❤️❤️ But thanks for giving out this content for FREE. It’s such a blessing to have people living and breathing like you in this world. IN THIS CRUEL ABUSIVE WORLD. People like you are hope. People like you are the light in the darkness. People like you are the something something. Also ya don’t get too prideful or narcissistic reading this comment you’re still a human and hence vulnerable. But ya i really appreciate it :) ❤️❤️❤️

[nothin]

There's really too much effort put in to make such an explanatory video!
Thank you so much!

[amariusz]

Great job explaining the algorithm using colorful diagrams! Really helpful. I've noticed two issues: 1. 8:17 pressing hard does not trigger relearing mode in anki 2. when reviewing long-overdue flashcardsAnki takes into account the real interval not only calculated one, so delayed reviews are not so bad in Anki's SM2

[ahmadal-saleh]

it's a very nice and detailed explanation thanks man!
it'd be amazing if you could make a video on how to best approach language decks and how to maximize the efficiency of learning new vocabs

[quickclicker]

I love this video, but you really did Prerak dirty in your intro. He's not just some "medfluencer". He has helped so many people get into med school (including me) and succeed in school with his videos. He is a good guy that cares about the community. He has also been quite frank about his mental health struggles. Not only that, but he also gave me invaluable anki knowledge about certain add-ons, which I use to this day. Dumping on him is a pretty low-blow on your end.

[jiaojiao]

THANK YOU this is the ultimate anki guide people needs in 2021