Import a deck into Anki

Before you import

A quick check saves cleanup later:

• You have a .apkg file saved somewhere accessible (Downloads folder is fine).
• You know which deck name you expect—imports sometimes create a new top-level deck.
• You are not mid-review session; finish or pause study first.

Import on desktop (Windows / Mac / Linux)

1. 1

   Open Anki.

2. 2

   Click File → Import (or press Ctrl+O / Cmd+O).

3. 3

   Select your .apkg file.

4. 4

   On the import dialog, leave defaults unless you know you need to merge into an existing note type.

5. 5

   Click Import. Anki adds the deck and cards to your collection.

6. 6

   Click the deck name in the left sidebar, then Browse to spot-check a handful of cards.

Import on mobile

Exact menus differ slightly between AnkiMobile and AnkiDroid, but the flow is the same:

1. 1

   Transfer the .apkg to your phone (AirDrop, email, cloud storage, or Files app).

2. 2

   Open the file with Anki / AnkiDroid when prompted, or use the app's Import menu.

3. 3

   Confirm import and wait for media to copy—large decks with images take longer.

4. 4

   Open the deck and preview a few cards before starting study.

Duplicate handling

If you import the same deck twice, Anki may create duplicates depending on import settings. For a first import, prefer a clean new deck. If you are re-importing an updated export, use "Update existing notes when first field matches" only when you understand your note ID strategy.

When in doubt, import into a test subdeck, verify ten cards, then delete the test import before bringing in the full batch.

Common import problems