How Anki Auto-Sync Works
Anki Desktop is designed to sync frequently in the background, so your flashcard data stays consistent across all your devices without manual effort. This page explains what Anki does automatically and what you can expect.
Default sync behavior
When you first connect Anki Desktop to Flipnem, three sync-related settings are enabled by default:
| Setting | Default | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Automatically sync on profile open/close | On | Syncs your collection every time you open or close Anki |
| Synchronize audio and images too | On | Includes media files (images, audio) in every sync |
| Periodically sync media | On (every 15 min) | Re-syncs media in the background while Anki is open |
You can view these settings in Tools > Preferences > Syncing (Windows/Linux) or Anki > Preferences > Syncing (macOS).
What happens when you open Anki
With the default settings, opening Anki triggers the following automatically:
- Collection sync — Anki contacts Flipnem to check if anything has changed since the last sync. If there are changes on either side, it exchanges the updated cards, notes, decks, and scheduling data.
- Media sync — Runs alongside the collection sync. Any new or modified images and audio files are uploaded or downloaded as needed.
The same sequence runs again when you close Anki, capturing any reviews or edits you made during the session.
Periodic media sync
While Anki is open, it periodically checks for media changes in the background (roughly every 15 minutes by default). This ensures that media files stay in sync even during long study sessions, without you needing to click anything.
This background sync runs silently. If the server is temporarily unavailable, Anki retries on the next interval without showing an error.
What this means in practice
For most users, the default settings are ideal:
- Your data is always up to date — any cards you add or review in Anki Desktop appear in Flipnem (and vice versa) within moments.
- Media stays in sync — images and audio are included automatically. You don’t need to import or export files manually.
- No manual sync needed — Anki handles everything on open, close, and periodically in between.
Adjusting sync settings
If you prefer more control, you can change these settings in Anki’s preferences:
- Turn off auto-sync — Uncheck “Automatically sync on profile open/close” to sync only when you click the Sync button manually.
- Turn off media sync — Uncheck “Synchronize audio and images too” if you only want to sync card data. This is useful on slow or metered connections.
- Turn off periodic media sync — Uncheck “Periodically sync media” to limit media sync to when you manually trigger it.