Anki How To: 7 Essential Tricks To Study Smarter (And The Faster Alternative Most People Miss) – Learn the key Anki habits, then see how apps like Flashrecall make it all way easier.

Anki Basics: How It Works (Without The Nerd Talk)

Let’s skip the super technical stuff.

Anki is a flashcard app that uses spaced repetition:

• You see a card
• You try to recall the answer
• You rate how hard it was
• Anki schedules the next review for you

Done right, it’s insanely effective. Done wrong, it becomes a cluttered mess that stresses you out.

If you like the idea of spaced repetition but want something faster, more modern, and less fiddly, check out Flashrecall on iPhone and iPad:

👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085

It does all the spaced repetition magic without making you fight with complicated settings, and it can even auto-create cards from PDFs, images, YouTube links, text, and more.

Let’s walk through how to actually use Anki well — and where Flashrecall just makes life easier.

1. How To Create Good Flashcards (The Part Most People Mess Up)

Whether you’re in Anki or Flashrecall, bad cards = bad results.

The Golden Rules Of Good Cards

Use these for both apps:

• One fact per card
• Bad: “What are the causes, symptoms, and treatments of asthma?”
• Better: One card for causes, one for symptoms, one for treatments.
• Keep wording simple
• You’re not writing a textbook.
• Write like you’re explaining to a friend.
• Use questions, not notes
• Instead of: “Photosynthesis: process in plants…”
• Use: “What is photosynthesis?” or “Where does photosynthesis occur in the cell?”
• Add images when helpful
• Diagrams, charts, screenshots, anatomy images, etc.

How This Works In Anki vs Flashrecall

• You usually create cards manually.
• You can add images and basic formatting, but it takes time.
• Importing from PDFs/YouTube/etc. needs add-ons or extra work.

• You can still create cards manually if you want to.
• Or go turbo mode:
• Upload a PDF → it auto-generates flashcards.
• Paste a YouTube link → it pulls content and makes cards.
• Snap a photo of your notes or textbook → instant cards from the image.
• Paste text or talk using audio → cards made for you.
• Perfect when you’re tired of typing or cramming the night before an exam.

Again, here’s the app:

👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085

2. How To Use Spaced Repetition Without Burning Out

Spaced repetition only works if you actually review.

In Anki

• You open the app and see a pile of “Due” cards.
• If you miss a few days, the pile explodes.
• You have to manually remember to open it and do reviews.

People quit here because it becomes overwhelming.

In Flashrecall

Flashrecall also uses built-in spaced repetition, but it’s a lot friendlier:

• It automatically schedules reviews for you.
• You get study reminders, so you don’t forget to open the app.
• It keeps sessions manageable so you don’t feel buried.

You just open the app, tap into a deck, and Flashrecall says:

“Here’s what you should review today.”

No fiddling with settings, no stress.

3. How To Actually Review Cards (Active Recall 101)

The real magic is active recall: trying to remember the answer before you see it.

How To Review Properly

Whether you’re using Anki or Flashrecall:

1. Look at the question side.

2. Say the answer in your head (or out loud).

3. Flip the card.

4. Be honest:

• Did you know it perfectly?
• Did you kinda guess?
• Did you have no idea?

In Anki, you press buttons like Again / Hard / Good / Easy.

In Flashrecall, it’s similar: you rate how well you remembered, and the app adjusts the next review time automatically. You don’t have to think about intervals; it’s just built in.

4. How To Turn Your Notes, PDFs, And Videos Into Cards (The Pain Point Anki Struggles With)

This is where a lot of people get stuck with Anki:

> “I know flashcards would help… but I don’t have time to make them.”

Doing This In Anki

• You copy-paste from notes or a PDF.
• You manually type front and back fields.
• If you want auto-generation from PDFs/YouTube, you’re usually installing add-ons, dealing with settings, or using external tools.

It works, but it’s slow.

Doing This In Flashrecall

Flashrecall is basically built for this exact problem:

You can create flashcards from:

• Images – snap a pic of a textbook page or handwritten notes.
• Text – paste lecture notes or summaries.
• Audio – speak or record, and turn it into cards.
• PDFs – upload the file, auto-generate cards from the content.
• YouTube links – paste the link, Flashrecall pulls content and creates cards.
• Typed prompts – just tell it what you’re learning and let it generate questions.

You can still tweak or add your own cards manually, but the heavy lifting is done for you.

If you’ve ever thought, “I don’t have time to set up Anki,” this solves that.

5. How To Fix Confusing Cards (And Why Chatting With Your Deck Is Wildly Useful)

Sometimes you look at a card and think:

> “I have no idea what this is even asking anymore.”

In Anki, your options are:

• Edit the card
• Add extra notes
• Google the concept
• Hope future-you understands it better

Flashrecall’s Cheat Code: Chat With Your Flashcards

In Flashrecall, you can literally chat with the flashcard if you’re unsure about something.

Example:

• You’re learning medicine and see “Mechanism of action of beta-blockers”.
• You’re confused.
• You open chat and ask:
• “Explain this like I’m 15.”
• “Give me a simple analogy.”
• “What are common exam questions about this?”

That’s insanely helpful for:

• Languages (“Use this word in 5 sentences.”)
• Business (“Explain this marketing term with examples.”)
• University subjects (“Summarize this in 3 bullet points.”)

Instead of leaving the app to Google things, you stay in one place and keep learning.

6. How To Stay Consistent (The Real Secret To Anki… Or Any App)

Anki power users will tell you:

> “The secret is: never skip a day.”

That’s nice in theory. In real life, people forget.

Anki’s Reality

• No built-in reminders unless you set them up yourself.
• Miss a few days → huge backlog → guilt → quit.

Flashrecall’s Approach

Flashrecall is built to keep you consistent without shaming you:

• Study reminders help you remember to review.
• Sessions are quick, so you can study on the bus, in bed, between classes.
• It works offline, so you can review anywhere.
• The interface is fast, modern, and actually pleasant to use.

The less friction, the more likely you’ll stick with it.

7. Anki vs Flashrecall: Which Should You Use?

If you’re searching “Anki how to”, you’re probably trying to figure out:

• How to set it up
• Whether it’s worth the effort
• If there’s something easier

When Anki Makes Sense

Use Anki if:

• You love tweaking settings and customizing everything.
• You don’t mind spending time manually creating cards.
• You’re on desktop a lot and like the traditional workflow.

When Flashrecall Is Just Better

Use Flashrecall if you want:

• A fast, modern, easy-to-use flashcard app
• Automatic spaced repetition and built-in active recall
• Instant flashcards from:
• Images
• Text
• Audio
• PDFs
• YouTube links
• Typed prompts
• Ability to chat with your flashcards when you’re confused
• Study reminders so you don’t forget
• Offline use on iPhone and iPad
• Something that’s free to start

You get the same brain-boosting benefits as Anki, but with way less friction.

Grab it here and try it on your next topic, exam, or language:

👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085

How To Start Today (Simple Plan)

Here’s a super simple way to begin:

1. Pick one subject you’re struggling with.

2. Install Flashrecall on your iPhone or iPad.

3. Import something you already have:

• A PDF
• A screenshot of notes
• A YouTube lecture

4. Let Flashrecall generate cards for you.

5. Do a 5–10 minute session today.

6. Come back tomorrow when the app reminds you.

You’ll feel the difference after just a few days: things start sticking that used to slip away.

You can absolutely learn Anki and use it well — but if you want the same learning power with a faster, smoother experience, Flashrecall makes it ridiculously easy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Anki good for studying?

Anki is powerful but requires manual card creation and has a steep learning curve. Flashrecall offers AI-powered card generation from your notes, images, PDFs, and videos, making it faster and easier to create effective flashcards.

What's the fastest way to create flashcards?

Manually typing cards works but takes time. Many students now use AI generators that turn notes into flashcards instantly. Flashrecall does this automatically from text, images, or PDFs.

How do I start spaced repetition?

You can manually schedule your reviews, but most people use apps that automate this. Flashrecall uses built-in spaced repetition so you review cards at the perfect time.

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• Anki Study: 7 Powerful Tricks To Learn Faster (And a Simpler App Most Students Prefer) – If you love Anki’s results but hate the friction, this guide (and a better alternative) is for you.
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