Where to find and change Anki hotkeys

Anki stores hotkey settings in its preferences menu, which you reach through the top menu bar. Open Anki, then click Tools at the top, then Preferences (on Mac, this is Anki > Preferences). A window will open with several tabs across the top. Click the Shortcuts tab to see all the keyboard commands Anki uses.

The Shortcuts tab shows every action Anki can perform — reviewing cards, adding notes, searching your deck, and dozens more. Each action has a default hotkey listed next to it. To change one, click directly on the hotkey field (the box showing the current key combination), delete what is there, then press the new key or key combination you want to use. Anki will record it when ready.

Not every action has a hotkey by default. If you want to assign a hotkey to something that does not have one, click in the empty field next to that action and press your chosen key combination. Anki will accept it as long as it does not conflict with an existing hotkey.

Key Takeaways

  • Hotkeys in Anki are changed through Tools > Preferences > Shortcuts, where you can see all available actions and their current key assignments.
  • To change a hotkey, click on the field next to the action, clear the current keys, and press the new combination you want to use.
  • You can assign hotkeys to actions that do not have them by default by clicking the empty field and pressing your chosen keys.
  • Anki will warn you if you try to assign a hotkey that is already in use for another action, preventing accidental conflicts.
  • Changes take effect when ready and are saved automatically when you close the Preferences window.

Avoiding hotkey conflicts with your operating system

Before you assign a new hotkey, check whether your operating system already uses that combination. On Windows, common system hotkeys include Alt+Tab (switch windows), Ctrl+Alt+Delete (task manager), and Windows+X (power menu). On Mac, Command+Space opens Spotlight, Command+Tab switches apps, and Command+Q closes applications. If you assign a hotkey that your system uses, your operating system will intercept it before Anki sees it, and the hotkey will not work in Anki.

The safest approach is to use combinations that include keys less likely to be claimed by your system. For example, Ctrl+Shift+letter combinations are usually free on Windows, and Command+Option+letter combinations are usually free on Mac. Avoid single modifier keys (just Alt or just Ctrl) and avoid the most common system shortcuts.

Resetting hotkeys to Anki's defaults

If you change many hotkeys and want to start over, you do not have to reset them one at a time. At the bottom of the Shortcuts tab, there is a button labeled Restore Defaults. Click this button and Anki will return every hotkey to its original setting. You will be asked to confirm before this happens, so you cannot do it by accident.

If you only want to reset one hotkey instead of all of them, click on the field for that hotkey and press the Delete or Backspace key. This clears the field and removes the hotkey from that action. You can then assign a new one, or leave it blank if you do not want a hotkey for that action.

Hotkeys that work differently in review mode

Some hotkeys in Anki behave differently depending on what you are doing. When you are reviewing cards, number keys (1, 2, 3, 4) are hotkeys for your answer buttons — pressing 1 means "again", 2 means "hard", 3 means "good", and 4 means "straightforward". These are separate from the hotkeys you set in Preferences, and they cannot be changed through the Shortcuts tab.

If you want to change the review answer buttons, you need to edit Anki's configuration file directly. This is more advanced and requires opening a text editor, but the Anki manual has detailed instructions for this if you need it. For most users, the default review hotkeys work well and do not need to be changed.

Hotkeys for add-ons and extensions

If you have installed add-ons in Anki, some of them may add their own hotkeys. These appear in the Shortcuts tab under the add-on's name. You can change them the same way you change built-in hotkeys — click the field and press your new key combination. If an add-on's hotkey conflicts with one of Anki's built-in hotkeys, Anki will show a warning and ask you to choose a different key.

Some add-ons let you change their hotkeys through their own settings menu instead of through Anki's Preferences. Check the add-on's documentation to see whether it has its own hotkey settings. If it does, those settings will override what you set in the Shortcuts tab.

Testing your new hotkeys

After you change a hotkey, close the Preferences window and test it to make sure it works. The easiest way is to open a deck and try the hotkey while reviewing a card or while in the main Anki window. If the hotkey does not work, go back to Preferences and check that you entered it correctly. Make sure the key combination is not being used by your operating system or another program.

If a hotkey stops working after you have been using it, another program you installed may have claimed that key combination. Uninstall or update the other program, or choose a different hotkey in Anki. You can also check your operating system's hotkey settings to see if something was added there recently.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the same hotkey for two different actions?

No. Anki will show an error message if you try to assign a hotkey that is already in use. You must choose a different key combination for each action. If you want to use a particular key combination, you will need to remove it from whatever action currently has it first.

Do my hotkey changes sync across devices if I use AnkiWeb?

No. Hotkey settings are stored on your computer only and do not sync to AnkiWeb or to other devices. If you use Anki on multiple computers, you will need to set up your hotkeys separately on each one.

What should I do if a hotkey I set is not working?

First, check that your operating system is not using that key combination — try the hotkey in a text editor to see if it types something instead of triggering the action. If your system is not using it, go back to Preferences and verify the hotkey is spelled correctly. Close and reopen Anki to make sure the change was saved.

Can I set a hotkey that uses just one key, like pressing "S" alone?

Yes, but it is not recommended. Single keys can interfere with typing in text fields within Anki. If you assign "S" as a hotkey and then try to type in a search box, pressing S will trigger the hotkey instead of typing the letter. Use combinations like Ctrl+S or Shift+S instead.