Quick start
This guide will get you started with KAnki by walking through your first flashcard study session.This guide assumes you’ve already installed KAnki on your jailbroken Kindle device. If you haven’t installed KAnki yet, complete the installation first.
Understanding the interface
When you launch KAnki, you’ll see:Header bar
- KAnki logo - App title in the top left
- Progress display - Shows current card number and total cards (e.g., “5/50”)
- Level display - Shows the currently selected proficiency level
Menu bar
- Level buttons - Filter cards by proficiency level (All Levels, N5, N4, etc.)
- ★ Star button - Filter to show only starred (favorited) cards
- ↔ Flip button - Reverse card direction (swap front and back)
Card area
- Level badge - Shows the card’s proficiency level
- Star button (☆) - Click to mark/unmark the card as starred
- Front text - The question or prompt
- Back text - The answer (hidden until you click Show Answer)
- Notes - Additional context or hints
- Statistics - View count and review history
Control buttons
- Show Answer - Reveals the answer and interval buttons
- Again (<10m) - Didn’t know it, review in 10 minutes
- Hard (1d) - Knew it with difficulty, review in 1 day
- Good (3d) - Knew it well, review in 3 days
- Easy (4d) - Knew it perfectly, review in 4 days
Your first study session
Launch KAnki
Open KAnki from your Kindle’s home screen. You’ll see your first flashcard.
If this is your first time launching KAnki, you’ll see the default Japanese vocabulary deck. Don’t worry - you can customize this for any language later.
Read the front of the card
The card front displays the question or prompt. For language learning, this is typically:
- The word in your target language (learning mode)
- The word in your native language (reverse mode)
こんにちは (Japanese)Try to recall the answer before revealing it.Show the answer
Click the Show Answer button to reveal the back of the card.You’ll see:
- The answer text (e.g., “Hello”)
- Reading/pronunciation if available (e.g., “konnichiwa”)
- Notes or context (e.g., “Greeting”)
- View statistics (how many times you’ve seen this card)
Rate your recall
Choose how well you knew the answer:Click the appropriate button. The next card will appear automatically.
Again (<10m)
You didn’t know the answer or got it completely wrong. The card will reappear in less than 10 minutes.
Hard (1d)
You knew it but struggled or hesitated significantly. The card will reappear in 1 day.
Good (3d)
You knew the answer with reasonable confidence. The card will reappear in 3 days.
Easy (4d)
You knew the answer instantly and perfectly. The card will reappear in 4 days.
Continue studying
Repeat steps 2-4 for each card in your deck. Your progress is automatically saved after each card.
KAnki uses localStorage to save your progress. You can safely close the app and continue later without losing your study history.
Understanding spaced repetition
KAnki uses a spaced repetition algorithm to optimize your learning:- Cards you know well appear less frequently (up to 4 days between reviews)
- Cards you struggle with appear more frequently (as soon as 10 minutes later)
- Review timing is based on your self-assessment (Again, Hard, Good, Easy)
Filtering and customization
Filter by proficiency level
Click any level button in the menu bar to study only cards from that level:Star important cards
Click the ☆ button on any card to mark it as starred (important). Starred cards get a filled star: ★ Click the ★ Star button in the menu bar to filter and show only your starred cards.Starring is perfect for:
- Words you want to review extra
- Cards you keep getting wrong
- High-frequency vocabulary you need to master
Reverse card direction
Click the ↔ Flip button to reverse the learning direction:- Normal mode: Target language → Native language (e.g., Japanese → English)
- Reverse mode: Native language → Target language (e.g., English → Japanese)
Card statistics
Each card tracks:- Total views - How many times you’ve seen this card
- Review history - Timestamps of your recent reviews
Resetting progress
If you want to start over or clear your data:- Reset Progress - Clears all study statistics but keeps your deck
- Reset All Data - Returns to default deck and clears all progress
Common study workflows
Daily review routine
Review due cards
Launch KAnki and study all cards that are due for review based on your previous ratings.
Add new cards
If you finish all due cards, KAnki will show new unseen cards to expand your vocabulary.
Focus on starred cards
Use the ★ Star filter to do a quick review of your most important or challenging vocabulary.
Targeted level study
Select your level
Click the level button for your current proficiency (e.g., A2 for CEFR, N4 for JLPT).
Master the level
Study all cards in that level until you can consistently rate them as “Good” or “Easy”.
Intensive error review
Review errors
When KAnki offers error review mode, accept it to immediately practice the cards you got wrong.
Tips for effective learning
Be honest with ratings
Don’t mark cards as “Easy” just to finish faster. Honest self-assessment leads to better learning.
Study consistently
Daily 10-15 minute sessions are more effective than occasional long sessions.
Use reverse mode
Practicing production (native → target) is harder but builds stronger recall.
Add context notes
Good notes help you remember words better. Include example sentences or mnemonics.
Start with one level
Focus on mastering one proficiency level before moving to the next.
Review starred cards
Do quick reviews of starred cards during spare moments throughout the day.
Next steps
Now that you know the basics:Customize your deck
Learn how to configure KAnki for different languages and customize your learning experience
Create better cards
Discover best practices for creating effective flashcards and organizing your vocabulary
Use companion tools
Explore web-based deck editors like Üben and KindleModShelf for easier deck management
Join the community
Connect with other KAnki users for tips, decks, and support