How to Change Anki Hotkeys: A Complete Guide to Custom Keyboard Shortcuts
Anki is one of the most powerful spaced-repetition tools available, but its default keyboard shortcuts don't work for everyone. Whether you're studying on a laptop with a cramped layout, using Anki alongside other apps that conflict with its keys, or simply prefer a more ergonomic setup, changing Anki hotkeys is entirely possible — though the method depends on which version you're using and what exactly you want to reassign.
What Are Anki Hotkeys and Why Change Them?
Hotkeys (also called keyboard shortcuts) let you trigger Anki actions without reaching for your mouse. Default shortcuts cover core actions like rating cards (Again, Hard, Good, Easy), flipping cards, undoing, and navigating between decks.
Common reasons people want to change them:
- Conflicts with other software running in the background (screen recorders, productivity apps, OS-level shortcuts)
- Physical accessibility needs or repetitive strain concerns
- Preference for one-handed navigation
- Using non-standard keyboard layouts (Dvorak, Colemak, etc.)
The challenge is that Anki doesn't offer a native, built-in hotkey remapping menu in most versions. Instead, the options range from add-ons to OS-level tools — and the right path depends on your setup.
How Anki's Default Shortcuts Work
Before changing anything, it helps to understand how the defaults are structured. Anki's shortcuts are defined in its source code and, in some cases, within add-on files installed locally on your machine.
Default review shortcuts include:
| Action | Default Key |
|---|---|
| Show Answer | Spacebar |
| Again (1) | 1 |
| Hard (2) | 2 |
| Good (3) | 3 |
| Easy (4) | 4 |
| Undo | Ctrl + Z |
| Edit Note | E |
| Suspend Card | @ |
These are consistent across Anki Desktop (Windows, macOS, Linux), but AnkiMobile (iOS) and AnkiDroid (Android) have separate, more limited customization options.
Method 1: Using an Add-On to Remap Shortcuts 🛠️
For Anki Desktop, the most practical approach for most users is installing a dedicated add-on.
The "Customize Keyboard Shortcuts" add-on (available through AnkiWeb's add-on directory) is widely used for this purpose. Once installed:
- Go to Tools → Add-ons in the Anki menu
- Select the shortcut customization add-on and click Config
- A JSON configuration file opens listing actions and their assigned keys
- Edit the key values directly and save
- Restart Anki for changes to take effect
The JSON format means you're working with plain text — no coding knowledge required, just careful editing. A typical entry looks like: