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Anki MCP Server

MCP server for Anki flashcards that lets Claude review cards, manage decks, create and update notes, handle tags and media, inspect stats, and drive Anki desktop GUI workflows.

by AnkiMCP·added 2026-06-06·
Claude CodeClaude Desktop
HarnessClaude CodeClaude Desktop
Review first — review before installing

Open the source and read safety notes before installing.

Safety notes

  • Anki MCP Server can create, update, delete, move, tag, rate, and sync cards and notes through AnkiConnect.
  • Destructive tools include note deletion, media deletion, unused-tag clearing, deck moves, tag replacement, model styling changes, and review rating actions that affect scheduling.
  • The server supports read-only mode that blocks exposed write actions, but users should still review tool calls before enabling unrestricted study or collection-management workflows.
  • Media tools can store files from local paths, URLs, or base64 data and can retrieve media as base64 content.
  • GUI tools can open Anki windows, select cards, edit notes, show answers, and undo the last Anki action.
  • Remote tunnel or ngrok-style setups expose local Anki to cloud-hosted AI clients and require careful authentication, origin, and URL-sharing controls.

Privacy notes

  • Tool calls can expose deck names, note fields, card contents, tags, review history, media filenames, base64 media, selected notes, collection stats, scheduling metadata, and AnkiConnect errors.
  • Flashcards may contain medical, language-learning, school, work, personal, customer, or confidential study material.
  • Sync can send Anki collection changes to AnkiWeb according to the user's Anki account and sync settings.
  • Local media file paths, URLs imported into cards, and GUI-selected note IDs can enter MCP client context and model logs.
  • Remote tunnel providers and hosted clients may process connection metadata or traffic according to their own policies.

Prerequisites

  • Anki Desktop installed and running.
  • The AnkiConnect add-on installed in Anki.
  • Node.js 22.12 or newer for the npm package path.
  • Review of which decks, cards, tags, media files, and note types the MCP client may access.
  • Optional read-only mode for exploration before allowing note, deck, tag, model, media, sync, or review-write operations.

Schema details

Install type
cli
Troubleshooting
No
Source repository stats
Scope
Source repo
Collection metadata
Estimated setup
15 minutes
Difficulty
intermediate
Tool listing metadata
Disclosure
MIT-licensed TypeScript MCP server published as the `@ankimcp/anki-mcp-server` npm package. This entry is distinct from generic note-taking or study tools because it talks to Anki through AnkiConnect and exposes Anki-specific review, deck, tag, media, model, stats, and GUI tools.
Full copyable content
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "anki": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@ankimcp/anki-mcp-server", "--stdio"]
    }
  }
}

About this resource

Content

Anki MCP Server connects Claude and other MCP clients to Anki through the AnkiConnect add-on. It exposes tools for review sessions, deck management, note creation, tag operations, media handling, model/template work, statistics, and Anki desktop GUI workflows.

Use it when a learning workflow needs Claude to help review due cards, create new notes, update existing flashcards, explain answers, organize decks, or analyze spaced-repetition history. Start with read-only mode if the assistant only needs to inspect the collection.

Source Review

These sources were reviewed on 2026-06-06. Prefer the live repository, README, npm metadata, license, package metadata, server manifest, AnkiConnect client, HTTP origin validation guard, and reviewer setup guide for current setup and operating details.

Features

  • Sync with AnkiWeb through Anki.
  • Fetch due, new, learning, suspended, buried, or deck-filtered cards.
  • Present card fronts and rate answers as Again, Hard, Good, or Easy.
  • List decks, create decks, move cards, and fetch deck statistics.
  • Create one note or batch-create up to 100 notes.
  • Search notes with Anki query syntax and inspect note fields, tags, and CSS.
  • Update note fields, delete notes, and manage tags.
  • List, retrieve, store, or delete media files.
  • List note types, inspect field names and styling, create models, and update model CSS.
  • Inspect collection and review statistics.
  • Drive Anki desktop GUI flows such as browse, add cards, edit notes, show question, show answer, and undo.
  • Run over stdio, local HTTP, or an authenticated remote tunnel flow.
  • Use read-only mode to block exposed write operations during exploration.

Installation

Install Anki Desktop and the AnkiConnect add-on, then configure the npm package:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "anki": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@ankimcp/anki-mcp-server", "--stdio"]
    }
  }
}

For exploration-only sessions, launch read-only mode:

npx -y @ankimcp/anki-mcp-server --stdio --read-only

The project also publishes an MCPB bundle through GitHub Releases for Claude Desktop users who prefer an extension-style install path.

Use Cases

  • Run a conversational review session for due cards in a specific deck.
  • Generate new vocabulary, exam, language-learning, or technical flashcards.
  • Add tags, reorganize decks, or update note fields after a study session.
  • Import images or media into selected notes.
  • Inspect retention, review streaks, deck counts, and collection statistics.
  • Create custom note types and styling for right-to-left or specialized cards.
  • Let Claude explain a missed answer while preserving the Anki scheduling flow.

Safety and Privacy

Anki MCP Server can mutate a real Anki collection. Rating cards changes review scheduling, syncing can push changes to AnkiWeb, and note, tag, deck, model, and media tools can permanently change or delete study material. Start read-only, keep Anki backups, and require confirmation for destructive or broad batch actions.

Flashcards often contain personal learning history, school material, medical notes, work facts, customer context, screenshots, and private media. Treat MCP tool results as study data that may enter the model context. Be especially careful with remote tunnel mode, imported media paths, and any setup that connects a cloud-hosted assistant to local Anki.

Duplicate Notes

Existing catalog entries cover general note-taking, memory, and productivity tools. This entry covers the separate ankimcp/anki-mcp-server project and @ankimcp/anki-mcp-server package for AnkiConnect-backed flashcard review, collection management, media handling, and Anki GUI workflows.

#anki#flashcards#learning#spaced-repetition#productivity

Source citations

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