Creating subdecks in Anki on your iPad is a fantastic way to organize your learning and make your study sessions more efficient and focused. Whether you're juggling multiple subjects, breaking down a large topic into smaller, manageable chunks, or simply want to keep your flashcards neatly categorized, subdecks are your best friend.
Ready to take your Anki organization to the next level? Let's dive in!
Step 1: Let's Get Started – Do You Have Your Anki App Open?
Before we begin, ensure your Anki app is open on your iPad and you're on the main "Decks" screen. This is where all your existing decks are displayed, and it's the perfect starting point for our subdeck adventure. If you don't have Anki installed, you'll need to download it from the App Store first!
Step 2: Creating Your Parent Deck (or Using an Existing One)
Every subdeck needs a parent. Think of it like a folder structure on your computer – your subdecks are files nested within a main folder (the parent deck).
2.1: Option A: Creating a Brand New Parent Deck
If you don't have a suitable parent deck yet, no worries! We can create one right now.
- Tap the '+' Icon: In the top right corner of your Anki iPad screen, you'll see a '
+' icon. Tap on it. - Select 'New Deck': A menu will pop up. Choose the option that says 'New Deck'.
- Name Your Parent Deck: A prompt will appear asking for a deck name. Let's say you're studying for medical school. You might name this parent deck something broad like "Medical School" or "Anatomy & Physiology". Type in your desired name and tap 'OK'. Congratulations! You've just created your first parent deck!
2.2: Option B: Using an Existing Parent Deck
If you already have a deck that you want to use as your parent, simply ensure it's visible on your main "Decks" screen. There's no special action needed here other than identifying which deck you want to use as your main organizational hub.
Step 3: The Magic of Creating Your Subdeck
Now for the exciting part – creating the actual subdeck! This is where the naming convention is crucial.
3.1: Initiating the New Deck Creation
- Tap the '+' Icon Again: Just like in Step 2.1, tap the '
+' icon in the top right corner of your screen. - Select 'New Deck': Again, choose 'New Deck' from the menu.
3.2: The Naming Convention for Subdecks
This is the most important step for creating subdecks. Anki uses a specific naming convention to understand the hierarchy you want to create.
- ParentDeckName::SubdeckName
The key is the double colon (::). This tells Anki that everything after the double colon is a subdeck of everything before it.
Let's use an example:
-
If your parent deck is named "Medical School", and you want a subdeck for "Cardiology", you would type:
Medical School::Cardiology -
If your parent deck is "Anatomy & Physiology", and you want a subdeck for "Skeletal System", you would type:
Anatomy & Physiology::Skeletal System -
Pro Tip: You can even create sub-subdecks! For example:
Medical School::Cardiology::ArrhythmiasThis would create an "Arrhythmias" sub-subdeck within your "Cardiology" subdeck, which is itself within your "Medical School" parent deck. How cool is that for organization?
- Type Your Subdeck Name: Carefully type the name using the
ParentDeckName::SubdeckNameformat into the prompt. - Tap 'OK': Once you've typed the name, tap 'OK'.
Step 4: Verifying Your Subdeck Structure
After tapping 'OK', you'll be taken back to your main "Decks" screen. You should now see your subdeck nestled neatly under its parent deck, usually with a slight indentation to signify its hierarchical position.
- Look for Indentation: The subdeck will appear slightly indented below the parent deck.
- Expand/Collapse: Parent decks often have a small arrow or triangle next to them. Tapping this allows you to expand (show the subdecks) or collapse (hide the subdecks) the parent deck, keeping your main screen tidy.
Step 5: Adding Cards to Your Subdeck
Now that you have your subdeck, you can start populating it with flashcards!
5.1: Adding New Cards Directly to the Subdeck
- Tap on the Subdeck: From the main "Decks" screen, tap on the specific subdeck you want to add cards to (e.g., "Cardiology").
- Tap 'Add' (or the '+' icon): You'll see an 'Add' button at the bottom of the screen, or a '+' icon in the top right, depending on your Anki version. Tap it.
- Create Your Card: Input your front and back content, choose your card type, and any other fields.
- Tap 'Done' or 'Add': Once you're finished, tap 'Done' or 'Add' to save the card. It will automatically be saved to the subdeck you are currently viewing.
5.2: Moving Existing Cards to a Subdeck
What if you have cards in another deck that you want to move into your new subdeck?
- Go to the Parent Deck (or the current deck of the cards): Tap on the deck that currently contains the cards you want to move.
- Tap 'Browse': At the bottom of the screen, tap 'Browse'. This will open the browser, showing all cards in that deck.
- Select the Cards:
- To select multiple cards: Tap 'Edit' in the top right, then tap the circle next to each card you want to move.
- To select all cards: Tap 'Edit', then 'Select All'.
- Tap 'Move Cards' (or the 'Move' icon): Once cards are selected, you'll see a 'Move Cards' option or a 'Move' icon (often a folder with an arrow) at the bottom. Tap it.
- Choose Your Subdeck: A list of your decks will appear. Navigate to and select the specific subdeck you want to move the cards into.
- Confirm: Anki will confirm the move. Tap 'Move' or 'OK'.
And just like that, your cards are now perfectly organized within your new subdeck!
Step 6: Studying with Subdecks
When you study a parent deck, Anki will automatically include cards from all its subdecks. This is incredibly useful for comprehensive review.
- Studying the Parent Deck: If you tap on "Medical School", Anki will present cards from "Cardiology", "Anatomy", and any other subdecks you've created under it.
- Studying a Specific Subdeck: If you only want to focus on cards related to "Cardiology", simply tap on the "Medical School::Cardiology" subdeck directly.
This flexibility allows you to tailor your study sessions precisely to your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions about Anki Subdecks on iPad
How to delete a subdeck in Anki iPad?
To delete a subdeck, go to the main "Decks" screen, swipe left on the subdeck you want to delete, and then tap "Delete". Be careful, as this will also delete all cards within that subdeck.
How to rename a subdeck in Anki iPad?
You cannot directly rename a subdeck from its current name to another. You need to create a new subdeck with the desired name (using the ParentDeckName::NewSubdeckName format), then move all cards from the old subdeck to the new one, and finally delete the old (now empty) subdeck.
How to move a subdeck to a different parent deck in Anki iPad?
Similar to renaming, you effectively create a new subdeck under the new parent using the NewParentDeckName::SubdeckName format. Then, move all cards from the old subdeck (under the old parent) to the newly created one. Finally, delete the old, empty subdeck.
How to convert a regular deck into a subdeck in Anki iPad?
To convert a regular deck into a subdeck, you'll need to rename it using the ParentDeckName::OriginalDeckName format. This will automatically turn it into a subdeck of the specified parent.
How to get cards from a subdeck to show up when studying the parent deck in Anki iPad?
This happens automatically! When you study a parent deck, Anki will always include cards from all its immediate and nested subdecks.
How to prevent cards from a subdeck from showing up when studying the parent deck in Anki iPad?
You cannot prevent cards from a subdeck from showing up if you study the parent deck. If you want to study only specific subdecks, you must tap on those individual subdecks.
How to manage cards across multiple subdecks in Anki iPad?
The "Browse" screen is your best friend. You can filter by deck, tag, or note type to see cards from specific subdecks or across multiple decks, making it easy to select and move cards as needed.
How to search for cards only within a specific subdeck in Anki iPad?
In the "Browse" screen, you can use the search query deck:"ParentDeckName::SubdeckName" to limit your search results to that specific subdeck.
How to tell which subdeck a card belongs to in Anki iPad?
When viewing a card in the "Browser" or during review, the deck name at the top or bottom of the screen will display the full path, such as "ParentDeckName::SubdeckName".
How to create a new sub-subdeck in Anki iPad?
To create a sub-subdeck, simply extend the double-colon naming convention. For example: GrandparentDeck::ParentDeck::SubSubdeckName.