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The AnKing's favorite

Anki controller

Yes, you can use Anki with a controller and gamify your experience even more! Use the buttons below to buy the controllers we recommend!

Amazon affiliate links

FIRST. Install the Contanki Anki Add-on.

Contanki allows Anki to be used with a gamepad or other controller device. This part is simple. Install the add-on by copying the code from its AnkiWeb page.

SECOND. Reset the buttons to 'X mode' (can also do 'D mode').

(I) With the 8BitDo Zero 2 controller turned off, press and hold ‘start’ and ‘X’ simultaneously (‘B’ for D mode). The blue light should start flashing.

(II) Then, press and hold ‘select.’ The blue light should begin flashing more rapidly. Connect to your device now.

THIRD. Reset the D-pad to left joystick.

(I) Hold Select + D-pad left, to work as left joystick hat. Hold until it flashes red for it to work.

FOURTH. Key mapping.

(I) Open Anki and access the add-on settings via 'Tools' on the top tab.

(II) In the settings tab, select the controller you are using (in this case, 8BitDo Zero 2 - if this doesn’t show, press a button on your controller).

(III) Then click on 'Controls' in the top bar and map the way you like, taking into account which Anki window the settings refer to. 

(IV) If you want to use my mapping, just download one of the following files and import it (custom actions don't get added so you'll need to add them manually first) into Contanki.

Choose your controller

We've prepared a tutorial focused on the two main 8BitDo® controller models that we love.

8BitDo®

Micro

8BitDo®

Zero 2

Setting up your 8BitDo® Micro controller

Click below on the operational system you are using for controller setup instructions. To find out more about the 8BitDo® Micro switch modes, read the manufacturer's manual.

macOS

Windows

iOS

Android

macOS

Windows

iOS

Android

FIRST. Install the Contanki Anki Add-on.

(I) The Contanki add-on allows Anki to be used with a gamepad or other controller device. This part is simple.

(II) Install the add-on by copying the code from its AnkiWeb page.

SECOND. Slide the switch to 'D' mode.

(I) Slide the switch on the bottom side to the ‘D’ mode.

(II) Press the 'Home' button (heart pattern), then hold the 'Pair' button (little one on the bottom side) for 1 second and connect to your Mac.

(III) Hold the 'Minus' + 'D-pad left' buttons for 5 seconds to get full control over the D-pad.

THIRD. Key mapping.

(I) Open Anki and access the add-on settings via 'Tools' on the top tab.

(II) In the settings tab, select the controller you are using (in this case, 8BitDo Micro - if this doesn’t show, press any button on your controller).

(III) Then click on 'Controls' in the top bar and map the way you like, taking into account which Anki window the settings refer to. 

(IV) If you want to use my mapping, just download one of the following files and import it (custom actions don't get added so you'll need to add them manually first) into Contanki.

FIRST. Install the 8BitDo Ultimate Software.

(I) The 8BitDo Ultimate Software is an official app to help with key bindings.

(II) Access the Apple Store from your device, search for 8BitDo Ultimate Software and download it.

SECOND. Slide the switch to 'K' mode.

(I) Slide the switch on the bottom side to the ‘K’ mode.

(II) Press the 'Home' button (heart pattern), then hold the 'Pair' button (little one on the bottom side) for 1 second and connect the controller to your iOS.

THIRD. Key mapping.

(I) Open 8BitDo Ultimate Software and follow the instructions until you reach the mapping screen. If you have problems with spontaneous disconnection, activate the “Disable Sleep” option.

(II) Keep in mind that the controller will function as a keyboard. So, when mapping, use the same shortcuts as on Mac.

(III) Below is the mapping used by The AnKing. 

Setting up your 8BitDo® Zero 2 controller

Click below on the operational system you are using for controller setup instructions. To find out more about the 8BitDo Zero 2 startup modes and D-pad settings, read the manufacturer's manual.

macOS

Windows

iOS

Android

macOS

Windows

iOS

Android

FIRST. Slide the switch to 'S' mode.

(I) Slide the switch on the bottom side to the ‘S’ mode.

(II) Press the 'Home' button (heart pattern), then hold the 'Pair' button (little one on the bottom side) for 1 second and connect (as "Pro Controller") to your Android.

SECOND. Key mapping.

(I) Open Anki Droid, and access the left tab through the top left icon.

(II) Go to Settings, then Controls.

(III) Configure the button mapping as you wish through the 'Command mapping' section. With the controller connected, simply select the required function and click the target button.

Other remotes

If you don't like 8BitDo® Micro or Zero 2, please take a look at the other controller options we also recommend!

FIRST. Install the Contanki Anki Add-on.

Contanki allows Anki to be used with a gamepad or other controller device. This part is simple. Install the add-on by copying the code from its AnkiWeb page.

SECOND. Reset the buttons to 'X mode'.

(I) With the 8BitDo Zero 2 controller turned off, press and hold ‘start’ and ‘X’ simultaneously. The blue light should start flashing.

(II) Then, press and hold ‘select.’ The blue light should begin flashing more rapidly. Connect to your device now.

THIRD. Reset the D-pad to left joystick.

(I) Hold Select + D-pad left, to work as left joystick hat. Hold until it flashes red for it to work.

FOURTH. Key mapping.

(I) Open Anki and access the add-on settings via 'Tools' on the top tab.

(II) In the settings tab, select the controller you are using (in this case, 8BitDo Zero 2).

(III) Then click on 'Controls' in the top bar and map the way you like, taking into account which Anki window the settings refer to. 

(IV) If you want to use my mapping, just download one of the following files and import it (custom actions don't get added so you'll need to add them manually first) into Contanki. The images below are from macOS, but represent the same mapping on Windows.

The AnKing's favorite

Anki controller

Yes, you can use Anki with a controller and gamify your experience even more! Use the buttons below to buy the controllers we recommend!

Amazon affiliate links

FIRST. Reset the buttons to Switch mode.

(I) With the 8BitDo controller turned off, press and hold ‘start’ and ‘Y’ simultaneously. The blue light should start flashing.

(II) Then, press and hold ‘select’. The blue light should begin flashing more rapidly. Connect to your device now. If it doesn’t show or connect in your main bluetooth settings, you can open Settings on your device and select Accessibility > Switch control > Switches > Bluetooth devices and connect to the 8BitDo controller.

SECOND. Reset the D-pad to digital mode.

(I) Hold Select + D-pad up, to work as joystick hat. Hold until it flashes red for it to work.

THIRD. Key mapping.

(I) Open Anki Mobile and click on the gear in the top corner to access the Preferences tab.

(II) In the Preferences droplist, select Review > Gamepads.

(III) Configure the button mapping as you wish. Check out my mapping below.

NOTE. You can set up custom User Actions.

(I) This is how have my “User Actions” set up with the AnKing Note Types add-on:

(II) For other note types, you can put this script on the note styling to enable toggling hints (default is User Action 1).

(II) You can put this script on the back template of IO Enhanced cards to toggle the image occlusions with User Action 1.

FIRST. Reset the buttons to Android mode.

(I) With the 8BitDo controller turned off, press and hold ‘start’ and ‘B’ simultaneously. The blue light should start flashing.

(II) Then, press and hold ‘select’. The blue light should begin flashing more rapidly. Connect to your device now. 

SECOND. Reset the D-pad to digital mode.

(I) Hold Select + D-pad up, to work as joystick hat. Hold until it flashes red for it to work.

THIRD. Key mapping.

(I) Open Anki Droid, and access the left tab through the top left icon.

(II) Go to Settings, then Controls.

(III) Configure the button mapping as you wish through the 'Command mapping' section. With the controller connected, simply select the required function and click the target button.

FIRST. Install the Contanki Anki Add-on.

The Contanki add-on allows Anki to be used with a gamepad or other controller device. This part is simple. Install the add-on by copying the code from its AnkiWeb page.

SECOND. Slide the switch to 'D' mode.

(I) Slide the switch on the bottom side to the ‘D’ mode.

(II) Press the 'Home' button (heart pattern), then hold the 'Pair' button (little one on the bottom side) for 1 second and connect to your Windows.

(III) Hold the 'Minus' + 'D-pad left' buttons for 5 seconds to get full control over the D-pad.

THIRD. Key mapping.

(I) Open Anki and access the add-on settings via 'Tools' on the top tab.

(II) In the settings tab, select the controller you are using (in this case, 8BitDo Micro - if this doesn’t show, press any button on your controller).

(III) Then click on 'Controls' in the top bar and map the way you like, taking into account which Anki window the settings refer to. 

(IV) If you want to use my mapping, just download one of the following files and import it (custom actions don't get added so you'll need to add them manually first) into Contanki. The images below are from macOS, but represent the same mapping on Windows.

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