SA SheetToAnki Convert now
Home / Import CSV Into Anki
How-to guide

How to Import CSV Into Anki

A complete walkthrough of Anki's built-in File → Import feature, from field mapping to duplicate handling.

Before you start

You'll need Anki installed (desktop version) and a CSV file with at least a Front and Back column — the one SheetToAnki generates is ready to go as-is.

The import workflow

  1. Open Anki and go to File → Import.
  2. Select your sheet-to-anki.csv file in the file picker.
  3. In the import screen, confirm the Type is set to Basic (or Basic and reversed, if you want two-way cards).
  4. Choose the Deck you want the cards added to.
  5. Under Field mapping, make sure Field 1 lines up with Front and Field 2 with Back — Anki usually gets this right automatically when the CSV has a header row.
  6. Set the duplicate handling option (update, skip, or allow duplicates) if you're re-importing an updated list.
  7. Click Import. Anki reports how many notes were added.

Common issues and fixes

SymptomLikely cause
Cards show blank Front or BackField mapping was off by one column — re-check the mapping screen
Accented characters look garbledFile wasn't UTF-8 encoded; re-export or re-convert with SheetToAnki
Import says "0 notes added"Every row was flagged as a duplicate of existing cards
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Does Anki support CSV import on mobile?+
Import is a desktop-only feature; convert and import on desktop, then sync to mobile with AnkiWeb.
What note type should I choose?+
Basic works for a simple front/back card; choose Basic (and reversed card) if you also want the reverse direction automatically.
Can I re-import the same file to update existing cards?+
Yes — set duplicate handling to "Update" so matching notes are refreshed instead of duplicated.
Why does Anki show an extra empty field?+
This usually means the CSV has an extra trailing column; re-export from SheetToAnki with only the columns you need mapped.