Just to clarify, let me break down the differences between these services to avoid any confusion:
- Anki is the app you use to study. AnkiWeb is the free online service for backing up your Anki collection. Everything in your Anki app is backed up to the cloud, allowing you to sync between devices. If you ever lose your local data, you can restore it from AnkiWeb.
- AnkiHub is a collaboration platform for downloading and updating decks, like the AnKing Step Deck. It allows you to access decks and collaborate by suggesting changes.
You can use AnkiWeb without worry, as its primary purpose is backup. Just be careful when syncing: if prompted, make sure you know whether to “Upload to AnkiWeb” (overwrite the cloud with your device’s data) or “Download from AnkiWeb” (overwrite your device with the cloud’s data) based on which version is most current.
Regarding your local changes, you should know about “Protected Fields.” When you sync with AnkiHub, your cards are updated to match the version on the server. However, you can designate specific fields to be protected so your notes aren’t overwritten.
We generally recommend using the “Lecture Notes” or “Missed Questions” fields for your personal annotations. These fields are not updated by our team, making them safe for your notes.
On the other hand, we recommend keeping the “Text” and “Extra” fields unprotected because these receive the most content updates. If you have personal notes in the “Text” or “Extra” fields, they will be overwritten during an update unless you protect them. However, if you do protect them, you will stop receiving future updates for those specific fields.
Here is a tutorial on how to manage this: How to Manage Protected Fields
Let me know if you need any further clarification. 