AnKing deck

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1

Please help!

I have been trying to download the AnKing deck since this morning. Intially when I first downloaded it, all the cards gathered pretty quickly but I did not see any pictures and it kept popping up with the error message displaying “connection timed out.” After going through multiple forms, I signed out of the AnkiHub, removed the add on, restarted Anki, added the AnkiHub add on, resubscribed to the Step 1 deck. Now there are no cards but which are popping up but the AnKing step deck is shown in the sidebar,and the media sync is showing “downloading.” Should I continue to wait?

Please advise

2

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3
Thinking

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Found 2 results for ‘tags:official AnKing deck connection timed out media sync downloading no cards order:latest_topic max_posts:10 status:open’

This is expected behavior, and you’re almost certainly fine to just let it finish.

When you install a big AnkiHub deck like the AnKing Step Deck, there are two separate things happening:

  1. Cards & notes sync (fast) – this is why the deck appeared quickly in your sidebar the first time.
  2. Media sync (slow) – all the images, sounds, etc. This can take a long time for large decks and can cause:
    • “Connection timed out” errors
    • Cards appearing without images at first
    • Anki feeling slow or unresponsive

The FAQ that matches your situation:
:backhand_index_pointing_right: Why is Anki super slow when installing an AnkiHub deck?

What you should do now

  1. Keep Anki open and let media finish downloading
    • In Anki, open AnkiHub → Manage AnkiHub Decks and look at the status bar at the bottom:
      • If it says something like Downloading media… or a percentage is changing, it’s still working.
  2. Avoid interrupting the process
    • Don’t repeatedly:
      • Uninstall/reinstall the add‑on
      • Resubscribe/unsubscribe to the deck
    • This can actually slow things down or force media to restart.
  3. Check if media eventually appears
    • After some time, open a few random cards from the AnKing Step deck.
    • If images start appearing on at least some cards, the media sync is working—just needs more time.

When to worry

If after a few hours of leaving Anki open:

  • The media status in Manage AnkiHub Decks is stuck (no progress for a long time), and
  • Cards still have no images at all,

then reply here with:

  • Your operating system (Windows/Mac/Linux)
  • Anki version (Help → About Anki)
  • A screenshot of:
    • The AnkiHub → Manage AnkiHub Decks window
    • Any error messages you see (especially the “connection timed out” one)

That info will make it easier to see if this is just a slow download or a real connection issue.

4

I will leave it alone for now. I have currently using MacOs with M4 chip and 16GB ram. I do realize that I have slow internet so I am not sure if that can hinder the process?

I looked in the activity monitor of my Mac and the CPU time keeps increasing but it is constantly between 5-10% so I’m assuming it’s working but it’s going to take time?

5

Yes, based on what you described, it sounds like it’s working and just taking time.

A few key points:

  • Slow internet absolutely can hinder the process. The AnKing Step deck has a lot of media, so on a slow connection it can take many hours to fully download.
  • 5–10% CPU with increasing CPU time in Activity Monitor is a good sign — Anki is actively doing work, not frozen.
  • On macOS, it’s fine (and normal) for Anki to sit there “quietly” while media trickles in.

What I’d recommend

  1. Leave Anki open for an extended stretch

    • Ideally a few hours while you’re doing something else.
    • Make sure your Mac doesn’t sleep (System Settings → Displays → prevent sleep while plugged in, or move the mouse occasionally).

  2. Periodically check progress

    • Go to AnkiHub → Manage AnkiHub Decks.
    • Look at the status/progress bar at the bottom:
      • If the percentage or text is changing over time (even slowly), it’s still working.

  3. Test cards occasionally

    • Open a few cards in the AnKing Step deck every hour or so.
    • If images start appearing on more and more cards, media sync is succeeding.

When to follow up

If you leave Anki open for several hours and:

  • The status in Manage AnkiHub Decks does not change at all, and
  • You still see zero images on any cards,

take a screenshot of:

  • The Manage AnkiHub Decks window (showing the status at the bottom)
  • Any error messages

…and post them here so we can check if there’s a genuine connection issue rather than just slow media download.

6

No cards or tags have shown up in the AnKing Step deck but it appears in the sidebar

7

That usually just means the deck hasn’t actually finished installing yet.

For the AnKing Step deck to be usable, you should see:

  • A number next to the deck name (e.g. AnKing Step Deck (0) at least)
  • Subdecks + tags (e.g. “AnKing Overhaul”, “AnKing::Step 1”, etc.)
  • Cards visible in the Browser

If you only see a single deck name in the sidebar with no subdecks, no tags, and no cards in the Browser, then something likely interrupted the initial install.

1. Confirm whether the deck is actually linked + installed

  1. In Anki, go to AnkiHub → Manage AnkiHub Decks.
  2. Check the AnKing Step deck entry:
    • Does it say “Linked” or “Subscribed”?
    • Is there any status/progress text at the bottom (e.g. downloading, importing, etc.)?
  3. Open the Browser (shortcut B):
    • In the left sidebar under Decks, click the AnKing Step deck.
    • Do you see 0 cards, or nothing at all?

Please let me know what you see there.

2. If the deck shows as linked but you still have 0 cards

Follow the steps from our FAQ on slow/failed installs (adapted to your case):

  1. In Manage AnkiHub Decks, unsubscribe from the AnKing Step deck.
  2. Close Anki.
  3. Reopen Anki and make sure your internet is connected and relatively stable.
  4. Subscribe again to the AnKing Step Deck from AnkiHub.
  5. After subscribing:
    • Keep Anki open.
    • Watch the status bar in Manage AnkiHub Decks for progress.
    • Give it at least 30–60 minutes on a slow connection before deciding it’s stuck.

3. If it still doesn’t populate

If, after resubscribing and waiting:

  • The deck appears in the sidebar,
  • But no tags, no subdecks, and 0 cards show in the Browser,

please post:

  1. A screenshot of AnkiHub → Manage AnkiHub Decks (showing the AnKing Step deck and the status at the bottom).
  2. A screenshot of the Browser with the AnKing Step deck selected in the left sidebar.
  3. Any error pop‑ups you’ve seen (especially “connection timed out”).

With that info we can tell whether this is just slow media vs. the initial card import not completing properly.

8

Media sync is showing as downloading

9

Thanks for the update—that’s helpful.

If Media sync shows “downloading”, that means:

  • The deck has been created/linked, but
  • AnkiHub is still working on getting everything fully into Anki (cards + media).

Because you said:

  • The deck appears in the sidebar, but
  • You don’t yet see cards/tags,

it’s very likely that:

  1. The initial card import is still finishing in the background, and/or
  2. Media is downloading slowly due to your internet connection.

On a slow connection, the AnKing Step deck can easily take hours to fully set up.

What to do now

  1. Leave Anki open and plugged in

    • Don’t close Anki while it says “downloading.”
    • Prevent your Mac from sleeping if possible.

  2. Watch for these signs of progress

    • In AnkiHub → Manage AnkiHub Decks:
      • Check that the text at the bottom changes over time (e.g. different numbers, percentages, or messages).
    • In the Browser:
      • Every 15–30 minutes, open the Browser, click the AnKing Step deck under Decks, and see if:
        • A card count appears (even a small number),
        • Any tags (like AnKing::Step 1) start to show.

  3. If nothing changes after a long time

    • If after 2–3 hours:
      • Media still says “downloading” with no visible cards or tags at all,
      • And the message/progress at the bottom of Manage AnkiHub Decks is not changing,
    • Please post:
      1. A screenshot of AnkiHub → Manage AnkiHub Decks (showing the AnKing Step deck and the status bar).
      2. A screenshot of the Browser with the AnKing Step deck selected.
    • That will let us see whether it’s just slow, or if the initial install got stuck and we need to redo the subscription one more time.

For now, since it explicitly says “downloading”, the best move is to let it run and check for gradual progress.

10

It’s been about 2 hours but it’s still stuck on downloading

11
Thinking

Read topic
Reading: AnKing deck

If it has truly been 2+ hours with no cards, no tags, and the status text not changing, it’s likely stuck rather than just “slow.”

Let’s do a clean reinstall of the deck locally while keeping your AnkiHub subscription.

1. First, confirm the deck is stuck

In Anki:

  1. Go to AnkiHub → Manage AnkiHub Decks.
  2. Look at:
    • The AnKing Step deck row – does it show as Linked?
    • The status bar at the bottom – does the text/number ever change if you wait 2–3 minutes?

If nothing changes at all, continue with the reset steps below.

2. Reset the local copy of the deck

  1. Back up first (optional but recommended):

    • File → Export… → choose “All decks” with scheduling → save the .colpkg.

  2. Unlink just the local copy of the deck:

    • In AnkiHub → Manage AnkiHub Decks:
      • Select the AnKing Step deck.
      • Click “Unlink from local deck” (or similar wording).
        • This only affects your local Anki collection, not your AnkiHub subscription.

  3. Delete any empty/local remnants:

    • In the main deck list, if you still see an empty AnKing Step deck:
      • Click the gear next to it → Delete (this just deletes the broken local copy).

  4. Resync from AnkiHub:

    • In Manage AnkiHub Decks, with the AnKing Step deck still subscribed on AnkiHub, click:
      • “Link / Download deck” (or “Create local deck”) for AnKing Step.
    • Confirm the prompts and let it start fresh.

3. Let it run and verify card creation

After re‑linking:

  1. Keep Anki open and your Mac awake.
  2. In Manage AnkiHub Decks, you should see messages like:
    • “Creating deck…”
    • “Importing notes…”
    • “Downloading media…” with numbers changing.
  3. After 5–10 minutes, open the Browser:
    • Under Decks, click AnKing Step.
    • You should now see at least some cards (even if media is still downloading).

4. If it’s still stuck

If after doing the above you:

  • Still see 0 cards in the Browser, and
  • The status in Manage AnkiHub Decks stays on the exact same “downloading” line for >10–15 minutes,

please:

  1. Take a screenshot of AnkiHub → Manage AnkiHub Decks (show the bottom status bar).
  2. Take a screenshot of the Browser with the AnKing Step deck selected.
  3. Tell us your Anki version (Anki → About Anki).

Post those here and we can see if this is a known macOS/connection edge case or something specific to your setup.

12

Should I hit the sync button and then close it out? Previously when I have done that, it showed as “connection timed out” error message

13

If media is stuck on “downloading”, do not just hit Sync and close Anki yet—that will likely just give you the same “connection timed out” without actually fixing the underlying issue.

At this point we need to see exactly what AnkiHub is doing so we can decide whether to reset the local deck.

1. Please do this next (no changes yet)

  1. Open AnkiHub → Manage AnkiHub Decks.
  2. Wait 2–3 minutes without clicking anything.
  3. Look at:
    • The row for the AnKing Step deck – does it say Linked or something else?
    • The status bar at the bottom – does anything change (numbers, text, percent)?

Then:

  1. Open the Browser (B), click Decks → AnKing Step.
    • Does it show 0 cards, or some number?

2. Post screenshots before we reset anything

Please upload:

  1. Screenshot of AnkiHub → Manage AnkiHub Decks (with the AnKing Step row and the status bar at the bottom visible).
  2. Screenshot of the Browser with AnKing Step selected on the left.
  3. If you hit Sync and see “connection timed out” again, a screenshot of that error.

Once we can see those, we’ll know whether to:

  • Just let it keep going, or
  • Do a clean local reset (unlink/delete the empty deck and redownload it from AnkiHub as I outlined in my last message).

For now: don’t close Anki, and only press Sync if you can also grab a screenshot of the timeout error so we can diagnose it.

14

Hello,

It is normal for the initial download to take a long time. The media download process can sometimes take a few hours to complete.

Please note that when you close Anki or click sync, it connects to AnkiWeb (Anki’s cloud backup service) to sync your collection. This initial sync to the cloud can also take some time due to the media files. However, once the first sync is complete, future sync processes will be much faster.

Please, follow these steps:

  1. Make sure you do not have the Text and Extra fields protected (they need to be unchecked). We recommend protecting the Lecture Notes and Missed Questions fields. Here is a tutorial: How to Manage Protected Fields
    You can learn more about each field and decide if you want to protect them here: AnKing Step Deck Wiki

  2. Reset your local changes.
    Here is a tutorial: How to Reset Local Changes

  3. Set your daily card limits and unsuspend the cards you want to study.
    Please see this guide: How to Get Started Studying

With these steps, you should be ready to begin studying.

Let me know if you need help with anything else! :blush:

15

So I just clicked on AnkiHub and the status changed to idle. I ended up clicking sync and it showing with this textbook, I know there are lot of cards so should I assume it’s moving in the right direction?

I clicked browse but no step decks have shown up or any tags.

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16

Yes, it seems like we are moving in the right direction!

Did you reset local changes? If you did and things are syncing, it is unlikely that you don’t have the cards and tags.

You previously mentioned that the deck appeared in the Browser on the left sidebar. Is it gone now?

Could you please send me a screenshot of your Anki main screen and your Browser screen, specifically showing the left sidebar?

17

It seems like the tags and the decks are slowly popping up. Then occasionally it pops up with the error connection message

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18

We need to determine which sync is causing the issue: the AnkiHub sync or the standard Anki sync.

Please go to the AnkiHub menu on your Anki main screen, click “Sync” from the drop-down options, and let me know if any error occurs.

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After that, try resetting local changes again. Here’s a tutorial: How to Reset Local Changes

Did you encounter any issues when resetting local changes? This is the most important step to ensure you get all the cards, tags, and media.

If at any moment, a popup appears asking if you want to upload or download your collection from Ankiweb, please always choose “Upload.”

I’ll wait for your feedback so we can proceed with the next steps.

19

Doing the reset all local changes finally worked. All the decks are uploaded with the pictures and the media sync is sitting at idle. Lastly so I don’t mess anything else up, the sync button keeps spinning. Does that mean anything? Can I quit the app or should I wait till it stop?

20

You are all set on the AnkiHub side.

Now, regarding the sync you are seeing, this is the standard Anki sync, which is separate from AnkiHub. Its purpose is to back up your Anki cards, tags, media, and progress to the cloud so that you can use Anki on multiple devices and avoid losing data if something happens to your device.

It will likely take some longer time because it is currently uploading media, which usually takes longer than downloading.

You can close Anki or click to abort the sync at any time. When you open Anki again, it will resume syncing.

If you don’t use Anki on other devices, I suggest you just use Anki as you normally would. The syncing will happen gradually while Anki is running. If you need the media on another device immediately, however, you will need to keep Anki open until everything finishes syncing.