Custom Tags keep dissappearing; old tags I previously removed are there. I'm confused, help!

[camMD]

I have a custom tag for UWorld questions I missed and want to add to filtered decks. They keep dissappearing. Has this happened to anyone else? I am unsure if its an AnkiHub problem or an Anki problem. Thanks!

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This can happen, and it’s almost always an Anki behavior + how AnkiHub syncs tags, not AnkiHub “randomly deleting” things.

A few clarifying questions first (you can just reply briefly):

1. Are you:

   • Adding the UWorld-missed tag only on your computer, or also on mobile?
   • Using AnkiHub tags (like ::AnKing::) plus your own tag, or only your own tag?

2. When you say they “disappear,” do you mean:

   • The tag itself vanishes from the tag list in the Browser, and cards lose that tag?
   • Or the tag tree looks different (e.g., collapsed into another tag)?

3. Do you ever:

   • Restore from backups?
   • Re‑download / re‑subscribe to the AnkiHub deck?
   • Use “Remove unused tags” or similar add‑ons?

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Things to check right now

In Anki on your computer:

1. Search for cards that should have the tag

   • Open the Browser.
   • In the search bar, type:

     tag:"UWorld"
     

     (adjust to the exact tag name you use).
   • If cards still appear, the tag hasn’t truly disappeared; it may just be nested or renamed.

2. See if tags are being overwritten by AnkiHub

   • Go to AnkiHub → Deck Configuration → Synchronization (for that shared deck).
   • Confirm:
     • You are not using any setting that overwrites local fields/tags with the shared version.
   • By design, AnkiHub should not remove your own custom tags, but if you:
     • Deleted cards & re‑downloaded, or
     • Imported a fresh copy of the deck,
       then your added tags on those cards would be lost.

3. Check if you recently restored a backup

   • File → Switch Profile → Open Backup
   • If you’ve restored an older backup, that snapshot might pre‑date your latest UWorld tags.

---

Why “old tags I previously removed” might reappear

This usually means:

• You:
  • Removed/renamed some tags, and then
  • Did something like:
    • Re‑subscribed to the AnkiHub deck
    • Imported an older .apkg
    • Restored a backup

Those actions can reintroduce tags as they existed at the time of the older data. AnkiHub syncs the deck to match the shared version; it doesn’t track your personal “tag deletions” on top of that.

---

How to safely use a custom “UWorld‑missed” tag with AnkiHub

Once we know more about your exact workflow, we can tailor this, but in general:

1. Use a clearly personal namespace, e.g.:

   UWorld::Missed
   

   or

   Personal::UWorld::Missed
   

   This keeps it separate from any official AnKing/AnkiHub tags.

2. Avoid repeatedly re‑importing the same big AnkiHub deck:

   • Prefer updating via AnkiHub sync only.
   • If you must re‑import, consider exporting a backup of just your custom tags/notes first.

3. Confirm that devices are in sync

   • If you tag on mobile and then sync, but another device has an older state and you force‑sync from it, you can overwrite your newer tags.

---

Next step

Can you reply with:

• The exact name of your custom tag,
• Whether you’ve restored a backup, re‑downloaded the deck, or imported an .apkg in the last few days,
• Whether the cards still show up if you search tag:"your-tag-name" in the Browser?

With those details, I can narrow down whether this is:

• Purely an Anki behavior (backups/imports), or
• Some interaction with your AnkiHub deck configuration and sync flow.

[Brian_BH]

Hello,

I would be happy to help.

When you say ‘custom tags’ can you help me understand if these are protected tags, or optional tags, or something else?

Also: I presume that this is for the AnKing Step deck, yeah?

The more context you can share the easier it may be to be of help. Screenshots are ideal, if you can, just so I can see what you’re seeing

[camMD]

Hi!
I mean like tags I make myself for personal use. For example:
#missed_uworld::obgyn

It might be the same issue this person was having?

Protecting Fields and Tags

What is “Protecting” A Field? Protecting a field allows you to add anything you want to a field without it being overwritten by AnkiHub Protecting Fields with Special Tags You can protect fields of individual notes using special tags. For example: AnkiHub_Protect::Front protects the Front field of the note that has this tag. (Use underscore if there are spaces in the field name). AnkiHub_Protect::All protects all fields of the note. These tags are only used in the add-on, not on the Website. T…

I guess I don’t understand how to make these protected tags and such.

[Brian_BH]

Yep, my guess would be that since it sounds like you may not have protected the tags they are likely being overwritten

This tutorial can walk you through how to protect personal tags: How to Protect Personal Tags from being Overwritten

Give that a shot, let me know how you fare, and we’ll go from there and hopefully we can get you squared away.