I keep getting an error message telling me that I need to do a full sync, each time I sync my anki, and I do it each time but the message keeps coming back and I’m not sure what the actual issue is. I am completely synced on both my mac and IOS but am still uncertain of what to do as this has been happening for two days now. I’ve attached a screenshot of the error message.
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Reading: Full sync error
That “Some changes require a full sync” dialog appears whenever Anki detects note type / template changes that can’t be merged normally. If it keeps reappearing, it usually means something is repeatedly changing in your collection (often via an add-on like AnkiHub) and the full-sync step is never fully “cleared” on all sides.
Here are a few focused things to try:
-
Confirm what you’re choosing on each device
- On your Mac (Anki desktop):
- Run sync, and when you see that dialog, click Run Full Sync and then choose Upload to AnkiWeb (send your Mac’s collection to AnkiWeb).
- On your iOS device (AnkiMobile):
- After the above finishes, open AnkiMobile → sync → when prompted, choose Download from AnkiWeb (replace local with what’s on AnkiWeb).
- Make sure you let each sync fully finish (no errors) before moving to the next device.
- On your Mac (Anki desktop):
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Do one clean cycle with AnkiHub disabled
Sometimes an add-on (including AnkiHub) can keep tweaking note types, which makes Anki think a full sync is needed again.- On your Mac:
- Close Anki.
- Hold Shift while opening Anki to start without add‑ons.
- Sync:
- When asked, choose Upload to AnkiWeb.
- Then on iOS, sync and choose Download from AnkiWeb again.
- See if, after that, syncing again on both devices without further changes still prompts you for a full sync.
- If it does not, then re‑enable add‑ons (including AnkiHub) and test again.
- If turning add‑ons back on makes the message reappear, AnkiHub or another add-on is likely modifying note types each time.
- On your Mac:
-
With AnkiHub in mind
- If you’re subscribed to a shared AnkiHub deck, note type updates from AnkiHub can trigger the “full sync” requirement. Normally this should happen only when there’s a real note‑type change, not every time.
- After the clean full‑sync cycle above, try:
- Enable AnkiHub again.
- Click AnkiHub → Sync in the Anki menu.
- Then use Anki’s normal sync button.
- Check whether every regular sync still asks for a full sync, or only when AnkiHub applies changes.
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If the dialog still appears every time
Please reply here with:- Your Anki version (from
Help → About Ankion Mac). - Your AnkiHub add-on version (
Tools → Add-ons → AnkiHub). - Whether you see any error messages in the sync dialog (beyond the full-sync notice).
- Whether the problem persists when:
- You start Anki with add‑ons disabled, and
- You make no changes between syncs.
- Your Anki version (from
With that info we can narrow down whether this is:
- A general Anki sync issue, or
- Something specific to AnkiHub’s note type updates in your collection.
I have done this and with no add-ons, I do not get the error but when I turn it back on, I do.
My anki version is 24.06.3
I am unable to find the AnkiHub add-on version as each time I open the tools page and press ankihub, Anki freezes.
Hello,
This message shouldn’t be appearing all the time. Please follow these steps:
-
You are not on the latest version of Anki. You can download it here: https://apps.ankiweb.net/. After downloading, simply run the downloaded file to update your application.
-
Update your add-ons:
- On your Anki main screen, go to
Tools > Add-ons > Check for Updates. - After the update is complete, please restart Anki.
- Make sure you are syncing correctly: If the Anki collection on your Mac is the most up-to-date, you should click “Upload to AnkiWeb,” and then on your iOS device, choose to download from AnkiWeb. If your iOS version is the most current, you should do the reverse. If you are clicking upload on both devices or download on both devices, that is likely why this pop-up keeps repeating itself.
Let me know it goes! 
Hi,
Despite doing these steps, I seem to still be getting the same issue. However, when I remove one of my decks from the AnkiHub server, it seemed to stop. When I put it back up, it resurfaced and also started happening to a friend that was subscribed to my deck.
Assuming the Anki collection on your Mac the most up to date, if you click “Upload to AnkiWeb” and wait for it to sync, then go to your iOS device, click “Download from AnkiWeb,” and wait for it to sync, does the issue go away?
Can you please give us more details about what Deck exactly that when removed from AnkiHub solves this issue? If the deck is removed from your AnkiHub but continues on your Anki, the issue still occurs?
When I remove the deck “RCSI self-made” off of ankihub, the issue stops but when I reupload it, it begins again.
It’s normal to happen once when you upload a deck to AnkiHub, but it shouldn’t happen repeatedly.
If you follow these steps, it still happens repeatedly?
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Yes, when I follow the steps, the issues reoccur for both me and the person who subscribed to the deck on ankihub. Anki and AnkiHub are both up-to-date, and I have followed all the recommended steps but the issue persists when the deck is uploaded to ankihub
On your Anki main screen, please go to Help > About Anki and send us a screenshot showing your Anki version.
After that, please upload your deck to AnkiHub again. We are going to investigate this further, so we need the deck to be on AnkiHub.
Based on your screenshot, it’s clear that your Anki version is very outdated.
Please follow these steps:
Once you’ve completed these steps, please try uploading your deck to AnkiHub again. If the issue persists, please do not remove the deck from AnkiHub so we can investigate further on our end.
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