Media sync won't work

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1

I downloaded two decks (one subscription via ankihub and one straight download) onto my PC anki app (most up to date one) that I have not yet began to study. The collection sync with ankiweb goes smoothly everytime and I’m able to sync with ankihub with no problems. However, everytime I attempt to media sync, it goes to around 400 cards “Added,” then I receive this message, “A network error occurred. Error details: error sending request for URL ().” This doesn’t seem to be a problem on my iPhone since I get the media sync complete message everytime on their even when I’m connected to the same wifi as the computer (Although it seemed to only show a fraction of the cards “Added” before giving the complete notification). I already made sure to allow anki through my PC’s firewall and network prevention and I don’t have any add ons besides ankihub, which when disabled, still doesn’t fix the issue. What could be the problem? Could it be the media size (~2200MB)? I even tried connecting my PC to a phone hotspot, which still didn’t solve the issue.

Also, I just checked my iphone anki app and is says that over half of my media files are missing when clicking “Check Media.” Does this mean it didn’t completely sync media after all even though its says it did?

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2

Thank you for reaching out! Our moderators have been notified and will assist you shortly. In the meantime, you can get an instant response from me simply by @ mentioning my username`. Alternatively, start a private conversation with me (see screenshot below). If you ask me a question, I will do my best to respond using only verified information found in the official AnkiHub docs and the Anki manual.

You can also find answers to common questions in our FAQ and Docs.

CleanShot 2024-09-29 at 08.56.43@2x
CleanShot 2024-09-29 at 08.56.43@2x2118Ă—1412 423 KB

3

I’ll help you troubleshoot your media sync issues. Let me search for some relevant information first.

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Found 3 results for 'tags:official media sync error ankiweb status:public'

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Found 2 results for 'tags:official media sync large files status:public'

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Reading: Why is my deck missing images?

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Reading: 📸 Importing/Exporting Media

Based on my research, I understand your frustration with media syncing issues. Let me help you troubleshoot this problem:

Media Sync Error Analysis

The error you’re experiencing (“A network error occurred. Error details: error sending request for URL ()”) is likely related to the large size of your media files (~2200MB). Large media collections can sometimes cause sync interruptions, especially on slower or less stable internet connections.

iPhone vs PC Syncing

Your observation about the iPhone completing the sync (but with fewer “Added” cards showing) is important. The fact that your “Check Media” on iPhone shows over half of your media files missing confirms that the media sync is indeed incomplete, even though it shows as “complete” on the device.

Troubleshooting Steps

Here are some steps to try resolving this issue:

  1. Check Media Sync Status in AnkiHub

    • Go to the AnkiHub add-on menu and check if your media sync status says “Idle” or “Downloading”
    • If it shows “Downloading,” you need to wait until it completes

  2. Try Breaking Up the Sync

    • Sync in smaller batches by temporarily moving some media files out of your collection.media folder
    • After each successful sync, move more files back and sync again

  3. Manual Media Verification

    • Use Tools > Check Media on your PC to see what’s missing
    • Compare this with what’s missing on your iPhone

  4. Force One-Way Sync

    • In Preferences > Network, check “On next sync, force changes in one direction”
    • Then choose “Upload” to push your complete media collection to AnkiWeb

  5. Try Different Network

    • You mentioned trying a hotspot, but you might also try a completely different network environment if possible

Additional Information

For AnkiHub decks specifically, media syncing happens automatically when you subscribe to a deck. The AnkiHub add-on should show “Media sync: Downloading” while downloading media, and “Media sync: Idle” when completed.

If you continue to experience issues, you might need to consider manually importing media as a workaround. The AnkiHub add-on provides options to import media from local folders, .apkg files, or cloud storage like Google Drive.

Would you like me to provide more specific instructions for any of these troubleshooting steps?

4

When checking media on my PC, it shows I have 56 missing files and the media sync is idle on the ankihub add on. What does that mean?

5

I’ll help you understand what this means regarding your media sync issue.

Understanding Your Media Status

When you see “Media sync: Idle” in the AnkiHub add-on, it typically means that AnkiHub believes it has completed its media synchronization process. However, the fact that your PC’s “Check Media” shows 56 missing files indicates there’s still an issue with your media collection.

This situation suggests a few possibilities:

  1. Incomplete Media Sync: Despite showing as “Idle,” the sync may have been interrupted or failed to complete properly due to the large size of your media collection (~2200MB).

  2. Media References Without Files: Your notes might contain references to media files that don’t exist in your collection.

  3. Sync Conflict: There might be a sync conflict between your devices regarding media files.

Recommended Actions

Here’s what I suggest you do:

  1. Generate a Media Report:

    • Go to Tools > Check Media again
    • Review the list of missing files to understand what type of content is missing
    • This will help identify if they’re from a specific deck or field type

  2. Try Manual Media Import:

    • In the AnkiHub add-on menu, select “Import Media”
    • If you know the source of your decks, try importing from the appropriate option (local folder, .apkg file, etc.)

  3. Force a Full Media Sync:

    • Go to Tools > Preferences > Network
    • Check “On next sync, force changes in one direction”
    • Sync and choose “Upload” to push all your media to AnkiWeb
    • Then sync your iPhone and choose “Download” to get the complete collection

  4. Tag Notes with Missing Media:

    • When running Check Media, use the option to tag notes with missing media
    • This will help you identify which notes are affected

If these steps don’t resolve the issue, the large size of your media collection might be causing problems with AnkiWeb’s sync process. In that case, you might need to consider breaking up your collection or exploring alternative methods for transferring media between devices.

Would you like more detailed instructions for any of these steps?

6

I attempted to force a full media sync as you described and it appeared to upload to ankiweb, but right after the media sync log box showed up and displayed the same previous error after 397 cards added.

7

I understand that even after forcing a full media sync, you’re still experiencing the same error after 397 cards are added. This persistent error suggests there might be specific media files causing problems during the sync process.

Troubleshooting Media Sync Error

Let me suggest some more targeted approaches:

  1. Identify Problematic Files:

    • The error occurring consistently after 397 cards suggests there might be a specific file causing the issue
    • Try running Tools > Check Media and tag notes with missing media to identify which cards are affected

  2. Break Down the Media Sync:

    • Since the error happens at around 397 cards, you might need to sync in smaller batches
    • Try temporarily moving some of your media files out of your Anki media folder
    • Sync with the reduced set of files, then gradually move files back and sync again

  3. Check File Sizes and Names:

    • Some very large media files or files with special characters in filenames might cause sync issues
    • Look for unusually large files (>100MB) in your collection.media folder
    • Ensure filenames don’t contain special characters or extremely long names

  4. Alternative Media Transfer Method:

    • As a workaround, you could export your decks with media included as .apkg files
    • Transfer these files directly to your iPhone and import them there
    • This bypasses AnkiWeb’s media sync completely

  5. Manually Copy Media Files:

    • If you know where Anki stores media files on both devices, you could manually copy the files
    • On PC, media is typically in a folder called “collection.media” in your Anki folder

It’s also worth noting that AnkiWeb does have some limitations with very large media collections. Your collection size (~2200MB) is substantial, which might be contributing to the sync issues.

If none of these solutions work, you might need to consider splitting your collection into smaller decks with less media, or using a different method for keeping your media synchronized between devices.

Would you like more specific instructions on implementing any of these suggestions?

8

All of the cards tagged with missing media are cards with Sketchy images that I can see when viewing them in Browse

9

I see - this is helpful information! If you can see the Sketchy images in Browse but they’re still being flagged as missing media, there might be a specific issue with how these media files are referenced or stored.

Understanding Sketchy Image Issues

When dealing with Sketchy images specifically in AnkiHub decks, there are a few things to consider:

  1. Image References:

    • The Sketchy images may be referenced in your cards, but the actual files might not be properly synced to AnkiWeb
    • For AnKing decks specifically, AnkiHub downloads media for certain fields including “Sketchy” (as well as Text, Extra, and Pixorize)

  2. Local vs. AnkiWeb Storage:

    • You can see the images locally in Browse because they exist on your computer
    • But they may not be properly uploaded to AnkiWeb, preventing sync to other devices

Recommended Solutions

Here are some targeted approaches for your Sketchy image issue:

  1. Check Protection Status:

    • Make sure your Sketchy field is protected in AnkiHub
    • Go to AnkiHub addon menu > Advanced > and check if Sketchy is in the protected fields list

  2. Reset Local Changes:

    • This might help if there’s a conflict between your local version and the AnkiHub version
    • Go to Browse > click on the AnkiHub addon > Reset local changes > Select the deck with the Sketchy images

  3. Manual Media Import:

    • Since we know specifically that Sketchy images are causing issues, try using the manual media import function:
    • Go to AnkiHub addon > Import Media > choose the appropriate source for your Sketchy images

  4. Check Media File Format:

    • Some image formats might cause syncing issues
    • Check if your Sketchy images are in common formats (JPG, PNG) or more problematic formats

If these steps don’t resolve the issue, you might need to reach out directly to the AnkiHub team for more specialized support, as this could be related to how AnkiHub handles media sync for specific fields like Sketchy.

Would any of these approaches be helpful to try next?

10

I don’t see an option titled “Advanced” under the ankihub add on menu to see the protected fields

11

I apologize for the confusion. Let me provide the correct path to check your protected fields in AnkiHub:

Checking Protected Fields in AnkiHub

  1. In Anki, click on the Browse button from the main screen
  2. Once in the Browser, click on the AnkiHub menu at the top
  3. Look for the option Show Protected Fields (not “Advanced” as I incorrectly stated)

If you don’t see this option, you might need to update your AnkiHub add-on to the latest version.

Alternative Approach for Sketchy Images

Since the issue is specifically with Sketchy images that you can see locally but are flagged as missing:

  1. Try Tools > Check Media again, but this time select the option to generate a report
  2. Look for patterns in the missing files - are they all .jpg, .png, or some other format?
  3. Check if the filenames contain any special characters that might cause sync issues

For AnKing decks specifically, AnkiHub should automatically handle Sketchy images. The fact that you can see them locally but they’re flagged as missing suggests there might be an issue with how these images are being referenced in your cards.

Manual Media Transfer Option

As a workaround, you could try manually transferring your media files:

  1. Find your Anki media folder on your PC (typically in Documents/Anki/[Your Profile]/collection.media)
  2. Copy these files to a similar location on your iPhone using iTunes File Sharing or another method
  3. This bypasses the AnkiWeb sync process completely

Would you like to try any of these approaches? Or would you prefer more specific instructions for any of these steps?

12

I’m first trying to check the protected fields but I’m not seeing the option under the ankihub menu as you described. How do I ensure I have the latest update to the add on?

13

Let me help you update your AnkiHub add-on and find the protected fields option.

Updating AnkiHub Add-on

To update your AnkiHub add-on to the latest version:

  1. In Anki, go to Tools > Add-ons
  2. Select the AnkiHub add-on in the list
  3. Click the Check for Updates button
  4. If an update is available, click Update Now
  5. Restart Anki after the update is complete

If this doesn’t show any updates, you can try a manual reinstall:

  1. In the Add-ons window, select AnkiHub
  2. Click Delete
  3. Click Get Add-ons
  4. Enter the AnkiHub code: 1322529746
  5. Click OK and restart Anki

Finding Protected Fields

In the current version of AnkiHub, the protected fields can be checked by:

  1. Go to the Browse screen
  2. Click on the AnkiHub menu at the top
  3. Look for Advanced Functionality or Configure Protected Fields

If you still don’t see these options, you can try:

  1. In the main Anki window, click the AnkiHub menu
  2. Look for Settings or Preferences
  3. Check for protected fields settings there

Different versions of AnkiHub might have slightly different menu structures, so the exact location might vary.

The media sync issue with your Sketchy images could indeed be related to field protection settings, as AnkiHub needs to know which fields contain media that should be synced.

Would you like me to provide more specific guidance for troubleshooting your media sync issue if updating doesn’t resolve the problem?

14

Ok I found the protected fields option, do I make sure that sketchy and sketchy 2 have a checkmark next to them for protected? And should I do this for all fields?

15

Yes, you should ensure that both “Sketchy” and “Sketchy 2” fields have checkmarks next to them in the protected fields list. This is important because:

  1. Protected fields tell AnkiHub which fields it should sync media for
  2. When fields containing images aren’t protected, their media might not properly sync across devices

Protected Fields Recommendations

For fields containing media:

  • Definitely protect “Sketchy” and “Sketchy 2” since these contain your Sketchy images
  • Also protect any other fields that contain media like “Pixorize” or image-heavy fields
  • Fields like “Extra” that might contain both text and images should also be protected

For text-only fields:

  • Fields containing only text don’t necessarily need to be protected unless you want to prevent accidental edits

After Updating Protected Fields

After updating your protected fields settings:

  1. Click “Save” or “OK” to apply your changes
  2. Try running a sync again to see if AnkiHub now properly handles your Sketchy images
  3. You may need to use “Tools > Check Media” again afterward to see if the number of missing files has decreased

Keep in mind that changing protected fields settings won’t immediately fix already missing media, but it should help prevent further media sync issues. You might need to reset local changes or use the “Force changes in one direction” sync option we discussed earlier to fully resolve existing media problems.

Would you like additional guidance on any other aspects of the media sync process?

16

Wait I read that protecting a field will prevent ankihub from updating content in those fields. Is this true and if so, why should I protect any fields?

17

I need to clarify an important misconception about protected fields in AnkiHub - you’re absolutely right to question this.

Protected Fields - Actual Functionality

In AnkiHub, the protection status works in the opposite way than what I incorrectly suggested:

  • Protected fields: These fields will NOT receive updates from AnkiHub. They protect your local content from being overwritten by updates.
  • Unprotected fields: These fields WILL receive updates from AnkiHub, including media content.

For your Sketchy images specifically:

  1. If you want to receive Sketchy images from AnkiHub updates, you should leave the Sketchy fields unprotected.
  2. If you’ve added your own Sketchy images that you don’t want overwritten, you would protect those fields.

Recommended Settings

For media sync to work properly with AnkiHub decks:

  • Keep fields containing media that you want to receive from AnkiHub (like Sketchy) unprotected
  • Only protect fields where you’ve made personal edits that you don’t want overwritten

I apologize for the confusion in my previous response. This protection mechanism works differently than I described, and I appreciate you questioning it.

After correcting these settings, you may want to:

  1. Run another sync
  2. Use Tools > Check Media again to see if your missing media issue improves

Let me know if this clarifies things and if you have any other questions about field protection or media sync!

18

Should i only protect sketchy and sketchy 2 on the entire anking deck or only the cards tagged with missing media to fix this sync issue?

19

I’ll clarify how to approach this situation with your AnkiHub deck and missing Sketchy media.

Protection Settings for Fixing Media Sync

For your specific issue with missing Sketchy images:

  • You should leave Sketchy and Sketchy 2 fields unprotected for the entire AnKing deck, not just the cards tagged with missing media
  • This allows AnkiHub to provide the official Sketchy images during syncing
  • Protecting these fields would prevent AnkiHub from updating them with the correct media

Understanding How This Helps

  1. When Sketchy fields are unprotected:

    • AnkiHub can provide the official media for these fields
    • This should help resolve the “missing media” errors for your Sketchy images

  2. Field protection works at the note type level, not individual card level:

    • You can’t protect fields only for specific tagged cards
    • The protection setting applies to all cards using that note type

Next Steps After Adjusting Protection

After ensuring Sketchy fields are unprotected:

  1. Try running a sync again
  2. If that doesn’t immediately resolve the issue, go to Browse > AnkiHub menu > Reset Local Changes for the deck
  3. This will allow AnkiHub to provide the official versions of those fields, including media

This approach should help address your media sync issues for the Sketchy images while still maintaining any personal edits you’ve made to other protected fields.

20

Is their any reason not to have all fields unprotected if I don’t plan to make any personal edits to any cards?