Smart search not returning any results after beasic troubleshooting

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1

When trying to use the smart search feature, The search time has been taking 10x as long as it has before and then when it finishes no results show. I had this problem in the past and was able to fix it by clearing cache. This time I have cleared any browser data which as not helped. I have also tried restarting my laptop, changing browsers from chrome to firefox, switching from file search to text. I have also made sure my add ons do not need any updates and anki is synced. previously smart search has been able to work in minutes and clearing cahce was able to speed up any slow searches but I have ran out of troubleshooting and the issue has persisted over multiple days

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@2x2118×1412 423 KB

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Here are a few focused things to check and try next, given what you’ve already done:

1. Confirm Smart Search is enabled and conditions are reasonable

  1. In Anki Desktop, go to
    Tools → Add-ons → AnkiHub → Config.
  2. Look for any Smart Search–related settings (e.g., limits, filters, or “only search subscribed decks”).
    • Temporarily simplify settings:
      • Remove any extra filters.
      • Set any card limits to a reasonable number (e.g., 500–1000, not 0 or extremely high).
  3. In the browser, try a very simple Smart Search:
    • Open the Anki browser.
    • Select a single, normal deck that you know has cards.
    • Run a basic Smart Search with very broad criteria.

If the search is too restrictive or limited to a subset that currently has no cards, it can return nothing after a long wait.

2. Rule out add-on conflicts (beyond “up to date”)

Even if all add‑ons are updated, one of them may now conflict with AnkiHub’s Smart Search.

  1. Start Anki with add‑ons disabled:
    • Close Anki.
    • Reopen it while holding Shift.
  2. With add‑ons disabled:
    • Enable only AnkiHub:
      Tools → Add-ons → check only AnkiHub → Restart Anki.
    • Try the same Smart Search again.
  • If Smart Search works now: another add-on is interfering.
    • Re‑enable add-ons in small groups until the problem returns to find the culprit.
  • If it still fails with only AnkiHub enabled, it’s more likely an issue with:
    • The AnkiHub add-on itself, or
    • Your local profile / collection.

3. Check your Anki version & database

Smart Search performance can break if Anki is outdated or the DB is unhappy.

  1. Confirm your Anki version:
    Help → About (or Anki → About on Mac).
  2. Run a database check:
    • Tools → Check Database.
    • Let it finish, then restart Anki and test Smart Search again.

4. Try with a clean Anki profile (to see if it’s profile-specific)

This won’t touch your existing data:

  1. File → Switch Profile → Add → create a test profile.
  2. In the new empty profile:
    • Install the AnkiHub add-on only.
    • Log in to AnkiHub and subscribe to just one small deck or import a small local deck.
    • Try Smart Search on that small set.
  • If Smart Search works in the test profile:
    → The issue is likely with your main profile’s collection or configuration.
  • If it still doesn’t work:
    → More likely a bug in the current AnkiHub version, or some system-level interaction.

5. What to include so we (and AnkiHub devs) can help further

Since you’ve done substantial troubleshooting already, the next step is usually a more detailed bug report. Please reply in your topic with:

  1. Your setup

    • OS (e.g. Windows 11 / macOS Sonoma / Linux + distro).
    • Anki version.
    • AnkiHub add-on version (Tools → Add-ons → AnkiHub → View Files → manifest.json or just the version number shown in the list if present).

  2. What you tested from above

    • Result with only AnkiHub enabled.
    • Result in a new test profile.
    • Whether Tools → Check Database reported anything.

  3. Exact behavior

    • Approximate time Smart Search takes now (e.g. “used to be ~30s, now 5–10 minutes”).
    • Whether the search progress bar moves normally or seems to hang.
    • A description of the exact Smart Search settings you’re using (or a screenshot, with any personal info blurred).

Once you post that info, it will be much easier to tell if this is:

  • A reproducible AnkiHub bug that needs a fix, or
  • Something specific to your profile/add-on combo that we can work around.

If you’d like, you can also link or paste a screenshot of your Smart Search configuration, and I can help you sanity‑check the settings.

4

its still not working for me also. i beleive this problem has been going on since yesterday.

5

Hi,

The developers are aware of this issue and are working on a solution. We hope everything will be back to normal soon!

Let me know if you need help with anything else in the meantime. :blush:

6

I would love to know if there will be a time when the developers figure out why this is such a common issue, especially since it is a paid for feature. My smart search stops working at least once a week and it is very frustrating.

7

Hi @abhud

Thank you for your patience while we’ve been looking into this. We completed a full root cause analysis and identified the underlying issues. Our tech leads are already working on improving the functionality, which will make it more robust, faster, and more accurate. This will also ensure more stability for Smart search in the future

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