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Installation
Desktop Installation

Install Anki MCP for Claude Desktop - Step-by-Step Guide

This guide is for Claude Desktop users. If you use ChatGPT or Claude.ai, see the Web Installation Guide instead.

What You Need

Install these three things first:

  1. Anki Desktop - Your flashcard app Download: apps.ankiweb.net

  2. AnkiConnect Plugin - Lets other apps talk to Anki Download: ankiweb.net/shared/info/2055492159

  3. Claude Desktop - The AI assistant Download: claude.ai/download

Installation Steps

Step 1: Download the Extension

  1. Go to GitHub Releases
  2. Download the latest .mcpb file (It looks like: anki-mcp-server-0.8.0.mcpb)

Step 2: Install in Claude Desktop

  1. Open Claude Desktop
  2. Click Settings (gear icon)
  3. Go to Extensions tab
  4. Drag and drop the .mcpb file into the window

Done! The extension is now installed.

Configuration (Optional)

The default settings work for most people. You only need to configure if your AnkiConnect runs on a different port or computer.

To change settings:

  1. In Claude Desktop: Settings → Extensions
  2. Find “Anki MCP Server” in the list
  3. Click Configure
  4. Update the AnkiConnect URL if needed (Default: http://localhost:8765)

Try It Out

  1. Start Anki Desktop - Must be running
  2. Open Claude Desktop
  3. Ask Claude: “Show me my Anki decks”

If it works, Claude will show your decks!

What Claude Can Do

Once connected, Claude can:

  • Show your decks and their stats
  • Review cards with you (asks question, shows answer, rates your performance)
  • Create new flashcards from what you’re learning
  • Search for specific cards or topics
  • Update existing cards
  • Help explain concepts on your cards

Troubleshooting

Claude says it can’t connect:

  • Make sure Anki Desktop is running
  • Check that AnkiConnect is installed (Tools → Add-ons in Anki)
  • Restart both Anki and Claude Desktop

Still not working? See Getting Help for support options.

Next Steps

  • Try asking Claude to review a deck with you
  • Have Claude create flashcards from text you’re studying
  • Ask Claude to explain difficult concepts on your cards

Bonus: Enable Filesystem MCP (Recommended for Images)

If you want to add images to your cards efficiently, install the Filesystem MCP extension:

  1. In Claude Desktop: Settings → Extensions
  2. Browse the extensions catalog
  3. Install “Filesystem MCP”
  4. Configure it to access your Pictures/Downloads folder

Why install this?

  • Allows Claude to automatically locate image files on your computer
  • Makes adding images to cards much faster (no manual path entry)
  • Avoids slow base64 conversion when pasting images

Without it: You’ll need to provide full file paths manually (e.g., /Users/yourname/Desktop/image.jpg)

Happy studying! 📚

MCP Clients