How to Set Up an Anki Remote on a Samsung Tablet

To set up a MODI Anki remote on a Samsung tablet, pair the remote in Android Bluetooth settings using Switch Mode, then assign its controls inside AnkiDroid. The standard MODI mobile setup uses Switch Mode because AnkiDroid can work with gamepad-style inputs. Samsung menu labels vary by tablet model and Android version, so follow the path that opens Bluetooth device pairing rather than expecting every screen to use identical wording.

MODI is an independent Bluetooth accessory for Anki review workflows, not a Samsung, Google, Anki, or AnkiDroid product. The remote provides the input; Android handles the Bluetooth connection; AnkiDroid handles the review action assignments. For broader setup context, use the complete MODI setup tutorial, but the Samsung-specific version is simple: pair in the tablet Bluetooth menu, open AnkiDroid controls, set key binds, then test each button during review.

Bluetooth

Start in the Samsung tablet’s Settings app and open the Bluetooth area. Depending on the tablet and One UI version, it may appear under Connections, Connected devices, or a similarly named section. Turn Bluetooth on and stay on the screen that shows available devices. If the tablet has remembered an older MODI or Anki remote entry, remove that saved entry before starting, especially if you previously used another mode or paired with a different device.

Bluetooth pairing state matters because Android may keep an old profile even when the remote appears to connect. If you are changing from another device, another mode, or an earlier failed attempt, forgetting saved MODI entries is the preferred starting point. After clearing the old entry, keep the tablet nearby, wake the remote, and be ready to select the MODI listing when it appears in Samsung’s available-device list.

Mode

Use Switch Mode for the standard Samsung tablet setup. On MODI, hold Y plus Home for one second, then select the MODI connection from the tablet’s Bluetooth list. A successful Switch Mode connection is indicated by a solid blue center LED. If the center LED does not reach that state, treat the connection as incomplete and repeat the pairing process from the Samsung Bluetooth screen after checking battery and saved-device entries.

Keyboard Mode is mainly intended for desktop Anki on macOS, Windows, and Linux with preset keybindings. For AnkiDroid on a Samsung tablet, Switch Mode is recommended because it exposes gamepad-style inputs that AnkiDroid can assign through its controls menu. When switching between Keyboard Mode and Switch Mode, forget every saved MODI or Anki remote entry in Bluetooth settings, then repeat the full pairing steps for the desired mode.

Pairing

Once MODI appears in Samsung’s available-device list, tap it and allow Android to finish pairing. Samsung may show a generic input-device name, a Bluetooth confirmation, or a brief connection message. The exact wording is less important than the result: the remote should remain connected, and the MODI center LED should be solid blue for Switch Mode. If the tablet asks whether to pair, accept the prompt and wait a moment before leaving settings.

After pairing, press Home to wake and reconnect in the last-used mode during later sessions. If the remote had no Bluetooth connection for about 2.5 minutes, it may sleep automatically; it can also sleep after about 5 minutes of inactivity. To manually sleep or turn it off, hold Home for 3 seconds. These sleep behaviors are normal and should not be mistaken for an AnkiDroid configuration problem.

Controls

Next, open AnkiDroid and go to Settings, then Controls, then Set Key Binds. Samsung’s Bluetooth pairing only connects the remote to Android; it does not decide what AnkiDroid should do during review. In the AnkiDroid key-bind area, assign the button inputs to the review actions you want. Keep the first pass simple, then test in an actual review screen before adding more custom assignments.

MODI’s Switch Mode defaults include common review inputs such as Space or Good, Easy, Again, Replay Audio, Hard, and Undo. AnkiDroid provides the control menu where those incoming inputs become app actions. If a button seems connected but performs the wrong task, return to Set Key Binds and adjust the assignment there. That is an app-level mapping issue, separate from whether the Samsung tablet successfully paired the Bluetooth device.

Labels

There is one Android-specific detail worth knowing before you troubleshoot too aggressively. In AnkiDroid, a third-party display mapping issue can make X-Y-B-A inputs appear as Y-X-A-B in the menu. This is a visual label mismatch, not automatically a failed connection. Assigned commands can still function normally, so judge the setup by what each button does in review rather than only by the letters shown in the menu.

Because Samsung tablets can vary in Android version, manufacturer interface, and connected-device wording, avoid treating a different label as proof that the setup is wrong. Focus on three checks: MODI is paired in Switch Mode, the center LED is solid blue after connection, and AnkiDroid has received and assigned button inputs. If those conditions are met, the practical setup is complete even if the menu names differ from another guide.

Troubleshooting

If MODI connects to the Samsung tablet but remains unresponsive in AnkiDroid, start with the least invasive reset path. Forget saved MODI or Anki remote entries in Bluetooth settings, pair again in Switch Mode, then revisit AnkiDroid’s Set Key Binds screen. If the fresh pairing still connects but does not respond, restart the Samsung tablet and try again. Host-device Bluetooth state can affect input behavior after pairing appears successful.

Also check the remote’s basic state before changing app settings repeatedly. A quickly flashing red LED means low battery, while a flashing green LED means the device is charging. The charging LED turns off when charging is complete. Do not infer a battery percentage from LED behavior beyond those documented patterns. Once the remote is charged, paired in Switch Mode, and mapped in AnkiDroid, test one button at a time during review.