How to Map Anki Answer Buttons on iPhone and iPad

To map Anki answer buttons on iPhone or iPad with MODI, connect the remote in Switch Mode, open AnkiMobile Settings, go to Review, then Gamepads, and assign Again, Hard, Good, and Easy from AnkiMobile’s action list. MODI supplies the gamepad-style input; AnkiMobile decides which review action each input triggers. For the full pairing path before mapping, use the complete MODI setup tutorial.

After assigning the four answer choices, test them on a review card that shows all four buttons. Reveal the answer, press each mapped MODI button once, and confirm AnkiMobile records the intended response before continuing a real review session. If a button does nothing, treat it as a configuration or Bluetooth-state check first, not proof that the remote or AnkiMobile has failed.

Use Switch Mode

For iPhone and iPad mapping, the standard MODI setup uses Switch Mode because it exposes gamepad-style inputs that AnkiMobile can configure. MODI is an independent Bluetooth accessory, not an official Anki, Apple, or AnkiMobile product. That distinction matters because the remote sends controller input, while AnkiMobile provides the Gamepads menu and the available study actions. The mapping work happens inside AnkiMobile after iOS recognizes the controller profile.

If the remote was previously paired in another mode or with another device, start clean before mapping. Forget saved MODI or Anki remote entries in Bluetooth settings, then repeat the Switch Mode pairing process. A stale saved pairing can leave the device connected in a way that looks correct but does not deliver the input profile AnkiMobile expects. After a successful Switch Mode connection, the center LED becomes solid blue.

Open Gamepads

In AnkiMobile, open Settings, choose Review, then open Gamepads. This menu is where AnkiMobile lets you connect recognized controller inputs to study actions. The exact actions available come from AnkiMobile, not from MODI. For this task, focus on the answer actions you need during review: Again, Hard, Good, and Easy. Avoid changing unrelated actions until the four answer buttons behave predictably on a test card.

Keep the remote in the same orientation you plan to use during reviews while assigning buttons. MODI’s recommended orientation is vertical with the D-pad facing down, but the practical goal is consistency: the button you press during setup should be the same button you expect during review. If you rotate the remote after mapping, your muscle memory may feel reversed even though AnkiMobile is still following the saved assignments.

Assign Answers

Map the four answer choices one at a time. Select the AnkiMobile action for Again, press the MODI button you want to use for that response, then repeat the process for Hard, Good, and Easy. Good is commonly the next-card action after an answer is shown, but it should still be assigned deliberately rather than assumed. Each assignment should reflect AnkiMobile’s displayed action, not a printed label on the remote.

Use a simple layout you can remember without looking down often. One common approach is to place Again and Easy at opposite ends, with Hard and Good between them, but the best layout is the one you can repeat accurately. MODI does not change AnkiMobile’s grading logic; it only gives you a physical way to send the selected action. The meaning of Again, Hard, Good, and Easy remains AnkiMobile’s responsibility.

Test Card

After mapping, open a review card that will show all four answer choices after the answer is revealed. Press the button assigned to Again first, then use Undo if needed or move to another safe test card before checking the next choice. The purpose is not to judge your deck content; it is to confirm that each physical button produces the action you intended inside AnkiMobile.

Test each answer with a single deliberate press. If AnkiMobile advances immediately, note which answer was recorded and compare it with your mapping. If the wrong action fires, return to Settings, Review, Gamepads, and reassign that specific input. If no action fires, check that the remote is awake, still connected, and paired in Switch Mode before changing every assignment.

Read Labels

During setup, rely on AnkiMobile’s action names rather than assuming every controller label corresponds to a study command. The app’s action list is the authority for what will happen during review. MODI’s role is to send inputs that iOS and AnkiMobile can recognize. Once an input is assigned to Again, Hard, Good, or Easy, AnkiMobile treats that input as the selected answer action during the review screen.

This is also why desktop instructions should not be mixed into the iPhone or iPad workflow. MODI has a Keyboard Mode for desktop use and Switch Mode for gamepad-style mobile configuration. Keyboard Mode can be useful on macOS, Windows, and Linux, but AnkiMobile answer-button mapping belongs in the Gamepads settings after Switch Mode pairing. Keeping those workflows separate prevents a lot of confusing setup results.

Fix Mismatches

If the remote connects but AnkiMobile does not respond, begin with the least destructive checks. Wake the remote with Home, confirm it appears connected in iOS Bluetooth settings, and verify you are editing AnkiMobile’s Gamepads assignments rather than a different settings area. If the remote was recently moved from a computer, Android device, or another mode, forget the saved Bluetooth entry and pair again in Switch Mode.

If a fresh pairing still leaves the remote connected but unresponsive, restart the iPhone or iPad and try the same Switch Mode pairing and Gamepads mapping sequence again. Host-device Bluetooth state can matter, especially after mode changes or repeated pairing attempts. Do not infer battery percentage from LED behavior beyond the documented signals: low battery flashes red quickly, charging flashes green, and the charging LED turns off when charging is complete.

Keep Scope

Once the four answer buttons work, stop changing settings unless another review action is genuinely needed. AnkiMobile offers configurable gamepad actions, but mapping too many commands at once makes troubleshooting harder. A focused answer-button setup gives you a clear baseline: reveal the answer, choose Again, Hard, Good, or Easy, and confirm the card advances as expected. Additional actions can be added later using the same test-and-confirm method.

Remember that MODI is not modifying AnkiMobile’s scheduler, grades, or card data directly. It is a Bluetooth remote for review input on supported devices, and AnkiMobile remains the app controlling the study screen and action list. Treat button mapping as a practical control setup, not a promise of better results. The reliable outcome you are checking is simple: each chosen button triggers the intended AnkiMobile answer command.