How to Map Replay Audio to MODI on iPhone

To map Replay Audio to a MODI Anki remote on iPhone, pair MODI in Switch Mode, open AnkiMobile’s gamepad settings, choose the button you want to use, and assign that button to Replay Audio. Replay Audio is an AnkiMobile study action; MODI supplies the gamepad-style input that AnkiMobile can recognize and map. Test the result on a card that actually contains audio, because a text-only card will not prove the action works.

A practical iPhone layout usually keeps Good or Space on the easiest button to press, then places Replay Audio on a nearby secondary button. That keeps the audio command available without moving the main answer controls. MODI is an independent Bluetooth accessory, not an official Anki or AnkiMobile product, so the setup depends on both the remote’s current mode and the controls AnkiMobile exposes for recognized gamepad inputs.

Choose Placement

Replay Audio is most useful when reviewing decks where pronunciation, listening, or recorded prompts matter. It should not displace the core answer buttons unless your deck is audio-first. Many users keep Good, Again, Hard, or Easy on the primary face buttons and assign Replay Audio to a shoulder or secondary button. The right placement is the one you can find reliably while still leaving the standard answer workflow intact.

Before changing mappings, decide which command you reach for least during normal reviews. That is often the better place to move Replay Audio. The goal is a simple mobile layout, not a complicated set of shortcuts that is difficult to remember. If you are also configuring the remote for desktop Anki, treat the iPhone mapping separately because AnkiMobile’s gamepad action list is managed inside the iPhone app.

Use Switch

For the standard iPhone setup, use MODI in Switch Mode because that exposes gamepad-style inputs for AnkiMobile to configure. Open the iPhone Bluetooth settings, hold Y + Home on the remote for one second, and select the MODI connection when it appears. After a successful Switch Mode connection, the center LED becomes solid blue. If the remote was previously paired in another mode, forget the saved entry first.

Keyboard Mode is intended for desktop use with preset keybindings, while Switch Mode is the better fit for AnkiMobile’s gamepad controls. Pressing Home later wakes the remote and reconnects in the last-used mode. For a broader walkthrough that includes the initial pairing path, use the complete MODI setup tutorial. This article focuses on the Replay Audio mapping once the iPhone and AnkiMobile can see MODI as a controller.

Map Button

In AnkiMobile, open Settings, then Review, then Gamepads. Choose the MODI button you want to dedicate to Replay Audio and assign that button to the Replay Audio action. The available actions come from AnkiMobile, not from MODI itself. MODI sends the controller input; AnkiMobile decides what that input does during review according to the mappings you choose in the app.

After assigning Replay Audio, check the rest of the layout before leaving the settings screen. Make sure your reveal or Good control is still reachable, and confirm that answer buttons you rely on have not been accidentally overwritten. If you changed several controls at once, write down the new arrangement or change one button at a time. Simple changes are easier to test and easier to undo.

Test Audio

To test Replay Audio, use an AnkiMobile card that contains an audio field or recorded media. Start a normal review, play or reveal the card as needed, then press the MODI button you assigned to Replay Audio. A successful test is hearing the card’s audio replay from AnkiMobile. If the card has no audio, the button may appear to do nothing even when the mapping is correct.

If the button does not replay audio on an audio card, test whether other mapped buttons still work. If Good, Again, or another action works from MODI, the Bluetooth connection is probably active and the issue is likely the selected mapping or the card’s audio content. If no buttons work, return to Bluetooth status, wake the remote with Home, and confirm that the remote is still connected in Switch Mode.

Fallbacks

Keep at least one fallback control available while testing. On the iPhone, you can still tap the AnkiMobile screen if a remote mapping is wrong or unfinished. That matters when a review session is already open and you need to continue without stopping to rebuild every button assignment. Fallback controls are also useful when you are comparing two possible Replay Audio placements and have not settled on the final layout.

If Replay Audio is important for a deck, avoid assigning it to a button that is easy to hit accidentally. Replaying audio by mistake is usually less disruptive than choosing the wrong answer, but it can still interrupt the rhythm of a card. Put answer actions on the most deliberate controls and treat Replay Audio as a nearby command. That keeps the layout predictable during both audio-heavy and mixed review sessions.

Troubleshooting

When MODI connects but AnkiMobile does not respond, first confirm that the remote is in Switch Mode rather than Keyboard Mode. If you recently changed modes or moved the remote from another device, forget every saved MODI or Anki remote entry in Bluetooth settings, then repeat the Switch Mode pairing process. If the fresh pairing still connects but remains unresponsive, restart the iPhone and try the mapping again.

Do not use LED behavior to estimate a battery percentage; the manual defines only specific signals such as quick red flashing for low battery, green flashing during charging, and the charging LED turning off when charging is complete. If the remote sleeps, press Home to wake and reconnect. MODI also sleeps automatically after time without a Bluetooth connection or inactivity, so a sleeping remote can look like a failed Replay Audio mapping.