How to Pair MODI With a New Device

To pair a MODI Anki remote with a new phone, tablet, or computer, start by removing old Bluetooth pairings, then choose the mode the new app expects. Use Keyboard Mode for the preset desktop workflow, or Switch Mode for AnkiMobile, AnkiDroid, and custom desktop remapping through the optional MODI add-on. After pairing, test a few review actions before assuming the move is complete, because Bluetooth connection and app action mapping are separate steps.

MODI is an independent Bluetooth accessory for Anki review workflows on supported devices. It is not made, endorsed, or certified by Anki, AnkiMobile, AnkiDroid, Apple, Google, Microsoft, or other app or device makers. The same remote can be moved between devices, but saved Bluetooth entries can confuse reconnection. For a fuller setup path after this device change, use complete MODI setup tutorial as the hub, then return to this checklist when switching hosts again.

Old Device

Before pairing with the new device, deal with the old host first. Open Bluetooth settings on the computer, phone, or tablet that previously used MODI and forget every saved MODI or Anki remote entry. This matters because the remote wakes and tries to reconnect in the last-used mode. If the old device is nearby and Bluetooth remains active, it may grab the connection before the new device has a clean chance to pair.

If you cannot access the old device, turn off its Bluetooth or move it out of range while setting up the new one. That does not erase the saved entry, but it reduces automatic reconnection during the fresh pairing attempt. Once the new device is configured, you can return to the old device later and remove its saved entry. Treat this as Bluetooth housekeeping, not as evidence that anything is wrong with the remote itself.

Mode Choice

Choose the new connection mode based on the app you plan to control, not based on the old device. Keyboard Mode is intended for macOS, Windows, and Linux desktop use with MODI’s preset keyboard-style inputs. It does not require the MODI desktop Anki add-on for the default workflow. Switch Mode presents gamepad-style inputs and is the standard choice for AnkiMobile on iPhone or iPad and AnkiDroid on Android.

Switch Mode is also the desktop choice when you want custom remapping through the optional MODI Anki add-on. That add-on extends desktop Anki and may need updates when Anki changes, so it should not be confused with the simpler Keyboard Mode path. If you are moving from a desktop computer to a phone, the correct new mode will usually change. If you are moving between two desktop computers, the same mode may still be appropriate.

Fresh Pairing

For Keyboard Mode, open Bluetooth settings on the new desktop device, hold A + Home for one second, and select the MODI connection when it appears. A successful Keyboard Mode connection is shown by the center LED becoming solid green. Keep the old host from reconnecting during this step. If more than one saved MODI-like entry appears, remove the old entries and repeat the pairing attempt with only the fresh connection available.

For Switch Mode, open Bluetooth settings on the new phone, tablet, or desktop device, hold Y + Home for one second, and select the MODI connection. A successful Switch Mode connection is shown by the center LED becoming solid blue. When changing from one mode to another, the preferred process is to forget every saved MODI or Anki remote entry first, then repeat the full connection steps for the desired mode.

Wake Behavior

After a successful setup, pressing Home wakes MODI and reconnects it in the last-used mode. That is convenient when you return to the same device, but it can make a new-device move look inconsistent if the old Bluetooth pairing was left in place. If MODI seems to connect somewhere else, check nearby computers, tablets, and phones for active Bluetooth entries before changing Anki settings or reinstalling anything.

MODI also sleeps automatically after about 2.5 minutes without a Bluetooth connection or after 5 minutes of inactivity. To manually put it to sleep or turn it off, hold Home for 3 seconds. If you are troubleshooting a device switch, a deliberate sleep and wake cycle can help you see which host is actually reconnecting. It is still best paired with removing stale Bluetooth entries, because sleep alone does not erase remembered hosts.

Test Actions

Once Bluetooth shows MODI connected on the new device, open the target app and test only a small set of review actions. On desktop Anki in Keyboard Mode, common checks are reveal or Good with Space or Enter and answer buttons 1 through 4 when those buttons are available. MODI’s preset Keyboard Mode inputs also include review actions such as Again, Hard, Good or Next, Easy, Undo, Suspend, Escape, Spacebar, and direction navigation.

On AnkiMobile, use Settings, Review, then Gamepads to assign the actions you want after connecting in Switch Mode. On AnkiDroid, use Settings, Controls, then Set Key Binds. Android users may see X-Y-B-A inputs displayed as Y-X-A-B in the AnkiDroid menu because of a third-party display mapping issue. Treat that as a visual label mismatch first; assigned commands can still function normally when tested inside review.

If Unresponsive

If the new device says MODI is connected but no review action works, separate the problem into layers. First confirm the intended mode by checking the center LED color: green for Keyboard Mode, blue for Switch Mode. Then forget the Bluetooth entry on the new device and pair again using the correct button combination. If you recently changed modes, also make sure every old saved MODI or Anki remote entry has been removed.

If a fresh pairing still connects but remains unresponsive, restart the host device and try again. Bluetooth state, saved pairings, battery state, app configuration, and host-device behavior can all affect the result, so avoid assuming one cause too early. After restart, test basic actions before customizing anything else. When the remote works in Bluetooth but not in Anki, the next diagnostic step is usually the app’s control or gamepad mapping screen.