Issue Summary: Ever since installing and subsequently uninstalling the AnkiHub add-on via the native add-on manager on macOS, native Anki refuses to open normally. Launching the app leads to an immediate hard crash (no error pop-up, window doesn’t load).
The only way to get the app to launch on my Mac is by entering Safe Mode (holding Shift on startup) and disabling “Sync automatically on profile open/close.” Once Auto-Sync is turned off, the app opens with add-ons enabled, but manual syncing or making routine profile changes (moving decks, adding cards) triggers a complete app freeze/crash shortly after.
I am studying for the MCAT and currently at a total standstill. I cannot afford to lose my custom add-ons or my current setup.
Detailed Steps Taken & Behavior:
Initial State: Prior to AnkiHub, Anki ran smoothly for 2+ weeks with multiple custom/aesthetic add-ons (including Ongiri, Vanilla Study, hours, modifications) auto-syncing across MacBook, iOS, and iPadOS seamlessly.
AnkiHub Installation/Removal: Downloaded AnkiHub via their website. Noticed significant slowdowns and startup delays. Decided not to use it and deleted the add-on via Tools > Add-ons > Delete.
The Crash: Immediately after deletion, Anki began crashing on launch.
Safe Mode / Auto-Sync Workaround:
Holding Shift allows Anki to boot in Safe Mode.
Disabling Auto-Sync allows Anki to open normally (with add-ons active) on subsequent boots, but requires manual syncing.
Profile Reconstruction Attempts:
Profile 2: Exported data from Profile 1 and imported into Profile 2. Auto-sync worked temporarily until I moved a deck, causing an immediate crash and returning to square one (crash on startup).
Profile 3: Exported to Profile 3. Auto-sync worked briefly. Added a few cards (synced fine), but after a few minutes of idling, the app hard crashed with no user input and locked up again.
Questions / Need Assistance With:
Could lingering AnkiHub sync hooks/files in the Anki media or add-on directory be corrupting the startup sync sequence even after deleting the add-on UI?
Is there a way to clear the local background sync cache or fix corrupt database states without wiping my installed add-ons and config files?
What diagnostic logs (or Mac Console logs) should I attach to pinpoint why the sync-trigger specifically kills the process?
I just want my normal, working Anki back. Before AnkiHub i had 0 problems, now it has ruined my life.
Any guidance on fixing this without doing a full nuclear reset of my add-ons would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Please try running Anki manually from the Terminal app via this command: /Applications/Anki.app/Contents/MacOS/Anki
Are there any relevant error messages printed in the Terminal when the crash occurs?
I don’t know the answer to Question 1, but I note that you can find your add-on files in the ~/Library/Application Support/Anki2/addons21 directory, if you want to inspect what files are there.
I deleted and reinstalled Anki, same issue. This is what termainal is reading back to me:
/Applications/Anki.app/Contents/MacOS/Anki
2026-08-14 16:09:24.632 Anki[8194:495693] No Python NSLog handler found. stdout/stderr will not be captured.
2026-08-14 16:09:24.632 Anki[8194:495693] To capture stdout/stderr, add 'std-nslog' to your app dependencies.
Starting Anki 26.08.1...
2026-08-14 16:09:27,658:INFO:aqt.mediasrv: Serving on http://127.0.0.1:52748
Onigiri: Warning - DeckBrowser._render_deck_tree not found, enhanced stats patch optional skipped.
gettext _() is deprecated: Postpone cards
gettext _() is deprecated: Postpone cards
Starting main loop...
addons21/691162538/__init__.py:98:night_mode() is deprecated: use theme_manager.night_mode
conf key onigiri_favorite_decks should be fetched with col.get_config(), and saved with col.set_config()
conf key onigiri_favorite_decks should be fetched with col.get_config(), and saved with col.set_config()
conf key onigiri_favorite_decks should be fetched with col.get_config(), and saved with col.set_config()
dyld[8198]: Symbol not found: _$ss20__StaticArrayStorageCN
Referenced from: <E8A9413E-CEBC-35E8-9E33-17FD5EE9EDED> /Applications/Anki.app/Contents/Resources/app_packages/anki_audio/mpv
Expected in: <9177B18C-CA86-342B-8642-5E62922BA86A> /usr/lib/swift/libswiftCore.dylib
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/Users/runner/work/anki/anki/out/installer/build/anki/macos/app/Anki.app/Contents/Resources/app_packages/aqt/sound.py", line 944, in setup_audio
File "/Users/runner/work/anki/anki/out/installer/build/anki/macos/app/Anki.app/Contents/Resources/app_packages/aqt/sound.py", line 456, in __init__
File "/Users/runner/work/anki/anki/out/installer/build/anki/macos/app/Anki.app/Contents/Resources/app_packages/aqt/mpv.py", line 465, in __init__
File "/Users/runner/work/anki/anki/out/installer/build/anki/macos/app/Anki.app/Contents/Resources/app_packages/aqt/mpv.py", line 107, in __init__
File "/Users/runner/work/anki/anki/out/installer/build/anki/macos/app/Anki.app/Contents/Resources/app_packages/aqt/mpv.py", line 217, in _start_socket
aqt.mpv.MPVProcessError: unable to start process
mpv too old or failed to open, reverting to mplayer
addons21/1011095603/patcher.py:62:night_mode() is deprecated: use theme_manager.night_mode
addons21/1011095603/patcher.py:62:night_mode() is deprecated: use theme_manager.night_mode
conf key onigiri_favorite_decks should be fetched with col.get_config(), and saved with col.set_config()
conf key onigiri_favorite_decks should be fetched with col.get_config(), and saved with col.set_config()
conf key onigiri_favorite_decks should be fetched with col.get_config(), and saved with col.set_config()
addons21/691162538/__init__.py:98:night_mode() is deprecated: use theme_manager.night_mode
conf key onigiri_favorite_decks should be fetched with col.get_config(), and saved with col.set_config()
conf key onigiri_favorite_decks should be fetched with col.get_config(), and saved with col.set_config()
conf key onigiri_favorite_decks should be fetched with col.get_config(), and saved with col.set_config()
Bash-3.2$
Bash-3.2$
Bash-3.2$
When you run Anki in Safe Mode with no add-ons enabled, no crashes ever occur. You are able to sync manually and use Anki just fine without any problem. Is this correct?
If this is incorrect and crashes do occur when you use Safe Mode, could you please re-try running /Applications/Anki.app/Contents/MacOS/Anki from the Terminal app in Safe Mode to see what error messages occur when crash occurs? (This will get us the error messages specifically related to the crash, and not extra messages related to add-ons.)
However, if this is correct and crashes don’t occur in Safe Mode, you might want to try disabling all add-ons and re-enabling them one-by-one to see if you can determine if the problem re-occurs when you re-enable a particular add-on.
I disabled all add-ons then added them 1 by 1 until I got the crash. Funny enough, I got the crash with the “Progress bar Actual Minimal” add-on. This was probably the first add-on I added upon downloading Anki, so it’s interesting it only just now started this reaction. Disabling this one add-on (while keeping on the rest) allows me to use my auto-sync option and allow me to use my app as normal!! I have now deleted it. THANK YOU SO MUCH I cannot thank you enough!!!