Up until today when I was downloading Anki for the first time, whenever I try opening the app the small loading icon with my mouse appears but the app does not load or do anything. I went on the website and tried doing the debug method for Windows, but I really do not understand what i’m doing here. I also tried uninstalling Anki and restarting my PC but still nothing. I’m so frustrated. Is there anyone who knows a solution? Thank you.
Do the same as in this gif to open the Windows Command promt in C:\Program Files\Anki and then type anki-console and press Enter.
https://anki.tenderapp.com/kb/problems/when-anki-doesnt-start-on-windows-debugging-steps
Ok, this was the outcome (or please correct if i’m wrong).
Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.18363.1139]
© 2019 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
C:\Program Files\Anki>anki-console
[7464] PyInstaller Bootloader 3.x
[7464] LOADER: executable is C:\Program Files\Anki\anki-console.exe
[7464] LOADER: homepath is C:\Program Files\Anki
[7464] LOADER: MEIPASS2 is NULL
[7464] LOADER: archivename is C:\Program Files\Anki\anki-console.exe
[7464] LOADER: C:\Program Files\Anki\anki-console.exe contains a digital signature
[7464] LOADER: No need to extract files to run; setting extractionpath to homepath
[7464] LOADER: SetDllDirectory(C:\Program Files\Anki)
[7464] LOADER: Already in the child - running user’s code.
[7464] LOADER: Python library: C:\Program Files\Anki\python38.dll
[7464] LOADER: Loaded functions from Python library.
[7464] LOADER: Manipulating environment (sys.path, sys.prefix)
[7464] LOADER: sys.prefix is C:\Program Files\Anki
[7464] LOADER: Pre-init sys.path is C:\Program Files\Anki\base_library.zip;C:\Program Files\Anki
[7464] LOADER: Setting runtime options
[7464] LOADER: Initializing python
[7464] LOADER: Overriding Python’s sys.path
[7464] LOADER: Post-init sys.path is C:\Program Files\Anki\base_library.zip;C:\Program Files\Anki
[7464] LOADER: Setting sys.argv
[7464] LOADER: setting sys.MEIPASS
[7464] LOADER: importing modules from CArchive
[7464] LOADER: extracted struct
[7464] LOADER: callfunction returned…
[7464] LOADER: extracted pyimod01_os_path
[7464] LOADER: callfunction returned…
[7464] LOADER: extracted pyimod02_archive
[7464] LOADER: callfunction returned…
[7464] LOADER: extracted pyimod03_importers
[7464] LOADER: callfunction returned…
[7464] LOADER: Installing PYZ archive with Python modules.
[7464] LOADER: PYZ archive: PYZ-00.pyz
[7464] LOADER: Running pyiboot01_bootstrap.py
[7464] LOADER: Running pyi_rth_pyqt5.py
[7464] LOADER: Running pyi_rth_win32comgenpy.py
[7464] LOADER: Running pyi_rth_multiprocessing.py
[7464] LOADER: Running pyi_rth_certifi.py
[7464] LOADER: Running pyi_rth_pkgres.py
[7464] LOADER: Running pyi_rth_pyqt5webengine.py
[7464] LOADER: Running runanki.py
File “runanki.py”, line 4, in
File "aqt_init.py", line 399, in run
File "aqt_init.py", line 445, in _run
File “aqt\profiles.py”, line 92, in setupMeta
File “aqt\profiles.py”, line 456, in _loadMeta
resetting corrupt _global
C:\Program Files\Anki>
No luck. Still won’t work 
It is fine though, Thank you so much for your help! 
Maybe instead of renaming Anki2 try to specify a different data folder with -b, .e.g. anki-console.exe -b %userprofile%/Desktop/anki-data-folder
https://docs.ankiweb.net/#/files?id=startup-options
The error message might be different this time.
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How are you able to do that? Sorry, I don’t know much.
Ok, this was it
C:\Program Files\Anki>anki-console.exe -b %userprofile%/Desktop/anki-data-folder
[2544] PyInstaller Bootloader 3.x
[2544] LOADER: executable is C:\Program Files\Anki\anki-console.exe
[2544] LOADER: homepath is C:\Program Files\Anki
[2544] LOADER: _MEIPASS2 is NULL
[2544] LOADER: archivename is C:\Program Files\Anki\anki-console.exe
[2544] LOADER: C:\Program Files\Anki\anki-console.exe contains a digital signature
[2544] LOADER: No need to extract files to run; setting extractionpath to homepath
[2544] LOADER: SetDllDirectory(C:\Program Files\Anki)
[2544] LOADER: Already in the child - running user’s code.
[2544] LOADER: Python library: C:\Program Files\Anki\python38.dll
[2544] LOADER: Loaded functions from Python library.
[2544] LOADER: Manipulating environment (sys.path, sys.prefix)
[2544] LOADER: sys.prefix is C:\Program Files\Anki
[2544] LOADER: Pre-init sys.path is C:\Program Files\Anki\base_library.zip;C:\Program Files\Anki
[2544] LOADER: Setting runtime options
[2544] LOADER: Initializing python
[2544] LOADER: Overriding Python’s sys.path
[2544] LOADER: Post-init sys.path is C:\Program Files\Anki\base_library.zip;C:\Program Files\Anki
[2544] LOADER: Setting sys.argv
[2544] LOADER: setting sys._MEIPASS
[2544] LOADER: importing modules from CArchive
[2544] LOADER: extracted struct
[2544] LOADER: callfunction returned…
[2544] LOADER: extracted pyimod01_os_path
[2544] LOADER: callfunction returned…
[2544] LOADER: extracted pyimod02_archive
[2544] LOADER: callfunction returned…
[2544] LOADER: extracted pyimod03_importers
[2544] LOADER: callfunction returned…
[2544] LOADER: Installing PYZ archive with Python modules.
[2544] LOADER: PYZ archive: PYZ-00.pyz
[2544] LOADER: Running pyiboot01_bootstrap.py
[2544] LOADER: Running pyi_rth_pyqt5.py
[2544] LOADER: Running pyi_rth_win32comgenpy.py
[2544] LOADER: Running pyi_rth_multiprocessing.py
[2544] LOADER: Running pyi_rth_certifi.py
[2544] LOADER: Running pyi_rth_pkgres.py
[2544] LOADER: Running pyi_rth_pyqt5webengine.py
[2544] LOADER: Running runanki.py
It looks good, Anki should be visible in the task manager, but I’m not sure why you don’t see any GUI window.
I can only suggest to install Python 3.8 (Windows x86-64 executable installer) and try pre-built Python wheels.
- Run Anki from a local Python installation without building it yourself
https://github.com/ankitects/anki/blob/master/docs/development.md#pre-built-python-wheels
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