AnkiMobile 25.09 (iPhone) - import doesn’t work

AnkiMobile (iPhone/iPad) Help
1

I bought Anki mobile for the iPhone via App Store in November 2025 (EUR 29,99; current version: 25.09). I have iPhone 11 and iOS-Version 26.6.2.

I installed Anki on my Windows notebook in December 2026.

I always performed the synchronization as follows: I exported the collection package (colpkg) and uploaded it to my cloud account with my German internet service provider. Then I downloaded it from my cloud account to the other device and imported it into Anki resp. Anki mobile.

Today I couldn’t start Anki on the notebook. I was forced to download and install the new Anki version 26.09.2. With this version the synchronisation notebook → iPhone (as described above) doesn’t work. When I download the collection package (colpkg) to my iPhone, I get the error message “The file extension colpkg is not currently supported.” If I try to download an Anki deck package (apkg), I get the same error message. So it seems to me, that Anki 26.09.2 and Anki mobile 25.09 on iPhone 11, iOS 26.6.2, do not harmonize.

It is important to me that I continue to be able to perform the synchronization in the manner described. I don’t want to use Anki Web for synchronisation.

Can you help concerning this matter? Thank you very much.

Bernhard (Kirchzarten, Freiburg, Germany)

2

There haven’t been any recent changes to COLPKG or APKG.

That message doesn’t seem to be saying that AnkiMobile can’t read the file – it’s saying that your device doesn’t know those filetypes are associated with AnkiMobile. The simplest test to tell the difference would be to try importing any other APKG file that was produced with an earlier version of Anki.

Try long-pressing on the file once you have it downloaded to your phone, and check the “open with” list. Is Anki there? Is it the default?

3

Could you please provide more details about the procedure you are using to download the .colpkg/.apkg file from your cloud storage to your iPhone 11? If I can, I will try to reproduce the reported behavior once I know what steps you performed.

Could you please clarify: The error message you are seeing is from iOS, not AnkiMobile, correct? The problem occurs during the file download process from cloud to iPhone, before you even try to open the file or the AnkiMobile app, correct?

4

Yes, that’s correct.The problem occurs during the file download process from cloud to iPhone. The error message is from iOS.

The error message appears the moment I try to download the colpkg file from the cloud to my iPhone. Starting this morning, iOS has also been rejecting downloads of colpkg files from older versions of Anki.

I’ve now found a solution, but I don’t like it: I’ve integrated the cloud into the “Files” app on my iPhone, so I can move the file from the cloud to local folders. This works.

It’s quite striking that, ever since I installed Anki version 26.09.2 this morning, iOS has been refusing to download colpkg files from the cloud. I do think that some feature of the new colpkg files has caused iOS to generally stop accepting colpkg downloads.

My internet and cloud provider is the german company 1&1.

5

I’m glad that you’ve found a workaround that allows you to continue using Anki.

If you are still interested and provide me with the steps to perform to download cloud files to iPhone using the method you were previously using, I’ll try to see if I can reproduce the problem behavior. Otherwise, it seems that you are now all set to continue using Anki.

The fact that you are now also unable to download old .colpkg files made using older versions of Anki indicates that it probably was not the update to Anki 26.09.2 that is the cause of the issue. Instead, it might be just a coincidence that the problem started when you updated Anki.

Another workaround available to you to sync without using AnkiWeb might be to self-host your own sync server.

6

In between I think that the headline to this subject should be better:

“Synchronisation problem: Since the update to Anki version 26.09.2 on my computer on September 23, 2026 iOS no longer allows me to download colpkg and apkg files from my cloud storage to my iPhone.”

The workaround that I have found is more cumbersome and time-consuming. This method doesn’t make the files available as quickly. So I would prefer the method I’ve been using so far. Therefore I try now to give you more and adequate informations:

Synchronisation problem: Since the update to Anki version 26.09.2 on my computer on the morning of September 23, 2026 iOS no longer allows me to download colpkg and apkg files from my cloud storage to my iPhone.

Computer:

Debug informations: Anki 26.09.2 (bb0dd6d1) // Python 3.13.15 Qt 6.11.2 PyQt 6.11.0 // Platform: Windows-11-10.0.26100-SP0

For access to the 1&1 cloud storage on the computer: Firefox 156.0.1 (64-Bit)

Smartphone:

iPhone 11, iOS-Version 26.6.2.

Anki mobile 25.09

For access to the 1&1 cloud storage on the iPhone: App „1&1 Cloud“

Step-by-step procedure:

1 On the computer:

1.1 In Anki:

„Datei“ (file) / „Exportieren“ (export)

  • Exportformat: „Anki-Sammlungspaket (.colpkg)“ or „Anki-Stapelpaket.apkg“

  • einschließlich Medien (including media)

  • „unterstütze ältere Anki-Versionen (langsamere/größere Dateien)“ (support older Anki versions (slower/bigger files) (or not; I’ve tried both, it makes no difference)

Button „Exportieren“ (export)

Select a location: click folder „Dokumente“ / double click subfolder „Anki Export“

Button „Speichern“ (save)

Then I minimize Anki.

1.2 In Firefox:

1&1 cloud storage

Login

Button „+ Neu“ / „Dateien hochladen“ (upload files)

Select a folder: „Dokumente“ / „Anki Export“

click on file + button „Öffnen“ (open)

Cloud storage displays: „1 von 1 Dateien wurden hochgeladen“ (1 of 1 files uploaded)

The freshly uploaded file is now in the contents list of my cloud storage.

2 On the iPhone:

Open App „1&1 Cloud“

I find the file in the contents list and tap it.

At this moment normally the download starts and I can choose where to save the file.

But instead iOS now shows the information: „Die Dateiendung colpkg wird aktuell nicht unterstützt.“ (The file extension ‘colpkg’ is not currently supported.)

If its a apkg-file: „Die Dateiendung apkg wird aktuell nicht unterstützt.“

I hope this information is helpful. If not, please feel free to ask for more details. Anki is a wonderful computer program, and I’m more than happy, if I can help. Thank you very much!

7

It sounds like iOS is trying to open the file directly from the cloud-storage app, instead of downloading it to your device. That’s about the relationship between iOS and that app, so we can’t control it. If that app updated to default to opening files directly, hopefully there’s an option to make “download” the default again.

We support the interaction between AnkiMobile and iOS once the file is downloaded to your device. See Collection Transfer - AnkiMobile Manual – and Deck List - AnkiMobile Manual .

No, that’s definitely too long to be the subject of a thread. This also has nothing to do with sync (because you aren’t syncing), or with desktop Anki or its recent update.

8

Thank you very much for your reply. In between I came to the same conclusion. If I don’t use the app “1&1 cloud” but access “1&1 cloud” via Safari, the download runs. So it seems rather to be a problem concerning the app. Please accept my apologies for bothering you here unnecessarily. If you’d like, you can delete the entire thread here in the forum.

9

No need to apologize or delete the thread. I’m sure there are others who use that app (or other cloud storage) and have encountered that error, so this will help them reach answers too!