Astrill prevents Anki from starting

Anki Help
1

I have tried to install the latest release 25.07.5 on a fully updated Windows 11. I run the .exe and it installs and then the launcher runs. I then select option 1. The output is:

Checking for updates…
Unable to check for Anki versions. Please check your internet connection.

Error: Failed to run (-1073741819): C:\Users\Lenovo[username]\Local\Programs\Anki\uv.exe run --no-project --no-config --managed-python --with pip-system-certs --python 3.13.5 C:\Users[username]\AppData\Local\Programs\Anki\versions.py:
Press enter to close…

I found a couple of similar topics: #64615 and #64436 but no resolution. As per topic #64615, I’ve checked and I can access the pypi json page successfully. As per topic #64436, I’ve tried the 25.08 beta and the error is the same. (I cannot include links yet as I am a new user.)

2

Installed the latest Anki 25.07.5 on my new ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED UM3406KA.

The installation works but as soon as the main window appears it closes itself (after about 2 seconds). I can get around this by holding Shift while opening the software, but as soon as I try to sync, the same thing happens and it just dies.

Very frustrating as I really rely on this software. Any ideas how to fix it?

3

Thanks for trying safe mode first!

For unexplained crashes, the Troubleshooting Checklist – Troubleshooting - Anki Manual is the place to start. Since you already know safe mode gets you past the problem, will you try running Anki from a command prompt – Startup Issues - Anki Manual – and see what errors you get when it crashes. After you paste that command, try it both ways – (1) just click Enter, and (2) hold Shift before you click Enter and until you get the safe mode confirmation.

4

Thanks for the reply - appreciated.

I tried running from a command prompt. When running in normal mode it crashes immediately. When running in safe mode, it crashes upon attempting to sync. I get this output in the command window:

Starting Anki 25.07.5…
2025-07-30 08:26:10,265:INFO:aqt.mediasrv: Serving on http:// 127.0.0.1:63345
Starting main loop…
Error: Failed to run (-1073741819): C:\Users\benjd\AppData\Local\AnkiProgramFiles.venv\Scripts/python.exe -c import aqt, sys; sys.argv[0] = ‘Anki’; aqt.run()
Press enter to close…

5

I managed to install by deleting the Anki2 folder (after making a copy), uninstalling previous versions, restarting, and then immediately after boot installing the latest version. If I didn’t do it immediately after boot then it would have the ‘internet connection’ problem.

Now, it has a new issue. It can open for a few seconds before closing. The console gives the following:

Starting Anki 25.07.5…
2025-07-30 17:17:54,384:INFO:aqt.mediasrv: Serving on http://127.0.0.1:50207
Starting main loop…
Error: Failed to run (-1073741819): C:\Users\Lenovo\AppData\Local\AnkiProgramFiles.venv\Scripts/python.exe -c import aqt, sys; sys.argv[0] = ‘Anki’; aqt.run()
Press enter to close…

I can run it in safemode by holding down shift. But I’m not sure where to go from here.

6

So it runs normally in safe mode? If so, Can you use About > Help > Copy Debug Info and paste text here?

7

Related report:

@Danika_Dakika maybe you can merge them.

1 Like
8

Thanks. It does not crash in safe mode until I try to login to sync.

Here’s the debug info:

Anki 25.07.5 (7172b2d2)
Python 3.13.5 Qt 6.9.1 PyQt 6.9.1
Platform: Windows-11-10.0.26100-SP0

9

I’m facing the same on MacOS

Anki Launcher

Checking for updates…

Unable to check for Anki versions. Please check your internet connection.

Error: Failed to run (2): /Applications/Anki.app/Contents/MacOS/uv run --no-project --no-config --managed-python --with pip-system-certs --python 3.13.5 /Applications/Anki.app/Contents/Resources/versions.py: error: failed to create directory `/Users/xxx/.local/share/uv/python`: Permission denied (os error 13)

Press enter to close…

10

sudo chown -R $(whoami) ~/.local

did the trick

11

I am having exactly the same issue. Did you manage to solve it? Can anyone suggest a way to solve it? I would really like to be able to use anki on my laptop again.

12

No, not yet.

13

@redpandacat @Ben4

What output do you get if you copy & run this command in cmd.exe?

C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\AnkiProgramFiles\.venv\Scripts/python.exe -c "import aqt, sys; sys.argv[0] = 'Anki'; aqt.run()"
14

The error code is very general, but this might be related (especially since the issue appears to be related to network access):

Do you have Astrill VPN or similar software installed @redpandacat @Ben4?

15

Thanks. Yes, I do (Astrill). So it seems there’s a fair chance that could be interfering (even when not explicitly in use).

If it’s still relevant I can run that code a bit later today.

1 Like
16

Yes. VPN software commonly can still affect network operation even when not in use (I had my fair share of this kind of problems).

You can try the workarounds suggested here:

1 Like
17

Thanks. I quickly tried moving the dll mentioned but it didn’t resolve the issue. I might do a clean install of both and try once again.

I also looked at this thread and when I checked the ‘hard excluded’ apps on Astrill I found I had added anki.exe a while ago! It seems I must have had some problem before and either this was a solution or an attempted solution. Either way, it doesn’t seem to work now.

18

This solution works, but it is incomplete.
You need to exclude not only anki.exe but also anki-console.exe, uvw.exe, and uv.exe.
For anybody who has a similar problem, this works!

2 Likes
19

Thank you @ozzeus. I appreciate the tip.

I uninstalled both Anki and Astrill. Did a clean install of Anki, worked no problem. But after installing Astrill it had the same problem (as expected). Then I added all four .exe to Astrill’s “exclude” and “hard exclude’’ lists. Restarted the computer. However, it still does not launch (unless in safe mode). Was there anything else you did before or after?

The error does seem to have changed though compared with the original post:

Starting Anki 25.07.5…
2025-08-18 11:09:17,153:INFO:aqt.mediasrv: Serving on http://127.0.0.1:50308
Starting main loop…
Error: Failed to run (-1073741819): C:\Users\Lenovo\AppData\Local\AnkiProgramFiles.venv\Scripts/python.exe -c import aqt, sys; sys.argv[0] = ‘Anki’; aqt.run()
Press enter to close…

This looks the same as @Ben4 had: Cannot install latest, "internet connection" error message - #4 by Ben4

20

Yeah, it worked at the beginning. But now, I have the same problem as you.

I GAVE UP!

It is such a waste of time trying to solve this shit. Every update breaks something. I am tired. I will stick to AnkiMobile.