“Card was modified” error during review - Anki 26.09 - Cannot advance to the next card

[Utopia404]

Hi all,

Anki is not working as intended after updating to the latest (Windows) version. When I try to advance to the next card in my deck, I now get this error message:

card was modified: Normal(

Review(

    ReviewState {

        scheduled_days: 71,

        elapsed_days: 71,

        ease_factor: 2.2,

        lapses: 0,

        leeched: false,

        memory_state: Some(

            FsrsMemoryState {

                stability: 199.8211,

                difficulty: 6.483,

            },

        ),

    },

),

) Normal(

Review(

    ReviewState {

        scheduled_days: 71,

        elapsed_days: 71,

        ease_factor: 2.2,

        lapses: 0,

        leeched: false,

        memory_state: None,

    },

),

)

After I close the message window, I’m unable to advance to the next card. Gotta close and restart Anki but it just happens again. I tried all of the different video drivers, ran the database check, reset the window sizes, etc. but no luck. Not running any add-ons, by the way. Any idea on how to fix this?

[Danika_Dakika]

@Utopia404

When I try to advance to the next card in my deck

That error is sometimes triggered when a card is left open on the study screen and the app rolls over to the next day.

1. Is this happening on the study screen? Does “advance to the next card” mean “grade my answer on the current card” – or something else?
2. Did this happen once, around your next-day-starts time (4am by default) – or is it happening every time?

@Utopia404

I tried all of the different video drivers, ran the database check, reset the window sizes, etc. but no luck.

That sounds like the Troubleshooting Checklist, but please go through and make sure you tried everything there – even the things you don’t think are relevant.

Also go to Help > About – click Copy Debug Info – paste that entire result when you reply.

[AnkiMonkey]

Hi,

I upgraded Anki on Windows to version 26.09. Before upgrading, Anki was working normally, but after the upgrade I started getting a “card was modified” error during review.

The error appears when I click any of the answer buttons (Again, Hard, Good, or Easy). After the error appears, I can no longer proceed to the next card. Clicking the buttons again produces the same error, so I have to click “Deck” at the top and then return to the review screen.

When I continue to the next card, the same error occurs again when I click an answer button.

The error message is:

This issue started immediately after upgrading to Anki 26.09. Before the upgrade, I did not experience this problem.

Add-ons currently installed:

Could this be related to an add-on or a change in the new version’s review/scheduling code? Also, I held down the Shift key while launching Anki, but it did not start in Safe Mode; it launched normally instead. I also ran “Check Database,” but the issue still persists.

Thank you.

[Danika_Dakika]

I merged your message with another similar report from earlier today.

@AnkiMonkey

I held down the Shift key while launching Anki, but it did not start in Safe Mode; it launched normally instead.

That definitely should still work. Did you hold Shift long enough?

[AnkiMonkey]

@Danika_Dakika

That definitely should still work. Did you hold Shift long enough?

Yes, I did, although I’m not sure why Safe Mode didn’t work for me. So, I decided to disable and re-enable the add-ons one by one, restarting Anki each time. I believe I found the culprit: Advanced Review Bottom Bar.

When this add-on is disabled, the error no longer appears. Also, the External Note Editor for the Browser add-on is uncompatible and need to be update. currently marked as incompatible, but it does not appear to be related to this issue.

For now, I’ve disabled Advanced Review Bottom Bar and will wait for it to be updated and made compatible with the latest version of Anki.

[Utopia404]

1. Is this happening on the study screen? Does “advance to the next card” mean “grade my answer on the current card” – or something else?

2. Did this happen once, around your next-day-starts time (4am by default) – or is it happening every time?

1. Yes, When I am done with a card I either hit 1-4 on my keyboard to grade or click the corresponding button on the bottom. Once the bug happens once, both are disabled and the only option is to restart.
2. Every time, though not always right away. Sometimes it would let me get through a few cards before appearing.

[Utopia404]

Interesting… I’m having the same problem as you it seems and I don’t have any add-ons installed

[cshanks223]

When reviewing, if I open Card Info (shortcut i) while looking at the back of a card, then try to grade the card (e.g. pressing Space to answer “Good”), Anki throws a “card was modified” error dialog instead of recording the answer. If I don’t open Card Info first, grading works normally.

Steps to Reproduce

1. Start a review session.
2. Reveal the answer (back of card).
3. Press I to open Card Info.
4. Close Card Info (or just leave it open).
5. Press the grading key (e.g. Space for “Good”).

Expected Behavior

The card is graded normally and the review moves to the next card.

Actual Behavior

An error dialog pops up:

card was modified: Normal(
    Review(
        ReviewState {
            scheduled_days: 172,
            elapsed_days: 172,
            ease_factor: 2.5,
            lapses: 0,
            leeched: false,
            memory_state: Some(
                FsrsMemoryState {
                    stability: 135.9786,
                    difficulty: 7.285,
                },
            ),
        },
    ),
) Normal(
    Review(
        ReviewState {
            scheduled_days: 172,
            elapsed_days: 172,
            ease_factor: 2.5,
            lapses: 0,
            leeched: false,
            memory_state: None,
        },
    ),
)

Environment

• Anki version: 26.09.2 (bb0dd6d1)
• Python 3.13.15, Qt 6.11.2, Chromium 140
• OS: macOS 27.0
• Hardware: MacBook Pro 14" (2023), Apple M2 Pro, 16 GB RAM

Additional Notes

• Only reproduces when Card Info is opened first; grading without opening Card Info works fine.

[Danika_Dakika]

I merged you here. What about in safe mode – so add-ons are disabled? Troubleshooting Checklist #2.

[Utopia404]

go to Help > About – click Copy Debug Info – paste that entire result when you reply.

Anki 26.09 (e62e7739)
Python 3.13.15 Qt 6.11.2 PyQt 6.11.0
Platform: Windows-10-10.0.19045-SP0

[Mithrandir]

I have the same problem since new version. I haven’t changed the default settings regarding the repetition algorithms. I also do not use FSRS (Free Spaced Repetition Scheduler). I don’t have any add-ons.

Anki 26.09.2 (bb0dd6d1)
Python 3.13.15 Qt 6.11.2 PyQt 6.11.0
Platform: Windows-10-10.0.19045-SP0

[abdo]

Tracked here: "Card was modified" when opening Card Info · Issue #5635 · ankitects/anki · GitHub

Will be fixed in the next patch release.

[Mithrandir]

Thank you so much! I wish you all the best!

[Utopia404]

This is very interesting because I always hit Card Info (shortcut i) lately when going through my cards now and that could very well be nature of the bug. I didn’t think to mention it before…

[john.sikstri]

I’m encountering this bug after upgrading my Anki to 26.09.2 (Desktop). This issue appears every time I rate a card (Again, Hard, Good, Easy).

[Danika_Dakika]

“Card was modified” error during review - Anki 26.09 - Cannot advance to the next card

Tracked here: "Card was modified" when opening Card Info · Issue #5635 · ankitects/anki · GitHub Will be fixed in the next patch release.

Until then, if this is blocking your studying, you should roll-back to a prior version.

[Danika_Dakika]

Patch released –

Anki 26.09.3 Release

This patch fixes an issue where upgrading on Windows didn’t fully replace the previous version, which could cause Anki to crash on startup (#5037). It also fixes a “Card modified” error in Card Info (#5635), makes safe mode more reliable (#5629), and stops the “Please restart” message from repeating in Preferences (#5639, #5640). If you’re on a version older than 26.09, please upgrade as soon as possible — 26.09 includes important security fixes. Full changelog: Release 26.09.3 · ankitects/ank…