# Checking 1st field for uniqueness, warning of duplicates — disabling without Add-On?

**URL:** <https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/checking-1st-field-for-uniqueness-warning-of-duplicates-disabling-without-add-on/14156>\
**Category:** Help\
**Created:** [October 15, 2021, 5:43am UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/checking-1st-field-for-uniqueness-warning-of-duplicates-disabling-without-add-on/14156 "2021-10-15T05:43:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![auntanki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@auntanki](https://forums.ankiweb.net/u/auntanki)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2021, 5:43am UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/checking-1st-field-for-uniqueness-warning-of-duplicates-disabling-without-add-on/14156/1 "2021-10-15T05:43:53Z")

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[Manual: Anki checks 1st field for uniqueness, … listed as duplicates](https://docs.ankiweb.net/editing.html?highlight=duplicates#adding-cards-and-notes)

Any chance this behaviour could optionally be disabled in the future?

I.e. obviate the need for Add-Ons like [Ze Add Note Id](https://ankiweb.net/shared/info/886709118)?

I do sometimes have reasons for identical first fields, and I don’t care if _duplicates_ are detected, and as a layperson, I don’t want to have to concern myself too much with the inner workings of databases 😉

[Ze Add Note Id](https://ankiweb.net/shared/info/886709118) is a fine Add-On; but it may (or may not) have something to do with the _‘bug’_ [I mentioned here](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/bug-new-anki-own-frozen-fields-status-on-off-displayed-incorrectly/14127).

The more Add-Ons one needs, the more hassle updating Anki … ☹

Says Anki: “Hey mate, the first field is empty.”  
Says me: “Thanks Anki for reminding me.” 😃

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**Author:** ![cqg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@cqg](https://forums.ankiweb.net/u/cqg)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2021, 5:00pm UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/checking-1st-field-for-uniqueness-warning-of-duplicates-disabling-without-add-on/14156/2 "2021-10-15T17:00:20Z")

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You can simply ignore those warnings, isn’t it? Why do you think making this feature optional would improve the user experience? (Just asking out of curiosity 😉 )

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**Author:** ![dae](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/forums.ankiweb.net/dae/32/65_2.png) [@dae](https://forums.ankiweb.net/u/dae)\
**Post date:** [October 16, 2021, 11:54am UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/checking-1st-field-for-uniqueness-warning-of-duplicates-disabling-without-add-on/14156/4 "2021-10-16T11:54:02Z")

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You can reorder your fields to place one that is usually unique/not empty at the top. The restriction is not based on the underlying storage, it’s so that you get notified of duplicates as soon as possible when adding content.

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**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/anki2/original/1X/8f1279ababc5879d54e4838989f606cfe55af8c7.jpeg) [@system](https://forums.ankiweb.net/u/system)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2023, 4:47am UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/checking-1st-field-for-uniqueness-warning-of-duplicates-disabling-without-add-on/14156/5 "2023-05-01T04:47:19Z")

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