# Clarification on Anki Card Ordering: Reposition, Gather Order, and New Card Sort Order

**URL:** <https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/clarification-on-anki-card-ordering-reposition-gather-order-and-new-card-sort-order/71616>\
**Category:** Help\
**Created:** [October 28, 2026, 10:39am UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/clarification-on-anki-card-ordering-reposition-gather-order-and-new-card-sort-order/71616 "2026-10-28T10:39:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![saadrehman212004](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/forums.ankiweb.net/saadrehman212004/32/33952_2.png) [@saadrehman212004](https://forums.ankiweb.net/u/saadrehman212004)\
**Post date:** [October 28, 2026, 10:39am UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/clarification-on-anki-card-ordering-reposition-gather-order-and-new-card-sort-order/71616/1 "2026-10-28T10:39:17Z")

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![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/anki2/original/3X/6/9/692408512c9a37906bb550412ea823d7e1d98012.png)

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/anki2/original/3X/2/b/2b592f6994c372ce5956ffd5769ed431e8cf4de4.png)

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/anki2/original/3X/6/2/629c01de7b65180450b09efa179fad6ece96ea80.png)

I wanted to clarification on few things about Anki’s card-ordering features.

First, regarding **Reposition** : I can randomize the card order using this right?  
such as changing it from _Date Created_ to _Random_, but what’s the use case of this option if I can already set _Gathered Cards_ to _Random_ in the deck options itself. and also when i click the sort order in browser does that change the order itself or is it like for viewing only.

My second question is about the relationship between _Gather Order_ and _New Card Sort Order_. If I have a single deck with no sub-decks and set the **new card** limit to 9,999, does the Gather Order essentially become irrelevant? In that case, does the New Card Sort Order determine the order in which cards are presented?

Am I correct in understanding that Gather Order mainly matters when a deck contains sub-decks or when a limit restricts the number of new cards gathered?

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**Author:** ![ZornHadNoChoice](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/forums.ankiweb.net/zornhadnochoice/32/28874_2.png) [@ZornHadNoChoice](https://forums.ankiweb.net/u/ZornHadNoChoice)\
**Post date:** [October 28, 2026, 6:25pm UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/clarification-on-anki-card-ordering-reposition-gather-order-and-new-card-sort-order/71616/2 "2026-10-28T18:25:58Z")

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> [@saadrehman212004](#):
>
> I can randomize the card order using this right?  
> such as changing it from _Date Created_ to _Random_, but what’s the use case of this option if I can already set _Gathered Cards_ to _Random_ in the deck options itself.

It allows you to order some cards and randomize others. I know, Anki has some niche features but “why not?”.

> [@saadrehman212004](#):
>
> and also when i click the sort order in browser does that change the order itself or is it like for viewing only.

If you’re referring to sorting by the columns, then it’s just for the browser. It doesn’t affect studying.

> [@saadrehman212004](#):
>
> does the Gather Order essentially become irrelevant?

No, there are at least two sort orders that depend on it:

- Card type, then order gathered.
- Order gathered.

The others might have a fallback or something like that which depends on the gather order too, I don’t know.

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**Author:** ![kaiu](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/forums.ankiweb.net/kaiu/32/32616_2.png) [@kaiu](https://forums.ankiweb.net/u/kaiu)\
**Post date:** [October 28, 2026, 7:12pm UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/clarification-on-anki-card-ordering-reposition-gather-order-and-new-card-sort-order/71616/3 "2026-10-28T19:12:16Z")

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> [@saadrehman212004](#):
>
> First, regarding **Reposition** : I can randomize the card order using this right?  
> such as changing it from _Date Created_ to _Random_

“order” - but the “date” is not written there.  
The card creation date will not change; the order of the cards will simply be different.

This order applies only at the very beginning. Later on, if you mark a card as “easy,” it won’t appear again for a while, whereas a card you’ve forgotten will be shown again soon. Everything follows the principle of spaced repetition rather than a fixed sequence. However, if necessary, you can create a “filtered deck” to review cards in a specific order of your choosing. Alternatively, you can simply browse through the cards—there is a preview feature available in the browser.