Deck-level retention rate keeps reverting to preset level retention rate

Anki Help
1

I’m running into an issue where the deck‑level desired retention setting doesn’t stay saved and reverts to the preset level retention rate.

I set the desired retention to “this deck”, but at some later point it has reverted back to the preset value. I haven’t found a consistent way to reproduce it yet, but it has happened multiple times across sessions and multiple decks.

I’m not sure what triggers it, but it might be related to renaming the deck or syncing.

Anki version: Version ⁨25.09.2
Platform: Windows, iPad, Android

2

Duplicate: Reddit - Please wait for verification.

3

I recommend starting with my suggestions from an earlier reddit thread –
Deck specific retention –

  1. Are you sure you saved it correctly? To apply a “This deck” setting, you need to have it on the “This deck” tab when you save. So if you change the “This deck” DR, then switch to the “Preset” tab, then save – you’re still going to be using the “Preset” value.

  2. Are you syncing your collection between devices that use older versions of Anki without that setting? [You should check the version numbers, because small differences might matter.]

  3. If it’s none of those things, try this –

    • Make sure all of your devices are completely in sync.
    • Pick one device and run Check Database on it.
    • Re-save the setting how you want it.
    • Force a one-way sync from that device and upload to AnkiWeb.
    • Sync your other devices and download from AnkiWeb.
    • Check your Options for that deck on each device to see which one doesn’t match.

That user never responded, so it’s unclear what their issue turned out to be, or if your issue is the same.

Related: Reddit - Anki per deck retention bug
Possibly related: (in v25.09) Bug when changing config for deck, DR gets overwritten [h/t @ZornHadNoChoice , for pulling those links together!]