I recommend that you install either one of these newer, beta versions of Anki by downloading the .dmg file and replacing the older version you are currently trying to use.
26.05 Beta 1
It should work as-is.
26.05 Beta 2
And then, run this command in the Terminal app which simply renames a directory from “lib” to “libs”:
mv /Applications/Anki.app/Contents/Resources/app_packages/anki_audio/lib /Applications/Anki.app/Contents/Resources/app_packages/anki_audio/libs
Or, rename the directory using Finder.
Beta 2 is the most recent version, but it introduced a small bug that prevents Anki from playing audio. The issue can be fixed by simply renaming a directory. But, if you don’t feel confident in your ability to rename the directory, you can instead install the slightly-older Beta 1 which does not have the bug.
Both Beta 1 and Beta 2 use a different installer, allowing many users to bypass problems that can occur with the current version 25.09 installer.
(However, if you do not wish to use one of the Beta versions, we can try to troubleshoot your issue with 25.09, though the process might take longer. To start the troubleshooting, please run the Anki launcher from the Terminal app using the command /Applications/Anki.app/Contents/MacOS/launcher. Doing so will allow you to see any error messages that might get printed.)