FSRS question. After a long break

Hello,
I used Anki consistently from 2019 to 2023, but since then, I haven’t been very active—only doing a few reviews per month. During that time, I’ve used SM-2 and eventually added the Straight Reward add-on. Now, I have about 4,500 overdue cards to review.

I’m planning to switch to FSRS. Should I enable it now, or wait until I’ve worked through the overdue cards? Does FSRS manage overdue cards effectively? Additionally, I noticed an option called “reschedule cards on change.” Is this feature specifically designed for users like me who have a large backlog of overdue cards?

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I suggest reading this section of the manual: Deck Options - Anki Manual

Should I enable it now, or wait until I’ve worked through the overdue cards?

Enable it now.

Does FSRS manage overdue cards effectively?

Yep.

Additionally, I noticed an option called “reschedule cards on change.”

I suggest reading the manual. But anyway, reschedule cards on change does exactly what it says on the tin: reschedules all cards if you changed FSRS parameters and/or desired retention. If you want a sharp and quick transition from SM-2 to FSRS, use it, but in most cases it gives you a large backlog initially. If you want a smooth and gradual transition, don’t use it.

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Thank you for the answer. Basically, I should enable FSRS and continue using Anki as usual, just catching up normally?

Yes. Here’s another section of the manual that I recommend reading (don’t worry, it’s short): Studying - Anki Manual

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Yes, FSRS will work great with any catch-up plan.

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