# Import files even after newest update **URL:** \ **Category:** Help\ **Created:** [March 4, 2024, 2:30pm UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/import-files-even-after-newest-update/41959 "2024-03-04T14:30:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jerryy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3ab097/32.png) [@jerryy](https://forums.ankiweb.net/u/jerryy)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2024, 2:30pm UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/import-files-even-after-newest-update/41959/1 "2024-03-04T14:30:52Z")
HELP I HAVE AN EXAM TMRW …hey 🙂 so I have the newest update and tried to import a deck from a friend but it always says: “UNABLE TO READ FILE. IT PROBLY REQUIRES A NEWER VERSION OF ANKI TO IMPORT” what should I do, already disabled add-ons, still not working ---
**Author:** ![Danika\_Dakika](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/forums.ankiweb.net/danika_dakika/32/17815_2.png) [@Danika\_Dakika](https://forums.ankiweb.net/u/Danika_Dakika)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2024, 10:18pm UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/import-files-even-after-newest-update/41959/2 "2024-03-04T22:18:06Z")
Help \> About – what’s your “Version” number? And what version did your friend use to make the export? [Or is this a cross-post from reddit? [Reddit - Dive into anything](https://www.reddit.com/r/Anki/comments/1b5r1gg/unable_to_read_file_it_probably_requires_a_newer/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3)] ---
**Author:** ![jerryy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3ab097/32.png) [@jerryy](https://forums.ankiweb.net/u/jerryy)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2024, 10:30pm UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/import-files-even-after-newest-update/41959/3 "2024-03-04T22:30:16Z")
Version: 23.12.1 (1a1d4d54) ---
**Author:** ![Danika\_Dakika](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/forums.ankiweb.net/danika_dakika/32/17815_2.png) [@Danika\_Dakika](https://forums.ankiweb.net/u/Danika_Dakika)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2024, 10:42pm UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/import-files-even-after-newest-update/41959/4 "2024-03-04T22:42:27Z")
Same for your friend? Are either of you using add-ons? Especially the “Special Fields” add-on? Do you get the same error when you are runnning Anki without add-ons? [Troubleshooting - Anki Manual](https://docs.ankiweb.net/troubleshooting.html) ---
**Author:** ![jerryy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3ab097/32.png) [@jerryy](https://forums.ankiweb.net/u/jerryy)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2024, 4:07pm UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/import-files-even-after-newest-update/41959/5 "2024-03-07T16:07:19Z")
yes same without the add-ons- u mean pressing shift while opening it? ---
**Author:** ![abdo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/forums.ankiweb.net/abdo/32/654_2.png) [@abdo](https://forums.ankiweb.net/u/abdo)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2024, 4:41pm UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/import-files-even-after-newest-update/41959/6 "2024-03-07T16:41:16Z")
The problem is most likely caused by an add-on such as Special Fields as @Danika_Dakika suggested. This particular error doesn’t appear in recent Anki versions unless an add-on is forcing Anki to use the older importing logic (Special Fields does exactly that). So I recommend double checking add-ons. > [@jerryy](#): > > u mean pressing shift while opening it? Yes. Check whether add-ons were actually disabled from _Tools \> Add-ons_. Anki also shows a tooltip message at startup if Shift was pressed. ---
**Author:** ![jerryy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3ab097/32.png) [@jerryy](https://forums.ankiweb.net/u/jerryy)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2024, 5:09pm UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/import-files-even-after-newest-update/41959/7 "2024-03-07T17:09:38Z")
![Bildschirmfoto 2024-03-07 um 18.09.18](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/anki2/original/3X/c/c/cc348924da43567d520b39f2fac0df1516b0d354.jpeg) I just got this ? and do u mean by tooltip message the sentence at the beginning something like "Skipping automatic and add-ons or something like that " ---
**Author:** ![abdo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/forums.ankiweb.net/abdo/32/654_2.png) [@abdo](https://forums.ankiweb.net/u/abdo)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2024, 8:16pm UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/import-files-even-after-newest-update/41959/8 "2024-03-07T20:16:45Z")
Interesting. If you open the [debug console](https://docs.ankiweb.net/misc.html#debug-console) and run this code, what’s the output you get? ```python print(mw.pm.legacy_import_export()) ``` If it says `True`, run this code then try importing the deck again: ```python mw.pm.set_legacy_import_export(False) ``` ---
**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:** [March 8, 2024, 11:13am UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/import-files-even-after-newest-update/41959/9 "2024-03-08T11:13:41Z")
The legacy import/export option can also be adjusted in the preferences\>editing screen. ---
**Author:** ![abdo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/forums.ankiweb.net/abdo/32/654_2.png) [@abdo](https://forums.ankiweb.net/u/abdo)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2024, 11:19am UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/import-files-even-after-newest-update/41959/10 "2024-03-08T11:19:24Z")
Oh I thought that option was removed. ---
**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:** [March 8, 2024, 11:58am UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/import-files-even-after-newest-update/41959/11 "2024-03-08T11:58:50Z")
It was originally introduced for the sticky fields add-on, and I’m not sure it’s useful for anything else. If the add-on is adjusting the setting itself, I’d be ok with removing the setting in Anki, though it will mean users will need to use the console if they previously toggled the setting. ---
**Author:** ![abdo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/forums.ankiweb.net/abdo/32/654_2.png) [@abdo](https://forums.ankiweb.net/u/abdo)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2024, 8:14pm UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/import-files-even-after-newest-update/41959/12 "2024-03-08T20:14:41Z")
The add-on patches ApkgImporter.do\_import(): > I think the least confusing solution is to keep the option but modify Special Fields to stop overriding it (and maybe show a warning when legacy importing is not enabled). @NickFlint This should be a simple fix. I can send a PR if you agree. I understand the add-on became less useful after AnkiHub came out, but it’s still included with the Butler add-on and is causing some confusion: ["Unable to read file" when importing a recently exported deck into Anki Windows, 23.12.1 Qt6 · Issue #37 · johnpincock/SpecialFields · GitHub](https://github.com/johnpincock/SpecialFields/issues/37) ---
**Author:** ![NickFlint](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/forums.ankiweb.net/nickflint/32/35471_2.png) [@NickFlint](https://forums.ankiweb.net/u/NickFlint)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2024, 12:47am UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/import-files-even-after-newest-update/41959/13 "2024-03-09T00:47:52Z")
Agreed this should be fixed. I’ve had a few similar complaints. Thanks @abdo ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/anki2/original/1X/8f1279ababc5879d54e4838989f606cfe55af8c7.jpeg) [@system](https://forums.ankiweb.net/u/system)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2024, 12:48am UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/import-files-even-after-newest-update/41959/14 "2024-04-08T00:48:04Z")
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