I’ve updated to the latest version, deleted and reinstalled the app, logged out and tried to log back in. My iOS 17.7.2 and the background app refresh is selected on. Nothing changed from yesterday to today except for upgrading my iOS to 17.7.2. I’m able to sync on my PC desktop Anki app though, just not on my iPhone app.
I’ve searched through the forums and it seems like the Anki servers had a hardware issue a few days ago and caused the same error, but it was later completely fixed. Some older posts had suggested increasing the Network timeout limit, which I did, as well as deleting unnecessary files from Check Media. Nothing has resolved this issue. Do anyone have any other advice? Thanks in advance!
Does restarting your phone and wifi router help? If you temporarily switch over to 4G/5G (being mindful of your data cap) or try on a different wifi network, does syncing work?
Weird thing is that the Anki app on my iPad can sync and I can log into ankiweb.net as well so maybe problem is somewhere in my iPhone updating its iOS?
Is your phone’s date&time correct? The SSL certificate was updated a few days ago (needs to be renewed each year), and if the phone’s date is in the future, the certificate may appear invalid.
The other possibility is your phone has some sort of filtering set up, such as a VPN/proxy or some sort of software that tries to filter out particular content, like parental controls.
Yes, Date & Time is Set Automatically. They’re the correct date and time for my location.
I don’t have any sort of filtering software or VPN/proxy that I installed. Does Apple have any of these installed by default? Or maybe there was something in the iOS 17.7.2 update that is blocking the connection to Ankiweb?
A number of users have reported VPN/proxy-type issues with “iCloud private relay” (if I have the name right) – which seems essentially like a VPN. You might check if that’s involved.
Yes, I’ve cleared my cache and cookies a couple days ago but that didn’t work. I had previously tried using Safari to reach the Anki website but that didn’t work either.
I finally had time to contact Apple support, and they said the only way they can help is if I updated to the newest iOS, 18.2.2. I was just about to update the OS when I decided to try syncing one more time. Mysteriously, the app synced and I could access the Anki website… *sigh, I wish I could pinpoint what happened to make it work, but maybe just a combination of all the suggestions and waiting?
Here’s a compiled list in case anyone stumbles across this thread in the future:
Update to the latest Anki app version.
Restart or shut down phone.
Restart router, try cellular data or a different wifi network.
Delete and reinstall app.
Log out and log back in.
Clear cookies and cache in browser to see if able to log in https://ankiweb.net/decks. If not, try another browser.
On iPhone, make sure Background refresh is toggled on in 2 places in Settings, the Anki app and in General → Background App Refresh.
In Anki app, Preferences → Syncing → Network timeout, change to 180s.
In Anki app, Preferences → Check Media, delete unnecessary files.
Make sure the phone’s Date&Time is correct.
Check any filtering software (ie. VPN/proxy/parental controls. iPhone has iCloud Private Relay if subscribed to iCloud services.)
