Media files accidentally deleted and synced to AnkiWeb

Anki Syncing & AnkiWeb
1

Hello,

I urgently need help recovering media files from my AnkiWeb account.

Approximately 17,289 media files (mostly audio files) were accidentally deleted from my local Anki collection on Windows.

Unfortunately, Anki then automatically synced this deletion to AnkiWeb, and the media subsequently disappeared from my AnkiDroid as well.

My cards and decks are still present, but the media files are missing.

I have stopped syncing all devices to avoid making the situation worse.

I have reviewed the recommended Getting Help, Troubleshooting, FAQs, and Platform Notes, and I have tried the applicable troubleshooting steps, but the problem persists.

Could you please check whether the 17,289 recently deleted media files can still be restored server-side on my AnkiWeb account?

I understand that normal Anki collection backups do not contain media, so I am specifically asking about restoring the recently deleted media from AnkiWeb’s side.

I believe that if my AnkiWeb account can be restored to its state from September 3, 2026, the media files should also be recoverable, as they were still present at that time.

(I can provide my AnkiWeb account email privately if needed).

Thank you very much for your help.

2

Before anything else, open Anki on Windows and run Tools > Check Media. At the top of that screen there’s a line saying Trash folder: N files, X MB. If N is anywhere near 17,289, your files are still on the disk and the Restore Deleted button on that same screen puts them back into collection.media.

If the trash count is 0, check the Windows Recycle Bin by hand. Files deleted in Explorer land there too, unless it was a Shift+Delete.

P.S. The manual also says you can log out in Preferences and sync again to get deleted media back from AnkiWeb. That works only while the files are still on AnkiWeb, and your delete already went up.

Last idea. If you have any device that hasn’t synced since Sept 3, its media folder still holds all 17,289 files. Copy that folder somewhere safe before that device syncs again.

Wish it helps

3

I was waiting for your response to the other commenter’s ideas, because some of those are easier paths to recover. But I can chime in to let you know – yes, it’s likely we can recover this media on the server, if you’re not able to recover it another way.

It’s important for you to figure out first how they “were accidentally deleted”, so you can avoid it happening again. For example –

  • If you deleted them from inside the app (in Check Media) – you’ll need to know why Anki didn’t think they were being used.
  • If you deleted them from outside the app – you’ll need to know what folders you shouldn’t try to clean up in the future.
  • If your media collection had thousands of files you weren’t actually using that were taking up space – you’ll want to understand how to fix that.
  • If some other app/utility deleted them from outside the app – you’ll want to make sure it doesn’t do that again.

If you haven’t been able to recover them, let me know what you’ve figured out, and I can give you more specifics about what I see on the server side.

4

Thank you for the suggestions.

Unfortunately, I don’t think any of those options apply in my case. The Trash folder in Anki does not contain the missing files, and there is nothing relevant in the Windows Recycle Bin either. I also don’t have another device that hasn’t already synced since September 3.

The main issue is that the 17,289 files disappeared from the local media folder itself, and the deletion was then synced to AnkiWeb and subsequently to AnkiDroid.

That’s why I’m hoping the AnkiWeb team may still be able to restore the recently deleted media server-side, particularly since the files were definitely present on September 3, 2026.

Thank you again for trying to help.

5

I have now checked the possible recovery options mentioned above, but unfortunately I was not able to recover the files. The media files are no longer in the local media folder, there is nothing in the Anki Trash or Windows Recycle Bin, and I don’t have another device that hasn’t already synced since September 3.

As for how they were accidentally deleted: I had previously moved the Anki media storage from my C: drive to my D: drive because my C: drive was running out of space, using a Windows link/junction so Anki could continue accessing the files. This setup had worked without any problems for a long time.

I don’t yet know exactly what caused the media folder to disappear, but the important point is that the 17,289 files were definitely still present on AnkiWeb on September 3, 2026, and then disappeared sometime afterward. The deletion was subsequently synchronized to AnkiWeb and AnkiDroid.

Since the files cannot be recovered locally, could you please check what you can see on the server side and whether the 17,289 media files can be restored? If a server-side restore to the state around September 3 is possible, that would be ideal.

I’m also happy to provide any additional information you need about my account or the circumstances of the deletion.

Thank you again for your help.

6

Did you move just the collection.media folder for one profile (or maybe, just its contents) – or the entire Anki2 folder? Given all that, doesn’t it seem likely that your “link/junction” to the new location became disconnected? If Anki started up and couldn’t find a collection.media or Anki2 folder, it would create a new one at the default location, so it would be suddenly empty – exactly what you’re seeing – and that would sync to AnkiWeb as a deletion.

You don’t mention whether you’ve checked on your D-drive to see if the files are still there, wherever you moved them to. If they are, you won’t need to redownload them.

Moving your Anki data

The “right way” to do this is to move the entire Anki2 folder, and tell Anki to use that new location for your data. You can use a startup option or an environment variable for that – Managing Files - Anki Manual .

I just recently did this myself using the environment variable, so I’ll tell you that Windows now has an easier way to access this than the command-line method in the docs. Since I’ve done it exactly once, I’ll refer you to our friend Google to find some expert steps (substitute in your correct windows version).
image .

With Anki closed, set the variable for your base directory there, as described in the docs – and the next time you run Anki, it will be pointed at the new location.

Restoring and redownloading the media

If your C-drive doesn’t have enough room for all this media, you should fix your Anki data location first, right? Otherwise you’ll be downloading thousands of files you don’t have room for.

I took a look at the AnkiWeb account for the email address you used to post here, and I see there were at least 10K restorable media files deleted in the past 4 days. That’s as high as my counter goes, but I’ll be able to tell you exactly how many once they are restored.

Since media can download in the background, I want your system to be ready before I start the restore process. It’s best if you don’t try to sync while that’s happening. Let me know when you’re ready for me to start it, and I’ll report back when it’s done.

7

Thank you very much for checking the server side!

Unfortunately, I have searched the D: drive extensively, including searches for the Anki2 folder, collection.media, and the media files themselves, but I have not been able to find the files. They simply disappeared, and I have no idea what caused this to happen.

I already have enough free space on my drives, so there is no problem with downloading the restored media.

Everything is ready on my side. Please go ahead and start the server-side restore.

Thank you again for your help!!!

8

I’ll start it now. Try to avoid syncing, and I’ll update you shortly. It usually takes about 20min-1h.

9

The process restored 17349 files – just over 8 GB.

When you sync again, that will start downloading, but it’s unlikely to finish in the first sync. Media may continue syncing in the background, or you can continue running Sync until you have it all. Use Tools > Check Media after each sync to see the “Missing” number change. When that’s done, you’ll need to do the same on all of your other devices.

After you have all devices fully in sync – now is a great chance for you to clean up unnecessary media that you’ve been storing and syncing. Run Tools > Check Media > Delete Unused Media. At this first step, the files will just be moved to another folder, so it’s completely safe and reversible. Syncing after that will delete those files from the server and your other devices. You can wait until you’re confident that was media you didn’t need before going back to run the second step, Empty Trash.

10

Hi!

I just wanted to let you know that everything worked out perfectly!

I followed all the steps you recommended, step by step, and moved all of my Anki data to the D: drive the way you suggested in one of your emails. I tested everything carefully, including syncing and adding new media, and everything is working perfectly.

Everything is back exactly the way it was before. All my media is there, my collection is working normally, and everything is in the right place again.

I really can’t thank you enough for all your help. You were an absolute angel throughout this whole process, and I’m very grateful that you took the time to look into the server side and restore all those files for me.

I’m genuinely so relieved to have everything back. Thank you so much for your patience, your help, and for all the work you do for the Anki community.

You did an amazing job, and I really appreciate it. Everything is finally just the way it was before!

Thank you again!

11

I’m glad everything was recovered!

Did you clean up your media when you were done? You might need all 8 GB of media, but just in case you don’t, you might as well take care of that now.

12

Hello,

No, I didn’t. It wasn’t necessary, since practically all of the media files are actually being used.

And thank you one more time for your help!

13

The best thanks is to clear your unnecessary media off the server.