How to convert a PDF to Anki flashcards

Upload a PDF to 2anki and download a .apkg deck. Works with lecture slides, textbook chapters, and any PDF with a text layer.

What the converter needs

The PDF must have a text layer — most modern textbook exports, slide PDFs exported from PowerPoint or Keynote, and lecture notes do. Scanned images with no text layer will not produce cards. Run a scanned PDF through OCR in macOS Preview or Adobe Acrobat first.

How cards are built

Headings in the PDF name the deck and subdecks. Top-level bullets become card fronts; the next indent level or line becomes the back. Diagrams come across as embedded images. Equations stored as images appear as images; LaTeX equations render if MathJax is enabled in your Anki card template.

Convert a PDF

Go to 2anki.net, drag your PDF onto the upload area, and click Convert. Download the .apkg file and open it in Anki with a double-click. No account required for PDFs under the free plan limit.

Large PDFs and textbooks

Large PDFs work — a whole textbook uploads fine. Big files take longer and create large decks. Uploading one chapter at a time keeps decks easier to review and share. The free plan covers 100 cards per month; the Unlimited plan has no card limit.