How to convert a Word document to Anki

What carries over from a .docx file

2anki reads the document's structure. Each heading becomes a card front, and the text under it becomes the back. A list under a heading, or 4 or more short paragraphs, becomes one card per item instead, with the heading on each front and the item and its nested bullets on the back. The whole document becomes one deck. Images embed directly in the cards. Bold, italics, and lists keep their formatting. Strikethrough text on a card becomes a tag on that card.

Format your document for clean cards

Put each question or term in a heading and its answer under it. Use a bulleted list under a heading when each point should be its own card. Short prompts make better cards than paragraphs. You can edit every card in Anki after import, so a rough first pass is fine.

Convert your document

Go to 2anki.net, drag your .docx file onto the upload area, and click Convert. Download the .apkg file and open it in Anki with a double-click. Your cards appear as a new deck. The free plan covers your first 100 cards a month.

Coming from Google Docs

Google Docs exports to Word format: File → Download → Microsoft Word (.docx). Upload that file the same way. Everything in this guide applies.

Tables and two-column notes

In a document with no headings, a two-column table — term on the left, definition on the right — converts cleanly, with each row becoming a card, so the whole document turns into a deck in one pass. A table under a heading goes on the back of that heading card instead.

Common questions