To remap MODI Anki remote buttons on desktop, pair the remote in Switch Mode, install the optional MODI add-on in Anki, then assign and test one button at a time. Keyboard Mode already has preset desktop inputs and does not require an add-on, so use Switch Mode when you specifically want a custom layout inside desktop Anki rather than the default keyboard behavior.
MODI is an independent Bluetooth accessory, not an official Anki product or an add-on made by Anki. The remapping process depends on three separate pieces working together: the remote’s current connection mode, the MODI desktop add-on, and Anki’s review screen behavior. A practical reference point is customizable Anki remote, which lists its desktop and mobile workflows along with the distinction between preset and customizable controls.
Start In Switch Mode
Switch Mode is the desktop path for custom remapping through the MODI add-on because it exposes gamepad-style inputs for the configuration screen. If the remote was previously paired in Keyboard Mode, open the computer’s Bluetooth settings and forget every saved MODI or Anki remote entry first. Then hold Y + Home for one second, select the MODI connection, and confirm that the center LED becomes solid blue.
Do not skip the forget-and-repair step when changing modes. Saved Bluetooth profiles can keep the computer using an older input profile, which makes troubleshooting confusing because the remote may appear connected while Anki receives different signals than expected. After a fresh Switch Mode pairing, press Home later to wake and reconnect in the last-used mode. If the remote connects but remains unresponsive, restart the computer and try again.
Install The Add-On
On desktop Anki, install the optional MODI add-on only when you want configurable buttons. Open Tools, choose Add-ons, select Get Add-ons, enter code 406900239, and restart Anki when prompted. After restart, open the MODI Anki Remote menu item to configure assignments. This add-on extends desktop Anki; it is separate from Anki itself and may need updates after Anki changes.
Keep the role of the add-on narrow in your setup notes. It is not required for the default Keyboard Mode workflow, and it does not change how AnkiMobile or AnkiDroid configure controls. On desktop, its purpose is to let you connect MODI in Switch Mode and choose what each recognized input should do during review, using actions available through the add-on and desktop Anki behavior.
Map One Action
Begin with one button that you can verify immediately, such as a reveal or Good-style action, instead of filling the entire layout at once. Assign the action in the MODI add-on, save it, and move directly to a review card where the result is obvious. A single confirmed assignment proves that Switch Mode, Bluetooth, the add-on, and Anki’s review screen are all communicating correctly.
Once the first button works, add the next action and test again. This one-at-a-time process feels slower at the start, but it prevents a common failure pattern: changing six or eight buttons, then being unable to tell which assignment, mode, or app state introduced the problem. If a new assignment fails, you only need to inspect the last change rather than questioning the whole layout.
Test In Review
Test remapped buttons in the exact Anki context where you plan to use them. Some commands only make sense when an answer is hidden, when answer buttons are visible, or when a card supports the relevant media action. Desktop Anki supports common review controls such as Space or Enter for reveal and Good, plus number keys for answer buttons when those buttons are available.
If a button appears to do nothing, first ask whether that action is valid on the current screen. Next, check whether Anki is focused, whether the remote is still connected, and whether the assignment was saved in the add-on. Avoid treating every failed press as a hardware issue. Bluetooth state, Anki focus, review-screen state, and the chosen command can all affect what happens after a press.
Document Your Layout
Write down the button name, assigned Anki action, and reason for each choice as you build the layout. A simple note is enough: A equals Again, B equals Good, Left Bumper equals Undo, or whatever arrangement matches your review habits. The value is not the specific layout; it is having a record you can reconstruct after a computer change, add-on reinstall, or pairing reset.
Keep the document practical rather than elaborate. Include the connection mode, the add-on code, and the date you last changed the layout. If another desktop uses a different operating system or Anki profile, do not assume the same Bluetooth pairing state or add-on configuration is already present. Your notes should help you rebuild the setup without guessing which button was meant to trigger which review action.
Restore Or Rebuild
A restore path matters because remapping is easiest to troubleshoot when you can return to a known state. If the layout becomes confusing, stop changing individual buttons and rebuild from the first confirmed action. Remove unclear assignments in the MODI add-on, save a simpler version, and test again in review. If the remote’s mode is uncertain, forget saved Bluetooth entries and pair again in Switch Mode.
When the problem follows a recent Anki update, check whether the add-on also needs attention before redesigning the layout. Add-ons extend desktop Anki and can require updates after Anki changes. If the remote works over Bluetooth but the add-on configuration does not behave as expected, separate the connection question from the remapping question. Confirm solid-blue Switch Mode first, then rebuild the add-on assignments one tested button at a time.
