To set up a MODI Anki remote on Windows, start with Keyboard Mode. Open Windows Bluetooth settings, put MODI into Keyboard Mode by holding A plus Home for one second, then select the MODI entry when it appears. A successful Keyboard Mode connection is shown by the center LED turning solid green. After that, open desktop Anki and test the preset review controls before changing anything else.
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This Windows setup does not require an Anki add-on for the default Keyboard Mode workflow. MODI is an independent Bluetooth accessory, not an official Anki product or a device made, endorsed, or certified by Anki or Microsoft. Use Switch Mode only if you specifically want custom button mapping through the MODI desktop add-on. Readers can review the documented compatibility and setup details for Anki remote for Windows before deciding which mode fits their device.
Start With Keyboard Mode
Keyboard Mode is the standard Windows desktop path because it sends preset keyboard inputs that desktop Anki already understands. In Anki review screens, common keyboard controls include Space or Enter to reveal the answer or choose Good, and number keys 1 through 4 for answer buttons when those options are available. MODI’s preset Keyboard Mode layout is designed around this type of desktop review behavior.
That distinction matters: the remote supplies keyboard-style input, while Anki decides what those inputs do inside the current screen. If Anki is not focused, if a text field is active, or if the reviewer is not open, the same button press may not create the expected review action. Finish pairing first, then test in the actual Anki review screen rather than in Windows settings alone.
Pair In Windows Bluetooth Settings
Begin with MODI awake and close enough for normal Bluetooth pairing. In Windows, open Bluetooth settings and make sure Bluetooth is enabled. Hold A plus Home on the remote for one second to start Keyboard Mode pairing. Watch the available devices list, then choose the MODI connection when it appears. Windows may take a moment to complete the first connection, especially if it is refreshing nearby Bluetooth devices.
After pairing succeeds, check the remote rather than guessing from the Windows list alone. In Keyboard Mode, the center LED becomes solid green after a successful connection. If the LED is not solid green, the remote may not be connected in the intended mode yet. Remove any saved MODI or Anki remote entries if needed, repeat A plus Home, and select the device again from Bluetooth settings.
Confirm Anki Review Controls
Once the LED is solid green, open desktop Anki on Windows and enter a review session. Use a card where answer buttons are visible so you can confirm basic behavior clearly. The preset Keyboard Mode inputs cover review actions such as Again, Hard, Good or Next, Easy, Undo, Suspend, Escape, Spacebar, and direction-key navigation. The exact result still depends on the active Anki screen.
Test one control at a time and watch Anki’s response before assuming the whole setup is wrong. Spacebar-style input should behave like the same keyboard command in Anki. Direction controls should act only where Anki accepts directional navigation. If a button appears inactive, click back into the Anki window, leave any typing field, and retest from the reviewer screen where desktop Anki’s keyboard controls are available.
Use Switch Mode For Custom Mapping
Switch Mode is not the starting point for a normal Windows setup, but it is useful when you want custom mappings through the optional MODI desktop add-on. Instead of presenting the standard Keyboard Mode workflow, Switch Mode exposes gamepad-style inputs that the add-on can interpret. On Windows desktop Anki, choose this path only when the preset Keyboard Mode layout does not match the review actions you want.
To use that route, install the optional MODI add-on in desktop Anki with code 406900239. The path is Tools, Add-ons, Get Add-ons, enter the code, restart Anki, then open MODI Anki Remote from the menu to configure buttons. Add-ons extend desktop Anki and may need updates after Anki changes, so treat this as a configurable desktop layer rather than a requirement for pairing.
Switch Modes Cleanly
If you move from Keyboard Mode to Switch Mode, or back again, start by clearing old Bluetooth state. In Windows Bluetooth settings, forget every saved MODI or Anki remote entry before pairing again. Then use the correct pairing shortcut for the mode you want. For this Windows article’s default path, that means holding A plus Home for one second and looking for the solid green connection LED.
This reset step prevents Windows from reconnecting to a previous profile while you are trying to use a different one. Pressing Home later wakes MODI and reconnects in the last-used mode, which is convenient after the setup is correct but confusing when the saved mode is wrong. If you are changing modes, do the forget-and-repair process first instead of repeatedly pressing buttons and hoping Windows changes profiles.
Troubleshoot Before Remapping
If MODI connects on Windows but does not control Anki, check the simple causes before installing or changing the add-on. Confirm that the center LED is solid green for Keyboard Mode, that the Anki review window is active, and that you are testing commands Anki supports on that screen. A remote can be connected correctly while Anki is still ignoring input because focus or screen context is wrong.
When a fresh pairing still leaves the remote unresponsive, restart the Windows computer and try again. Bluetooth state, saved pairings, battery state, app focus, and Anki configuration can all affect the result, so avoid assuming one cause too early. If you later decide you need custom button behavior rather than the preset keyboard layout, switch modes deliberately and configure the optional MODI add-on after pairing in the appropriate mode.
