Anki Zoom: The Complete Guide To Studying Smarter On Calls (And A Better Alternative Most Students Don’t Know) – Turn boring Zoom time into powerful flashcard study sessions that actually stick.
anki zoom feels like window chaos? See why Anki + Zoom is so clunky and how Flashrecall makes live lectures, study groups, and card sharing way smoother.
How Flashrecall app helps you remember faster. It's free
Anki + Zoom: Cool Idea… But Kind Of A Hassle
So you’re trying to use Anki during Zoom classes, study groups, or online lectures. Smart move.
Problem is: actually doing Anki on Zoom can get messy fast.
Windows everywhere. Tabs all over the place. You’re trying to listen, take notes, and review flashcards… and your brain is like, “nope.”
Here’s the thing: the idea is right (review while you’re already at your computer), but the tools can make it harder than it needs to be.
That’s where Flashrecall comes in – it gives you all the good stuff you want from Anki, but in a way that’s way easier to use alongside Zoom, on your iPhone or iPad:
👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
Let’s break down:
- How people usually use Anki with Zoom
- Why it’s kinda clunky
- How to do the same thing (way better) with Flashrecall
- Practical setups and examples you can copy today
How People Usually Use Anki With Zoom
Most people trying “Anki Zoom” are doing one of these:
1. Reviewing Anki During Zoom Lectures
You’ve got:
- Zoom open with slides
- Anki open in another window
- Maybe a notes app too
You’re trying to:
- Listen to the teacher
- Screenshot important slides
- Turn them into cards later
- Or quickly add new cards during class
It can work, but it’s very easy to:
- Miss what the teacher says
- Lose focus bouncing between windows
- Forget to actually review your cards later
2. Using Anki in Zoom Study Groups
You hop on Zoom with friends and:
- Share your screen while doing Anki
- Quiz each other with Anki decks
- Try to “race” through cards together
Fun idea, but:
- Not everyone has the same decks
- Sync issues between devices
- Making new cards together is slow
3. Sharing Anki Decks Over Zoom
You’re that one organized friend with the good decks.
People ask: “Can you send me your Anki deck?” during or after Zoom.
This leads to:
- Exporting/importing .apkg files
- Version chaos (who has the latest?)
- People saying “It doesn’t work on my phone”
So yeah, Anki + Zoom is possible. Just… not smooth.
Why Anki Feels Clunky On Zoom
Anki is powerful, but it was built more like an old-school desktop app than a modern, flexible tool you can juggle during Zoom.
Some common pain points:
- UI is busy – not fun to use while also trying to focus on a lecture
- Card creation is slow – especially if you want to turn slides, PDFs, or YouTube videos into cards
- Syncing across devices can be annoying – and you really want your cards on your phone for quick reviews
- No built-in “chat” with your cards – if you’re confused about a concept mid-lecture, Anki can’t explain it to you
Now compare that to something like Flashrecall, which is built for exactly this kind of multitask, modern study workflow.
A Better Way: Use Flashrecall Alongside Zoom
Instead of fighting with Anki windows during Zoom, you can use Flashrecall on your phone or iPad as your “live capture + review” tool while Zoom runs on your laptop.
Grab it here (free to start):
👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
Here’s why it works so well with Zoom.
1. Make Flashcards Instantly From Whatever’s On Screen
During a Zoom lecture you can:
- Snap a photo of the slide on your screen with your phone
- Paste text from the lecture notes
- Use PDFs or YouTube links your teacher shared
- Or just type a quick prompt like:
> “Make flashcards from this definition of osmosis”
Flashrecall automatically creates flashcards for you, instead of you manually building every single one like in Anki.
So instead of:
> “I’ll make cards later” (…and never doing it)
You do it during the Zoom call in seconds.
2. Built-In Spaced Repetition (Without Micro-Managing Settings)
Anki gives you a lot of control over spaced repetition, but that also means a lot of tweaking.
Flashrecall keeps the good part (optimized review timing) but makes it automatic:
- Cards are scheduled for you
- You get auto reminders when it’s time to review
- You don’t have to remember “I should open my flashcard app today”
Flashrecall automatically keeps track and reminds you of the cards you don't remember well so you remember faster. Like this :
Perfect for days when you’re buried in Zoom classes and don’t want one more thing to manage.
3. Active Recall Built In (Not Just Passive Reading)
Flashrecall is built around active recall – the same principle that makes Anki great:
- You see a question / prompt
- You try to remember the answer
- Then you reveal it and rate how well you knew it
So you’re not just staring at slides again. You’re actually testing yourself on what your teacher just explained on Zoom.
4. “Chat With” Your Flashcards When You’re Confused
This is where Flashrecall really pulls ahead of Anki for Zoom-era studying.
If you’re unsure about a concept:
- Open the card in Flashrecall
- Chat with it like you would with a tutor
- Ask: “Explain this in simpler words” or “Give me another example of this”
During or after a Zoom lecture, this is insanely helpful. Instead of rewinding the recording 10 times, you can:
- Ask follow-up questions
- Get explanations at your level
- Clarify confusing points on the spot
5. Works Offline (For When Zoom Dies On You)
If your internet is trash or Zoom drops:
- Flashrecall still works offline
- You can keep reviewing your flashcards
- No excuses to not study while Wi-Fi is moody
Anki can work offline too, but Flashrecall’s mobile experience is just… smoother.
6. Perfect for Any Subject You’re Doing on Zoom
Whether your Zoom life is:
- Languages
- Medicine / nursing / dentistry
- Law
- Business / finance
- School / university lectures
- Tech, coding, anything
You can make flashcards from:
- Lecture slides
- Shared PDFs
- Recorded YouTube lectures
- Text your teacher posts in chat
Flashrecall is super flexible with input types: images, text, audio, PDFs, YouTube links, or just manual cards.
Practical Setups: How To Use Flashrecall With Zoom (Step-By-Step)
Let’s make this real. Here are a few setups you can literally copy.
Setup 1: Zoom on Laptop + Flashrecall on Phone
This is the cleanest setup.
1. Join Zoom on your laptop
2. Open Flashrecall on your iPhone
3. When an important slide appears:
- Take a photo of your screen with your phone
- Import it into Flashrecall → auto flashcards
4. When the teacher defines something important:
- Quickly type or paste text into Flashrecall
- “Make flashcards from this explanation of supply and demand”
5. After class (or during a break):
- Review the cards Flashrecall just created
- Let the spaced repetition system schedule the rest
You’re turning your Zoom time into instant flashcards instead of messy notes you never read again.
Setup 2: Zoom Study Group + Shared Flashrecall Cards
Studying with friends?
1. Join Zoom with your group
2. One person shares key notes, concepts, or a PDF
3. Everyone uses Flashrecall to generate cards from the same material
4. You can each chat with your own cards to understand tough concepts better
5. Next time you meet, you’re all actually prepared instead of pretending
No clunky deck exports, no “it doesn’t work on my device” issues.
Setup 3: Reviewing Before a Zoom Exam Review Session
Let’s say you’ve got a Zoom review session before a big exam.
1. A day or two before:
- Open Flashrecall
- Review your spaced repetition queue (it’s already scheduled)
2. During Zoom:
- Add new cards from any topics the teacher emphasizes
3. After Zoom:
- Do a short review session to lock in the new stuff
You’re stacking Zoom + flashcards + spaced repetition instead of treating them as separate things.
Flashrecall vs Anki For Zoom Studying: Quick Comparison
- Super powerful
- Highly customizable
- Tons of shared decks
- Clunky interface
- Manual card creation takes time
- Not optimized for fast capture during live lectures
- No built-in chat or explanation system
- Syncing and sharing can be awkward
- Fast, modern, easy-to-use interface
- Instantly creates flashcards from images, text, audio, PDFs, YouTube links, or typed prompts
- Manual card creation also supported if you like full control
- Built-in active recall and spaced repetition with auto reminders
- Study reminders so you actually open the app
- You can chat with your flashcards when you’re unsure about something
- Works offline
- Great for languages, exams, school, university, medicine, business – basically anything you’re learning on Zoom
- Works on iPhone and iPad
- Free to start
Grab it here and test it during your next Zoom class:
👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
How To Switch From Anki To Flashrecall (Without Losing Your Mind)
If you’re already deep into Anki, you don’t have to ditch everything overnight. Try this:
1. Keep your old Anki decks for now
2. For new topics, start making cards in Flashrecall instead
3. Use Flashrecall during Zoom classes to capture content quickly
4. After a week or two, compare:
- Which app are you actually opening more?
- Which feels easier to use during Zoom?
- Which one reminds you to study without you thinking about it?
Most people end up naturally gravitating to the one that feels less like “work” and more like “this actually helps.”
Final Thoughts: Don’t Just Watch Zoom, Turn It Into Memory
If you only watch Zoom lectures, you’ll forget most of it in days.
If you turn those lectures into flashcards + spaced repetition + active recall, you’ll actually remember the stuff when it matters.
You can do that with Anki, but if you want something:
- Faster
- Easier to use during live Zoom calls
- Smarter about explanations and reminders
…then try doing your next Zoom session with Flashrecall open on your phone or iPad.
Download it here (free to start):
👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
Turn your Zoom time into real learning, not just another blurry lecture you barely remember.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Anki good for studying?
Anki is powerful but requires manual card creation and has a steep learning curve. Flashrecall offers AI-powered card generation from your notes, images, PDFs, and videos, making it faster and easier to create effective flashcards.
What's the fastest way to create flashcards?
Manually typing cards works but takes time. Many students now use AI generators that turn notes into flashcards instantly. Flashrecall does this automatically from text, images, or PDFs.
What's the most effective study method?
Research consistently shows that active recall combined with spaced repetition is the most effective study method. Flashrecall automates both techniques, making it easy to study effectively without the manual work.
How can I improve my memory?
Memory improves with active recall practice and spaced repetition. Flashrecall uses these proven techniques automatically, helping you remember information long-term.
What should I know about Zoom:?
Anki Zoom: The Complete Guide To Studying Smarter On Calls (And A Better Alternative Most Students Don’t Know) – Turn boring Zoom time into powerful flashcard study sessions that actually stick. covers essential information about Zoom:. To master this topic, use Flashrecall to create flashcards from your notes and study them with spaced repetition.
Related Articles
- Notion To Anki: The Complete Guide (And A Faster Shortcut Most Students Don’t Know) – Stop wasting time on clunky exports when there’s a way easier way to turn your Notion notes into powerful flashcards.
- Anki Flash: The Complete Guide to Smarter Flashcards on iOS (And a Faster, Easier Alternative Most Students Don’t Know About) – If you’re tired of wrestling with clunky flashcard apps, this will save you a LOT of time.
- AnkiApp Web: The Complete Guide to Smarter Online Flashcards (And a Better Alternative Most Students Don’t Know About) – Discover how to study faster on any device and why many learners are switching to a more modern app.
Research References
The information in this article is based on peer-reviewed research and established studies in cognitive psychology and learning science.
Cepeda, N. J., Pashler, H., Vul, E., Wixted, J. T., & Rohrer, D. (2006). Distributed practice in verbal recall tasks: A review and quantitative synthesis. Psychological Bulletin, 132(3), 354-380
Meta-analysis showing spaced repetition significantly improves long-term retention compared to massed practice
Carpenter, S. K., Cepeda, N. J., Rohrer, D., Kang, S. H., & Pashler, H. (2012). Using spacing to enhance diverse forms of learning: Review of recent research and implications for instruction. Educational Psychology Review, 24(3), 369-378
Review showing spacing effects work across different types of learning materials and contexts
Kang, S. H. (2016). Spaced repetition promotes efficient and effective learning: Policy implications for instruction. Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 3(1), 12-19
Policy review advocating for spaced repetition in educational settings based on extensive research evidence
Karpicke, J. D., & Roediger, H. L. (2008). The critical importance of retrieval for learning. Science, 319(5865), 966-968
Research demonstrating that active recall (retrieval practice) is more effective than re-reading for long-term learning
Roediger, H. L., & Butler, A. C. (2011). The critical role of retrieval practice in long-term retention. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 15(1), 20-27
Review of research showing retrieval practice (active recall) as one of the most effective learning strategies
Dunlosky, J., Rawson, K. A., Marsh, E. J., Nathan, M. J., & Willingham, D. T. (2013). Improving students' learning with effective learning techniques: Promising directions from cognitive and educational psychology. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 14(1), 4-58
Comprehensive review ranking learning techniques, with practice testing and distributed practice rated as highly effective

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