ClozeMD Setup Guide

Setup guide for non-technical Anki users

This guide explains the full ClozeMD setup in plain language, including what AnkiConnect is, how to install it, and what to do when something is not working.

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Step 1

Before you start

What you need before doing anything else.

This guide is written for students who already know what Anki is, but have never used add-ons before.

You do not need coding knowledge. You do not need to understand how AI works under the hood. You only need to follow the setup steps in order.

You will need

  • A Windows or macOS computer.
  • Anki desktop installed and opening normally.
  • Your ClozeMD app download.
  • About 5 to 10 minutes for first-time setup.

Step 2

Install ClozeMD

Download the app and get it running on your computer.

Download the correct ClozeMD build for your computer, open the installer, and complete the normal install process. After that, launch the app once so you can confirm it opens.

If your computer asks you to confirm that you want to open a downloaded app, read the prompt carefully and continue only if the file came from the official ClozeMD release link.

macOS: "cannot be opened because Apple cannot check it for malicious software"

On macOS, you may see a warning that Apple could not verify ClozeMD is free of malware. This happens because ClozeMD is distributed directly rather than through the Mac App Store. The app is safe. Here is how to open it:

  1. Try to open ClozeMD once normally. macOS will show the warning and block it. This step is necessary so the system registers the app.
  2. Open System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS versions).
  3. Go to Privacy & Security.
  4. Scroll down to the Security section. You will see a message saying ClozeMD was blocked. Click Open Anyway.
  5. Confirm when prompted. ClozeMD will open normally and will not show this warning again.

You only need to do this once. After that, macOS remembers your choice and ClozeMD opens normally every time.

Goal for this step

ClozeMD opens successfully and you can reach the main screen. You do not need to configure everything yet.

Step 3

What is an Anki add-on?

A simple explanation before you install AnkiConnect.

Anki add-ons are small extras that add features to Anki desktop. They are normal for Anki power users, but you do not need to be technical to install one.

ClozeMD needs one specific add-on called AnkiConnect. Its job is to let an external desktop app talk to your local Anki app. Without it, ClozeMD cannot send cards into Anki automatically.

Important

You only need to install AnkiConnect once. After that, it usually just works in the background when Anki desktop is open.

Step 4

Install AnkiConnect

The one Anki add-on ClozeMD needs for direct sync.

  1. Open Anki desktop.
  2. In the top menu, open the add-ons menu.
  3. Choose the option to install an add-on using an add-on code.
  4. Paste the AnkiConnect add-on code from the official ClozeMD setup instructions or release docs.
  5. Install it, then fully restart Anki desktop.

The restart matters. If you skip it, the add-on may not actually be running yet, and ClozeMD may not be able to see Anki.

How to know this worked

Anki reopens normally after the restart, and later on ClozeMD will be able to sync cards while Anki is still open.

Step 5

Generate your first cards

Run a small test before trying a huge note set.

For your first test, paste in a short block of notes instead of a full week of content. That makes it easier to confirm the workflow is working before you scale up.

  1. Paste a short set of notes into ClozeMD.
  2. Click generate.
  3. Read the output before syncing anything.
  4. Edit or reject anything that looks unclear or wrong.

AI is useful for speed, not for blind trust. Always treat the first result as something you review, not something you accept automatically.

Step 6

Sync to Anki

Send the final cards into your local Anki desktop app.

Before syncing, make sure Anki desktop is already open on your computer. ClozeMD syncs to the local Anki app through AnkiConnect, so Anki needs to be running.

  1. Keep Anki desktop open.
  2. Review the generated cards in ClozeMD.
  3. Click sync.
  4. Check Anki to confirm the cards arrived in the expected place.

If this works once, your basic setup is done. After that, the normal workflow is just notes, generate, review, and sync.

Step 7

Common issues

What usually goes wrong and how to fix it.

Cards will not sync to Anki

Make sure Anki desktop is open and that AnkiConnect was installed and the app was restarted after installation. If Anki is closed, ClozeMD has nothing local to sync into.

macOS says "Apple cannot check for malicious software"

This is a standard macOS Gatekeeper warning for apps distributed outside the App Store. See the macOS instructions in the Install ClozeMD step above. The short version: open System Settings, go to Privacy & Security, scroll to Security, and click Open Anyway next to the ClozeMD message.

The generated cards look wrong

Shorten the note input, clean up obviously messy source text, and review the cards before syncing. AI output quality depends heavily on the quality of the notes you paste in.

Free generation limit reached

You get 20 free AI generations to try ClozeMD. After that, you'll need to subscribe to continue generating cards. Each generation is one AI call (Notes→Facts or Facts→Cards).

After setup, the workflow is simple

Once the first setup is finished, your day-to-day use is straightforward: open Anki, open ClozeMD, paste notes, generate cards, review them, and sync.

The technical part is mostly a one-time setup. After that, the goal is to save time, not add more admin to your study routine.

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