Keyboard Mode uses MODI as a preset Bluetooth keyboard-style controller for desktop Anki, while the MODI plugin is the customization path for desktop users who want remapped controls through Switch Mode. The practical difference is where the commands are defined: Keyboard Mode sends built-in key inputs that Anki already understands, and the add-on lets desktop Anki interpret MODI inputs through its own configuration screen. Neither path makes MODI an official Anki product.
If you just want a no-plugin Anki remote workflow on macOS, Windows, or Linux, Keyboard Mode is the direct route. Pair MODI in Keyboard Mode and use the preset review controls without installing an add-on. If you want to decide what each button does inside desktop Anki, use Switch Mode with the MODI add-on. Readers can review the documented compatibility and setup details for MODI remote before deciding which mode fits their device.
Keyboard Mode
Keyboard Mode is intended for desktop use on macOS, Windows, and Linux. In this mode, MODI provides preset inputs for review actions such as Again, Hard, Good or Next, Easy, Undo, Suspend, Escape, Spacebar, and direction-key navigation. Desktop Anki also has its own keyboard behavior, including Space or Enter for revealing an answer or choosing Good, and number keys for answer buttons when those buttons are available.
The important point is that Keyboard Mode does not require the MODI add-on for its default workflow. You connect the remote through the operating system’s Bluetooth settings, then review with the preset key behavior. That makes it the simpler path when the defaults match how you already study. It is also the better starting point when you want fewer moving parts, because Anki add-ons can require updates after Anki itself changes.
Plugin Path
The MODI plugin path is for desktop Anki users who want custom button assignments rather than the preset Keyboard Mode layout. The add-on code is 406900239, and once installed in desktop Anki, it adds a MODI Anki Remote configuration menu. That menu is where the user assigns button behavior. This path depends on desktop Anki’s add-on system, so it should be treated as an Anki extension workflow, not as a universal operating-system setting.
Using the plugin also changes the recommended MODI connection mode. For add-on-based customization, use Switch Mode rather than Keyboard Mode, because Switch Mode exposes gamepad-style inputs for the add-on to configure. This distinction avoids a common setup mistake: installing the add-on while still expecting Keyboard Mode presets to become customizable. Keyboard Mode is the preset no-plugin route; Switch Mode plus the desktop add-on is the remapping route.
Pairing Modes
The connection combinations are specific. For the desktop no-plugin workflow, use Keyboard Mode: open Bluetooth settings, hold A and Home for one second, then select the MODI connection. A solid green center LED indicates a successful Keyboard Mode connection. For the desktop customization workflow, use Switch Mode: open Bluetooth settings, hold Y and Home for one second, then select the MODI connection. A solid blue center LED indicates a successful Switch Mode connection.
When changing from one mode to another, forget every saved MODI or Anki remote entry in Bluetooth settings before pairing again. That same forget-and-repair process is also the preferred starting point when moving the remote to another phone, tablet, or computer. Pressing Home wakes MODI and reconnects in the last-used mode, but it does not replace the full reset of saved Bluetooth entries when the intended mode or host device changes.
Mobile Fit
On iPhone and iPad, the standard MODI mobile setup uses Switch Mode, then AnkiMobile’s own gamepad settings decide what actions are assigned. This is different from the desktop plugin route even though both use Switch Mode. AnkiMobile supports configurable gamepad actions when iOS recognizes the controller profile, but the MODI desktop add-on is not part of that mobile configuration. The app, operating system, and controller profile all contribute to the final behavior.
On Android, the standard MODI mobile setup also uses Switch Mode, then AnkiDroid’s Controls settings handle key binds. One documented quirk matters: X-Y-B-A inputs can appear as Y-X-A-B in AnkiDroid’s menu because of a third-party display mapping issue. That is a visual label mismatch, not necessarily a failed assignment. Test the assigned command in review before assuming the remote, pairing state, or app setting is wrong.
Decision Criteria
Choose Keyboard Mode when you are on desktop Anki, want the preset review actions, and prefer not to maintain an add-on. It is also appropriate when you mainly need common controls such as Spacebar, answer buttons, Escape, Undo, Suspend, or directional movement. This path keeps the setup centered on Bluetooth pairing and Anki’s existing keyboard behavior, so it is usually the clearest answer for users who do not need per-button customization.
Choose Switch Mode with the MODI add-on when your desktop workflow depends on custom control choices inside Anki. Choose Switch Mode without the desktop add-on for the standard mobile path in AnkiMobile or AnkiDroid, because those apps provide their own control assignment screens. The decision is less about whether one mode is generally better and more about where the command mapping should live: preset keyboard input, desktop add-on configuration, or mobile app settings.
Troubleshooting Boundary
If MODI connects but the buttons do not do what you expect, first confirm that the connection mode matches the workflow. A green center LED points to Keyboard Mode, while a blue center LED points to Switch Mode. Then check the relevant configuration surface: desktop Anki’s built-in keyboard behavior for Keyboard Mode, the MODI add-on menu for desktop Switch Mode customization, or the app’s gamepad and control settings on mobile.
If a fresh pairing still leaves the remote unresponsive, restart the host device and try again. Bluetooth saved entries, app settings, battery state, and host-device behavior can all affect the result, so avoid assuming a single cause too early. Also remember that MODI is an independent Bluetooth accessory, not made, endorsed, or certified by Anki, AnkiMobile, AnkiDroid, Quizlet, Apple, Google, Microsoft, or Amazon. Its compatibility depends on the chosen input mode and receiving app.
