Encode Words

An Anki add-on that boosts vocab retention via a one-time initial encoding step.

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Anki was originally designed for reviewing information that has already been learned, with its strength lying in spaced repetition rather than initial exposure. But many language learners rely on prebuilt vocabulary decks containing words they have never seen before. In these cases, Anki's learning steps often fail to create a strong initial memory trace, leading to weak retention, frequent lapses, and demotivating review sessions.

This add-on fills that gap by providing a one-time encoding routine for new vocabulary before a card enters the review queue. The routine takes about 60 seconds per word and applies several scientifically supported encoding techniques to create a deep memory trace. Strong initial encoding results in faster reviews that are far less prone to lapses, and increases the number of new words that can be learned per day.

Instructions

1. Open the Anki Browser Navigate to the Browser and locate the cards you want to encode.

2. Select 5–10 words Highlight the notes you want to encode. (5–10 at a time is recommended for best focus and efficiency.)

3. Right-click and choose "Encode Words" This will open the encoding window for the selected notes.

4. Assign the correct fields (only needed when seeing a note type for the first time) If the add-on has not seen this note type before, use the dropdown menus to specify which fields to use.

5. Press the "Start" button The encoding session will begin.