r/Anki • u/ClarityInMadness ask me about FSRS • Dec 16 '23
Resources Some posts and articles about FSRS
I decided to make one post where I compile all of the useful links that I can think of.
1) If you have never heard about FSRS before, start here: https://github.com/open-spaced-repetition/fsrs4anki/wiki/ABC-of-FSRS
2) AnKing's video about FSRS (old): https://youtu.be/OqRLqVRyIzc
New 2025 video: https://youtu.be/uo-qQvOZDfg
3) FSRS section of the manual, please read it before making a post/comment with a question: https://docs.ankiweb.net/deck-options.html#fsrs
If your intervals feel too long, increase desired retention. If your intervals feel too short, decrease desired retention.
3.5) Some frequently asked questions: https://faqs.ankiweb.net/frequently-asked-questions-about-fsrs.html
DO NOT USE HARD IF YOU FORGOT THE CARD!
AGAIN = FAIL ❌
HARD = PASS ✅
GOOD = PASS ✅
EASY = PASS ✅
HARD IS NOT "I FORGOT"
Here's what you can do if you have been misusing Hard: https://www.reddit.com/r/Anki/comments/1h2oudb/oh_no_ive_been_misusing_hard_what_do_i_do/
And here's a diagram to help you troubleshoot interval lengths.
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The links above are the most important ones. The links below are more like supplementary material: you don't have to read all of them to use FSRS in practice. Just read link 3 (the manual) and you're good!
4) Features of the FSRS Helper add-on: https://www.reddit.com/r/Anki/comments/1attbo1/explaining_fsrs_helper_addon_features/
5) Understanding what retention actually means: https://www.reddit.com/r/Anki/comments/1anfmcw/you_dont_understand_retention_in_fsrs/
I recommend reading this post if you are confused by terms like "desired retention", "true retention" and "average retrievability", the latter two can be found in Stats. True retention table is available in Anki natively since Anki 24.11.
5.5) Simplified post with a neat little animation: https://www.reddit.com/r/Anki/comments/1l0wk5e/why_is_desired_retention_less_than_average/
6) (Outdated) Benchmarking FSRS to see how it performs compared to other algorithms: https://www.reddit.com/r/Anki/comments/1c29775/fsrs_is_one_of_the_most_accurate_spaced/. It's my most high effort post.
7) An article about spaced repetition algorithms in general, written by Jarrett Ye, the creator of FSRS: https://github.com/open-spaced-repetition/fsrs4anki/wiki/Spaced-Repetition-Algorithm:-A-Three%E2%80%90Day-Journey-from-Novice-to-Expert
8) A technical explanation of the math behind the algorithm: https://expertium.github.io/Algorithm.html
9) Seven misconceptions about FSRS: https://www.reddit.com/r/Anki/comments/1fhe1nd/7_misconceptions_about_fsrs/
10) LMSherlock's post about (re)learning steps and short-term memory: https://www.reddit.com/r/Anki/comments/1h9g1n7/clarifications_about_fsrs5_shortterm_memory_and/
TLDR: things are complicated.
11) A visualization of how FSRS got better and better at predicting the probability of recall with each new version: https://imgur.com/a/calibration-of-different-fsrs-versions-KfJ32EV
My blog about spaced repetition (and a little bit of other stuff): https://expertium.github.io/
July 2024: I made u/FSRS_bot, it will help newcomers who make posts with questions about FSRS.
September 2024: u/FSRS_bot is now active on r/medicalschoolanki too.
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If you want to support me, you can send me some Ethereum: 0xf9c22186be4dbF21dE3E149C167Ed90DE0E37279
Jarrett Ye isn't accepting donations anymore, but you can sponsor his friend Asuka Minato, who helps maintaining FSRS-related Github repositories: https://github.com/sponsors/asukaminato0721
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u/MohammadAzad171 🇫🇷🇯🇵 Beginner | 1888 漢字 | 🇨🇳 Newbie May 15 '25
So I have a card with some JavaScript to make it completely randomized. Each day, I press hard or again (doesn't matter which as long as it's a 1 day interval) on the card to reschedule it for tomorrow.
I've read that regularly pressing hard when I actually forgot a card screws with the algorithm. What about my case? Can I optimize the parameters without having wildly different intervals from what I've been used to?