You cannot install add-ons directly on the AnkiMobile iPad app. To use Image Occlusion on your iPad, you must either create the cards on a desktop computer and sync them via AnkiWeb, use manual image masking in a drawing app, or use an automated tool like StudyCards AI to generate the cards from your PDFs first.
Many students search for an "anki add on image occlusion ipad" because they want the power of the Image Occlusion Enhanced add-on while studying on their tablet. However, there is a fundamental difference between the desktop version of Anki and the mobile version. The desktop software is open source and allows users to run Python scripts (add-ons) to change how the program works. The iPad app, AnkiMobile, is a separate product built for iOS. Apple's app architecture does not allow the kind of third-party script execution that Anki add-ons require.
This means you will never find a "Download" button for add-ons inside the iPad app. If you see a website claiming you can install .ankiaddon files directly onto an iPad, it is likely incorrect or referring to a jailbroken device, which is not recommended for most students. Instead, you have to change your workflow. You move the "creation" phase to a platform that supports add-ons and keep the "review" phase on your iPad.
This is the fastest way to get high-quality image occlusion cards onto your iPad. You use a computer to do the heavy lifting and the iPad for the actual studying. This method allows you to use the "Image Occlusion Enhanced" add-on, which is the industry standard for medical and science students.
First, install Anki on your Windows or Mac computer. Once installed, go to the "Tools" menu and select "Add-ons." Click "Get Add-ons" and enter the specific code for Image Occlusion Enhanced (you can find the current code on the AnkiWeb add-on page). After restarting Anki, you will see a new icon in your "Add" window that looks like a picture with a mask over it.
When you create these cards, you have two main options:
Once you have created your cards on the computer, click the "Sync" button. You will need an AnkiWeb account for this. After the upload finishes, open AnkiMobile on your iPad and hit "Sync." The app will download the image files and the occlusion data. Because the "occlusion" is actually stored as a specific note type, the iPad app knows exactly how to display the masks and reveal the answers, even though the add-on itself isn't running on the tablet.
"I used to spend hours trying to find a way to make cards on my iPad. Switching to the desktop-sync method saved me so much time. I just spend Sunday night making my image cards on my laptop, and then I can study them on the bus all week using my iPad."
- Sarah, USMLE Step 1 Student
If you do not have access to a computer, you can still achieve a similar result using the iPad's native tools. This is a slower process, but it works for students who only need a few diagrams per chapter.
The simplest way is to use the Photos app. Open the image you want to study, tap "Edit," and then tap the Markup icon (the pen tip). Use the square shape tool to draw a solid box over the label you want to hide. Fill the box with a solid color so the text is invisible. Save this as a new image.
Now, you have two choices for the card:
For more professional-looking masks, apps like Procreate or Apple's Freeform allow you to create layers. You can put your image on the bottom layer and create a "mask layer" on top with colored rectangles. You can then export the version with the masks and the version without the masks. This is essentially doing manually what the Image Occlusion add-on does automatically.
The biggest problem with image occlusion is the time it takes. Even with the desktop add-on, you have to manually draw boxes over every single label in a textbook. If you are studying for the MCAT, NCLEX, or bar exam, you have thousands of pages to cover. Spending 10 hours a week just drawing boxes is not an efficient use of your time.
StudyCards AI solves this by automating the process. Instead of you manually masking images, you upload your PDFs to the platform. The AI identifies the key concepts, diagrams, and definitions and converts them into flashcards. You can then export these directly to Anki. This removes the need to spend hours on a computer with the Image Occlusion add-on because the "heavy lifting" of identifying what needs to be learned is handled by the AI.
For students on a budget, StudyCards AI offers flexible pricing. The Basic plan is 4.99 per month, Pro is 6.99, and Premium is $9.99. When you compare that to the cost of a tutor or the value of 20 extra hours of study time per month, the automation pays for itself quickly. You simply upload the PDF, let the AI generate the cards, and sync them to your iPad for review.
Not all images should be occluded the same way. Depending on what you are studying, your strategy should change.
For anatomy, always use "Hide All, Guess One." If you only hide one label and leave the others visible, your brain will use the surrounding labels as hints rather than actually remembering the structure. For example, if you are studying the brachial plexus, hide every single nerve branch. This forces you to recognize the spatial relationship of the nerves without relying on the label next to it.
When studying slides, don't just occlude the name of the tissue. Occlude the "characteristic feature." Instead of a box over the word "Squamous Epithelium," put a box over the specific cell shape that defines it. This trains your eyes to see the pattern, not just the label.
For these exams, image occlusion is best used for flowcharts. If you have a diagram showing the process of a legal filing or an accounting cycle, occlude the steps in the sequence. This helps you memorize the order of operations, which is often where students lose points on these professional exams.
Whether you use the desktop sync or manual masking, creating cards is the slowest part of studying. Let AI handle the creation so you can focus on the memorization.
No. AnkiMobile for iOS does not support add-ons. You must create your cards on a computer using the desktop version of Anki and then sync them to your iPad via AnkiWeb.
The most widely used and powerful add-on is "Image Occlusion Enhanced." It allows you to quickly mask parts of an image and create multiple cards from a single picture.
Create a free account at AnkiWeb. On your computer, click "Sync" and log in. Then, open AnkiMobile on your iPad, log into the same account, and click "Sync" to download your cards.
Yes, you can use the iPad's Markup tool or apps like Procreate to manually draw boxes over labels. You then save the masked image and the original image as separate files to create a standard Basic card in Anki.
You can use StudyCards AI to convert your PDFs and textbooks into flashcards automatically, which you can then export to Anki and sync to your iPad.
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