Reference Image Sidebar
Keep diagrams, cheat-sheets, or pathway charts always at hand while you study each deck. This add-on lets you upload one or more images per deck and view them in a zoomable sidebar during reviews.
Features Sidebar toggle Alt + R Per-deck storage – images only appear with their linked deck Upload button – copies files into Anki’s media folder automatically Image switcher – dropdown to cycle through multiple references Zoom controls – use the +/- buttons Manage dialog – Tools → Reference Images… to delete or re-assign images Preferences – Tools → Reference Sidebar Settings… (default zoom, auto-show, width) Installation Download the latest .ankiaddon file from the Releases page or from AnkiWeb. In Anki, choose File → Import and select the downloaded file. Restart Anki.
Note: Anki 23 or newer (Qt 6 build) is recommended. Limited Qt 5 compatibility is included but not extensively tested.
Quick Start Open a deck and start Reviewing. Press Alt + R to open the sidebar. Click Upload Image and choose a file (PNG, JPG, GIF). The image appears instantly and will auto-show whenever you review that deck. Shortcuts Toggle sidebar: Alt + R (only available in review mode) Preferences Auto-show sidebar when a review starts Default zoom level (0.25× – 4×) Sidebar width Remember visibility across sessions
Find these under Tools → Reference Sidebar Settings…
Troubleshooting
No images showing?
Go to Tools → Check Media… and verify your files are listed.
Pinch-to-zoom not working?
Ensure you have a precision trackpad that emits native pinch events (macOS).
Other issues or feature requests?
Open an Issue on the GitHub repo or leave a comment on AnkiWeb.
