NotesmakrHelp Guide

Create & Edit Flashcards

Create flashcard decks from scratch, or edit the decks you created or imported, to match your learning style

While AI can generate flashcards automatically, creating and editing flashcards yourself gives you complete control over your study materials. The deck editor lets you craft question-answer pairs and fill-in-the-blank cards tailored to your learning needs.

Deck editor in portrait showing the deck title, description and tags, the card list with Card 1 expanded, and the Add Card button at the bottom

Why Edit Flashcards Manually?

Creating or editing flashcards yourself has unique benefits:

  • Deeper learning — The act of formulating questions strengthens understanding
  • Personalization — Use language and examples that resonate with you
  • Focus areas — Emphasize topics you find challenging
  • Add mnemonics — Include memory aids that work for you
  • Simplify or expand — Adjust complexity to match your current level

Creating a New Flashcard Deck

To create a flashcard deck from scratch:

Tap Add Deck

Tap Flashcards in the bottom bar (or the sidebar on iPad), then tap Add Deck.

Choose Create from Scratch

In the sheet, tap Create from Scratch ("Build your own flashcard deck"). This opens the Create Deck editor. The deck isn't tied to a note.

Name Your Deck

Type a Deck Title. You can also add a Description and Tags: type a tag and tap Add.

Add Your First Card

A new deck starts with no cards. Tap Add your first card, then choose a card type:

  • Q&A Card — Standard question and answer
  • Fill-in-Blank Card — Fill in the missing words
Fill In the Card

For a Q&A card, type the Front (the question or term) and the Back (the answer or definition). For a Fill-in-Blank card, type a sentence, then tap the words you want to hide and check the card preview.

Add More Cards

Tap Add Card at the bottom of the screen to add more cards, choosing a type each time.

Save Your Deck

Tap Save at the top right. Your deck needs a title, at least one card, and a front on every card. If something is missing, a Fix these before saving box lists what to fix. When it's saved, you'll see "Deck saved successfully" and the deck appears in My Decks.

Editing an Existing Deck

To change a deck you created or imported:

Open the Deck Menu

On the Flashcards tab, tap the ... button on the deck card (or long-press the card). Tapping the card itself starts studying instead.

Tap Edit Deck

Tap Edit Deck. If you don't see it, the deck was generated from a note and can't be edited.

Change Cards in Place

Every card appears as a block you can edit right away; there's no separate edit mode. Tap into a field to change it, or use the arrow on a card's header to collapse or expand it.

Make Changes

Update the text as needed. You can:

  • Rephrase questions for clarity
  • Simplify or expand answers
  • Fix typos or errors
  • Add examples or mnemonics
Save Changes

Tap Save to keep your edits. If you go back with unsaved changes, Notesmakr asks whether to Save, Discard or Keep Editing.

Managing Cards in a Deck

Adding Cards

The Add Card button is pinned at the bottom of the screen, so you can add a new Q&A or Fill-in-Blank card at any time. The new card is added at the end and its first field is ready for typing.

Collapsing Cards

Each card header shows its number and type (Q&A or FILL-IN). Tap the arrow to collapse a card to a one-line preview, or use Collapse all (and Expand all) above the list to tidy long decks.

Deleting Cards

To remove a card, tap the trash icon on its header. The card is removed right away, without a confirmation.

Reordering Cards

To change the order of flashcards, press and hold the drag handle (the grip icon to the left of "Card N") and drag the card to its new position.

Writing Effective Flashcards

Keep Questions Focused

Bad: "What is photosynthesis, where does it happen, and why is it important?"

Good: Three separate cards:

  • "What is photosynthesis?"
  • "Where in a plant cell does photosynthesis occur?"
  • "Why is photosynthesis important for life on Earth?"

Make Answers Complete but Concise

Your answer should be thorough enough to stand alone, but short enough to review quickly.

Too brief: "A process"

Too long: A full paragraph from a textbook

Just right: "Photosynthesis is the process plants use to convert light energy into chemical energy (glucose), releasing oxygen as a byproduct."

Use Your Own Words

Don't copy-paste from textbooks. Rephrase concepts in language you naturally use. This ensures you truly understand (not just memorize) and makes recall easier.

Include Context When Needed

If a question could be ambiguous, add context:

Ambiguous: "What does DNA stand for?"

Clear: "In biology, what does DNA stand for?"

Consider Reverse Cards

For some facts, create two cards that test the relationship both ways:

Card 1: "What molecule carries genetic information?" → "DNA" Card 2: "What does DNA do?" → "Carries genetic information"

Try Fill-in-Blank Cards for Facts in Context

For a fact that reads naturally as a sentence, such as "Plants take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen.", a Fill-in-Blank card lets you hide the key terms and recall them in context.

Deck Settings

At the top of the editor you can set:

Deck Title

Give your deck a clear, descriptive title (e.g., "Biology Chapter 3: Cell Structure" rather than just "Biology"). The title is required.

Description

An optional line describing what the deck covers.

Tags

Add tags to organize your decks and make them easier to find and filter in the Flashcard Decks List.

Next Steps

Now that your flashcard deck is perfected, it's time to start studying! Learn the most effective techniques for flashcard study sessions and track your progress toward mastery.