Sharing and Syncing

Flashcards World is designed to work seamlessly across all your devices and to make sharing study material with others effortless. This guide explains how cloud sync keeps your data up to date everywhere you study, and how QR code sharing lets you distribute sets to friends, classmates, and study groups in seconds.

Cloud Sync

How Sync Works

Flashcards World uses a cloud backup sync model. When you sign in to your account, your flashcard sets, cards, and study progress are automatically backed up to the cloud. Here is what happens behind the scenes:

1. You make a change -- Whether you create a new set, edit a card, or study a session, the app records the change locally on your device.
2. Upload to the cloud -- The next time the app syncs (which happens automatically), your local data is uploaded to Flashcards World's secure cloud storage.
3. Download on other devices -- When you open the app on another device, it checks for updates and downloads the latest version of your data.

The result is that your sets, cards, and progress stay consistent whether you are using the web app on your laptop, the iOS app on your iPhone, or the Android app on your tablet.

Setting Up Sync

Getting sync up and running is straightforward:

1. Create an account -- Open Flashcards World and sign up using your preferred method. You can sign in with Google, Apple, or email.
2. Sign in on each device -- Use the same account on every device where you want your data to appear.
3. Automatic sync -- Once signed in, sync happens automatically. There is no toggle to enable or settings to configure. Just use the app and your data will stay up to date.

What Gets Synced

When sync is active, the following data is kept in sync across all your devices:

• Flashcard sets -- Every set in your collection, including the title and language settings.
• Cards -- All front text, back text, and multiple-choice options.
• Study progress -- Your spaced repetition intervals and card status (known, unknown, in progress).
• Favorites and organization -- Any cards or sets you have marked as favorites.

Sync Across Platforms

One of the biggest advantages of Flashcards World is true cross-platform sync. You can study on any combination of devices:

• Web (any modern browser) to iOS (iPhone and iPad)
• iOS to Android (phone and tablet)
• Android to Web
• Any other combination

Your data follows you regardless of which platform you use. Create a set on the web during lunch, study on your phone during your commute, and review on your tablet before bed -- it all stays in sync.

Offline and Sync

Flashcards World is an offline-first app. You can create sets, edit cards, and study without any internet connection. When you are offline:

• All changes are saved locally on your device.
• The app continues to work normally for all study modes.
• When you reconnect to the internet, the app automatically syncs your changes to the cloud.

There is no need to manually trigger a sync after being offline. The app handles it automatically.

Sync Tips and Best Practices

• Sign in on all devices. Sync only works when you are signed in with the same account. If data is not appearing on a device, check that you are signed in.
• Open the app to trigger sync. Sync happens when the app is active. If you just made changes on one device, open the app on the other device to pull the latest data.
• Avoid editing the same card on two devices simultaneously. If you edit a card on your phone and the same card on the web before either change syncs, the most recent change will be kept. To avoid confusion, finish your edits on one device and let it sync before editing on another.
• Check your internet connection. If sync seems stuck, make sure your device has a working internet connection. A quick check: try loading a website in your browser.
• Be patient with large collections. If you have a very large collection (hundreds of sets, thousands of cards), the initial sync on a new device may take a moment. Subsequent syncs are incremental and much faster.

Sharing with QR Codes

Flashcards World makes it easy to share any set with another person using QR codes. No links to copy, no files to send -- just scan and go.

How QR Code Sharing Works

1. Open the set you want to share.
2. Tap the Share or QR Code icon. This is typically found in the set header or options menu.
3. A unique QR code is generated for that set. The QR code encodes the set's content so the recipient gets an exact copy.
4. The recipient scans the code. They open Flashcards World, navigate to the scan feature, and point their device's camera at the QR code.
5. The set is imported instantly. The recipient now has their own copy of the set in their collection.

Sharing Tips

• In-person sharing -- QR codes work best when you are physically near the other person. Show the code on your screen and have them scan it.
• Remote sharing -- You can also take a screenshot of the QR code and send it via text, email, or social media. The recipient can scan the screenshot from their gallery.
• Group study sessions -- Project the QR code on a screen or display it on a tablet so multiple people can scan it at once. This is great for classrooms and study groups.
• The recipient gets an independent copy. After scanning, the imported set belongs to the recipient. Any changes they make to their copy will not affect your original set, and vice versa.

Alternative Sharing Methods

In addition to QR codes, you can share your flashcards via:

• CSV export -- Export your set as a CSV file and send it to anyone. They can import it into Flashcards World or open it in a spreadsheet.
• Premade library -- If you want your set to be broadly available, see the Content Library for information about community sets.

Sync and Sharing for Study Groups

If you are studying with a group (a class, a study circle, or a tutoring session), here is a recommended workflow:

1. One person creates the set -- Build the flashcard set on any device.
2. Share via QR code -- At the next group meeting, display the QR code for everyone to scan.
3. Everyone personalizes their copy -- Each group member can add their own cards, edit definitions, or remove cards that are not relevant to them.
4. Study independently with spaced repetition -- Each person's spaced repetition schedule is unique to their performance. Everyone studies the same material but at their own pace.
5. Update and re-share -- If the set needs updates (new material, corrections), the creator updates their copy and shares a new QR code.

This workflow combines the efficiency of shared content with the effectiveness of personalized study.

Security and Privacy

Your sync data is stored securely in the cloud:

• Authentication -- Sync requires signing in with your account. Unauthorized devices cannot access your data.
• Encrypted transfer -- Data is transmitted over HTTPS, ensuring it is encrypted in transit.
• Account-scoped data -- Your flashcards are only accessible to devices signed in with your account. No one else can see your sets, cards, or study progress unless you explicitly share them.
• Account deletion -- If you ever want to remove your cloud data, you can delete your account. This permanently removes all data stored in the cloud.

Frequently Asked Questions

How quickly does sync happen?

Sync typically happens within seconds of opening the app or making a change while connected to the internet. The exact timing depends on your internet speed and the size of the data being synced.

Can I use the app without creating an account?

Yes. You can use Flashcards World without an account for local-only study. However, without an account, your data will not sync to the cloud and will only exist on the device where you created it. You also will not be able to access the content library or share sets via QR codes.

What happens if I sign in on a new device?

When you sign in on a new device, the app downloads your entire collection from the cloud. This may take a moment depending on the size of your collection. After the initial sync, updates are incremental and fast.

Can two people edit the same set in real time?

Flashcards World does not support real-time collaborative editing. When you share a set via QR code, each person gets an independent copy. Changes to one copy do not affect the other. For group study, have one person maintain the "master" set and re-share it after making updates.

Is there a limit on how many devices I can sync?

There is no limit on the number of devices. You can sign in and sync on as many devices as you need.

Does sync use a lot of mobile data?

Sync transfers are small because the app only syncs changes, not your entire collection every time. However, if you are on a limited data plan and have a very large collection, you may want to sync while on Wi-Fi.