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This guide walks you through running the Flashcard AI Android app with Expo, importing a deck, and starting a study session.

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Prerequisites

  • Node.js 18 or later
  • Expo Go installed on your Android device (Google Play), or Expo CLI for a local build
  • A decks.json file exported from the desktop app (see the note below)
To get a decks.json file, export it from the Flashcard AI desktop app or sync it to your device via Google Drive. The mobile app reads this file directly from device storage.

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Setup

1

Install dependencies

Navigate to the Android app directory and install packages:
cd appAndroid
npm install
2

Start the Expo development server

npx expo start
The terminal displays a QR code and a local development URL.
3

Open the app on your device

Option A — Expo Go (fastest): Open the Expo Go app on your Android device and scan the QR code shown in the terminal. The app loads over your local network.Option B — Run on connected device:
npx expo run:android
Requires Android Studio and a connected device or emulator with USB debugging enabled.
Expo Go is the quickest way to test. Use expo run:android when you need access to native modules not supported by Expo Go.
4

Import a decks.json file

  1. On the Home screen, tap Import decks.json.
  2. The device file picker opens — navigate to your decks.json file and select it.
  3. Your decks appear in the deck list immediately. Data is persisted in AsyncStorage so it survives app restarts.
5

Start studying

Tap any deck to open it, then choose a mode:
  • Flashcard mode — swipe right to mark a card as known, swipe left to mark it unknown. Cards animate with a high-performance 3D flip.
  • Quiz mode — answer single or multiple-choice questions. The app auto-resumes your last session if you leave mid-deck.
Extra-long question or answer text scrolls independently without conflicting with swipe gestures.

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In-app update checker

The app automatically checks for new releases from the GitHub releases page when it starts. If a newer APK is available, a prompt appears offering to download and install it directly. You can dismiss the prompt and optionally suppress it for that version. To check manually, tap the I floating button on the Home screen and select Check for updates.

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Build a standalone APK

To install the app directly on a device without Expo Go: 
cd appAndroid
build_apk_release.bat
The output APK is named FlashcardAI-Android-v<version>.apk. Share it with other Android devices or upload it to an internal distribution service.

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Next steps

Desktop quickstart

Set up the desktop app to scan images and generate decks.

Cloud sync

Sync decks between desktop and mobile automatically with Google Drive.

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