Guides

MyLeitnerBox is built around boxes: each box is a container for flashcards about one topic you want to master with the Leitner method. Name your box so it’s obvious what it’s for later (e.g., “Spanish verbs — A2” or “Biology — cell division”).

How to get started

First, open the main menu and navigate to the Boxes page:

Alternatively, you can go directly to: https://www.myleitnerbox.com/leitner/

On this page, click the "Create New Box" button:

Once clicked, the box creation modal will appear:

Categories (Subject Type)

You can choose from different categories depending on what you’re learning. That choice affects options later (especially for language-related setups).

If you choose Language:

• Box type (Phrases or Words): Phrase: Better for full sentences and longer prompts.

  • Words: Better for vocabulary-style cards.

• Front and Back Languages: For word boxes, specifying front and back languages is required.

  • For phrase boxes, it is optional but recommended so sorting, hints, and future reports stay meaningful.

If you choose “Other” as the subject:

• Subject Label: Enter a clear label (e.g., “Piano chords” or “Nursing — pharmacology”). This helps you stay organized and keeps your reports and filters useful as you add more boxes.

Description (Optional)

There is a short description field where you can explain what the box is about. It’s optional, but it helps when you have many boxes or want to share context with your "future self."

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What's Next?

Your box is now ready and waiting! The next step is to populate it with knowledge.

To learn how, check out the next part of our guide: [Getting started with My Leitner Box, Part 2: Add flashcards]

After you create a box, the next step is to fill it with knowledge. The kind of card you create depends on the box category you chose during setup.

This guide covers the three main flashcard types and how to get the most out of them.

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How cards connect to your box

Whatever type you use, new cards are added directly to your box and enter your Leitner workflow. They will appear in your review sessions based on your schedule and how well you remember them.

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1. Normal Phrases (General Topics)

Best for: History, Science, or any topic where you want a simple Front/Back setup without language-specific tools.

• Rich Text: Use the built-in editor to bold key terms or create lists.

• Images: Upload photos or diagrams to illustrate ideas when text isn't enough.

• Recall: In review, you’ll see the Front first and try to remember the Back.

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2. Language — Phrases

Best for: Learning in full sentences. This includes everything in "Normal Phrases" plus language-aware tools.

• Automatic Translation: Quickly generate translations for your phrases.

• Text-to-Speech (TTS): If you set your languages during box creation, you can use AI-based audio to hear the correct pronunciation.

• Note: If you skipped language selection during box setup, these options may be limited.

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3. Words (Vocabulary)

Best for: Deep vocabulary study. These cards provide more fields than a simple Front/Back to give you a 360-degree view of a word.

• More Context: We recommend filling in as many optional fields as possible—extra context makes words much easier to remember.

• Smart Assistance: To save time, use the Auto fill button. The app will pull structured information (definitions, examples, etc.) from Wiktionary so you don’t have to type everything by hand.

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Where do new cards go?

After saving, cards typically start in Section 1.

💡 Pro Tip: Don't overwhelm yourself! If you import 100 cards at once, Section 1 can become an "enormous pile" that makes your daily reviews feel impossible. Consider marking some cards as Inactive at first, then activate them gradually as you master the current batch.

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What’s next?

You now have the tools to build a powerful deck. The natural next step is to put your memory to the test!

→ [Getting started with My Leitner Box, Part 3: Run a review session]

Once you’ve added cards, you are ready for the most important part: the Review. This is where you practice active recall and move cards through the Leitner sections based on your progress.

1. Open Your Box & Check Today’s Goal

Click your Box Name to open its dashboard. At the top, you’ll see your summary:

• Total cards: Every card in this box.

• Ready to review: The number of cards due today. If this is above zero, you’re ready to start!

2. The Review Flow

Click Start Review. The app will show you the Front of the card first. Try to recall the answer, then reveal the back to grade yourself.

🔊 Pro Tip: AI-Powered Listening

For Language Phrase boxes, look for the Listen button. We use advanced AI to provide native-level text-to-speech, helping you master pronunciation alongside memory.

Note: This is why setting your languages during box creation is so important—it tells our AI exactly how to speak your phrases! 

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3. Completing the Session

A session is only complete when you’ve finished every card in the current batch. Finishing the full run is required to maintain your streaks and update your completion stats.

4. The "Rest" Period

After finishing, the app enforces a short rest period. Spaced repetition is most effective when you don't over-study the same cards in a single day. Your box page will show exactly when your next session is available.

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You’re All Set!

You now have the full loop: Create → Add → Review. By following this cycle, you’re ensuring that what you learn today stays with you for the long term.

Happy learning—we’re rooting for you!

Review Analytics transforms your study history into a personal roadmap. Instead of guessing, use your own data to find your "Golden Hour" for focus and identify exactly where you need to improve.

1. How to Unlock

To ensure your data is meaningful, Analytics unlocks once you’ve established a consistent habit: one full Monday-to-Sunday review week in at least one box.

• The Info Bar: At the top of the page, this bar tracks your status. It tells you what’s needed to unlock or which boxes are currently included.

• The Eligibility Panel: Click the info bar to see a breakdown of every box you own. It shows its status (Eligible, In Progress, or Pending) and a visual countdown of days remaining in your streak.

  
  
  

Tip: You don't need to unlock everything. As soon as one box is ready, you're in!

2. Generate Your Insights

Once unlocked, your data is ready to be sliced and diced.

1. Set the Range: Choose your Start and End dates and hit Apply.

2. Break it Down: Use the sidebar to check the properties you want to see (like Day of Week or Box Name). The system automatically layers these to show you exactly where you excel.

3. Choose Your Lens: Toggle between Pie, Bar, Line charts, or a Table to visualize your progress.
   

3. Automatic "Aha!" Moments

Don't want to dig through the numbers? Check the Insights panel. It automatically flags patterns for you, such as:

• Best Performance: Which day of the week you hit 100%.

• Weakest Day: When you might need an extra shot of espresso or a lighter study load.

• Overall Accuracy: Your total retention rate across the selected period.

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A Final Note from the Team

At the end of the day, these charts are more than just numbers—they are a reflection of your dedication. We built Review Analytics to take the guesswork out of your progress, helping you study smarter, not longer.

We’re honored to be a part of your learning story. Happy studying, and we’re rooting for your success!

When you first add a public box to your collection, import a file, or create a new box from scratch, all cards start in "Inactive" mode. This manual will show you how to activate your cards and begin your journey toward long-term mastery.

The Logic: To progress effectively, you should gradually activate cards based on your capacity. This prevents you from being overwhelmed and keeps your study sessions focused.

📥 Step 1: Initiating the Transfer

At the beginning, all cards in your box will be in inactive mode. You have two ways to bring them into your study rotation:

• The Shortcut: Click the "Move cards from Inactive" button on your dashboard.

• The Manual Choice: Go directly to the Inactive tab and manually change the status of specific cards to "Active."

In this manual, we will proceed by clicking the "Move cards from Inactive" button.

🔢 Step 2: Choosing Your Daily Load

Once you click the button, a window will appear showing the default number of cards to move.

• The Default: The system suggests 6 cards as a starting point.

• Your Choice: You can change this number if you want to tackle more or fewer cards today. Once you have set your number, click "Move to Active" to confirm.

📝 Step 3: Starting the Review

Now that you have active cards, your box is live! Click the "Start Review" button to begin the review process. The system will now present your cards for testing.

📊 Step 4: Tracking Your Progress

At the end of the review process, you will reach a summary screen. By clicking the "View Details" link, you can see how your box has updated:

• The Numbers Change: You will notice the card counts in your sections have shifted.

• Movement: Cards you answered correctly have moved from Section 1 into Section 2.

🏆 Step 5: Mission Accomplished — The "Retired" Mode

The ultimate goal of your box is to move every card into Retired mode. This is the moment of mastery!

• The Mastery Formula: A card reaches "Retired" status once you have answered it correctly 5 consecutive times at specific, increasing intervals.

• Long-Term Success: When a card is Retired, it means the information has successfully moved from your short-term memory to your permanent long-term memory.

Congratulations! Once all cards are in Retired mode, you have officially conquered this box. You’ve turned a list of facts into knowledge you'll keep for a lifetime.