How To Increase Difficulty On Duolingo (2025)

Duolingo is a popular language-learning app that has gained popularity worldwide.

Duolingo follows the gamified approach and also helps you develop stronger language skills.

However, on using it regularly you may feel that the lessons on Duolingo are gradually becoming easier.

You may wish to increase the difficulty on Duolingo.

If you want to increase difficulty on Duolingo but don’t know how then look no further as we got you covered.

In this guide, we have shared several tips to increase Duolingo’s difficulty. To learn what those tips are and how to implement them, keep on reading.

Also Read > How to Start A Friend Quest on Duolingo

Without any further ado, let’s get started:

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Tips To Increase Difficulty On Duolingo (2025)

If you have some experience with the language you are currently learning on Duolingo and are finding it much easier then use the following tips to make Duolingo harder.

Accept Challenges

To increase your proficiency in a language do try to accept challenges. Whenever you are done finishing a lesson, Duolingo Owl will ask if you wish to make the next lesson more difficult.

To increase the difficulty of Duolingo, you need to accept the challenge.

Use Desktop Version

Instead of using its Android and iOS app, use Duolingo’s desktop version. After that, type the answers rather than auto-filling them.

The desktop version has an option of writing the answers rather than auto-correcting them.

This will help you understand the language much better. The option is also available on the app version but for selected questions.

Using Duolingo on the desktop is also beneficial as you can earn more XP.

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Translate Without Looking

Another method to make the lesson tough is by reading the sentence and covering the translation hints that are shared by Duolingo.

Avoid looking at those hints to complete the challenge. It is quite helpful in retaining the word in memory.

Listen to Duolingo Stories

If there are Duolingo Stories in your language course, listen to them with concentration. One must avoid reading the script shared below.

This way you will not only understand the meaning of the words but also learn to pronounce them.

Duolingo Stories can be accessed from the web or mobile app and as you complete a certain set another level will be unlocked.

Try Reverse Path

The Reverse path is quite helpful in learning a language on Duolingo. If you are learning French from English then do try to learn English from French.

This option comes post completing the Duolingo Tree or Duolingo Path. In this, you can go back and practice the tough lessons again.

Listen to Podcasts

On Podcasts, you will hear native speakers speaking the language you are learning which is helpful for your listening skills.

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Each podcast follows a specific setting and teaches new vocabulary and grammar rules.

You need to listen to it with full concentration to understand what the native speakers are discussing in the Podcast.

Make Flashcards

Flashcards are also a huge help to learn words that are too tough to remember.

Spread the flashcards all over and read them wherever you find them. It will help retain the word in your memory.

Speak Instead of Type

Sometimes Duolingo provides a microphone at the bottom of a question.

Do use it to answer rather than write the answers. Speaking will reveal your weakness in pronunciation of some words and help you fix the issue.

Also Read > How to Find Friends on Duolingo

Hard Practice Sessions

When you complete a level on Duolingo, you will see two options available — Easy and Hard. So, click on the harder option and begin your lesson again to learn it well.