About Us
Welcome to Tachiyomi
Welcome to Tachiyomi, the free and open-source manga reader for Android that gives you total freedom to read, customize, and control your manga experience without ads, subscriptions, or restrictions. At Tachiyomi, we believe that reading should be easy, immersive, and completely adaptable to your needs. Whether you’re at home, on the go, or exploring new titles from around the world, Tachiyomi is designed to enhance your manga journey every step of the way.
You can reach us anytime at [email protected] or explore more at https://tachiyomi.site. We love hearing from users—whether you have ideas, suggestions, bug reports, or just want to say hi!
1. Our Mission & Philosophy
Putting Readers First
Our mission is simple: empower readers with a feature-rich, privacy-respecting app that delivers a top-tier manga reading experience. From offline reading to tracker integration, Tachiyomi was built to meet real-world reading needs—and it continues to evolve based on community input.
Open-Source, Always
Tachiyomi runs on open-source principles. The source code is publicly available, enabling peer review, collaboration, and innovation. Anyone can inspect the code, suggest enhancements, or identify and fix bugs. By staying open, we uphold trust, security, and transparency.
Customizable to the Core
No two readers are alike. That’s why Tachiyomi offers deep customization—from layout and themes to downloads and trackers. Whether you like vertical scrolls, double-page spreads, or all-dark mode, Tachiyomi adapts to your preferences, not the other way around.
2. Our Story
The Beginning
Tachiyomi began in 2014 as a personal side project by an individual Android developer frustrated with clunky readers and restrictive platforms. What started as a simple app quickly became a passion built on honesty and community spirit. The project embraced user contributions, feedback, and open collaboration.
Rapid Growth
Tachiyomi’s clean design, powerful features, and light footprint struck a chord. Within months, word-of-mouth and community posts fueled rapid growth. Thousands of users discovered the joy of combining multiple manga sources into a unified app. Enthusiasts began building extensions, translating content, and sharing tips and guides.
Developer & Community Contribution
As popularity surged, an ecosystem of contributors emerged. Developers extended the core with enhancements and optimizations. Translators made Tachiyomi accessible globally. Designers refined UI experience. Enthusiasts created guides, screencast videos, and walkthroughs. The project molded into a true community-driven effort.
Challenges and Continuation
In January 2024, Tachiyomi received a cease-and-desist letter from an entertainment company, resulting in the closure of official repositories and announcements. While this was a pause in formal development, it wasn’t the end. The spirit of freedom lived on—as echoed by in-app messages encouraging users to explore community forks and continue enjoying the app responsibly.
Today, multiple forks—such as TachiyomiSY (SY), TachiyomiAZ (AZ), and others—carry forward the torch. These include advanced features, bug fixes, UI tweaks, and extended support. The original mission lives on through collaboration, creativity, and collective effort.
3. What Makes Tachiyomi Unique?
We stand out in a crowded landscape for several key reasons:
3.1 Totally Free & Ad-Free
Every feature, every update—completely free. That’s our promise. There are zero advertisements, no in-app purchases, and no strings attached. Just pure manga, delivered on your terms.
3.2 One App, Thousands of Sources
By supporting extension-based sources, Tachiyomi brings together content from thousands of manga websites and repositories—MangaDex, MangaSee, MangaKakalot, Webtoons, and more. Add extensions with a tap and enjoy a seamless reading experience across sites.
3.3 Offline Mode
Download entire chapters with built-in or auto-download settings. No internet? No problem. Read in airports, on the train, or in remote areas without network constraints.
3.4 Full Customization
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Themes (light, dark, AMOLED-friendly)
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Reading directions: right-to-left (Japanese), left-to-right, vertical scroll
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Single, double-page, or continuous reader layout
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Gesture support, zoom levels, extra page cache
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Options for downloads, retention, library sorting, and updates
3.5 Library & Backup Tools
Create categories, mark favorites, sort manga by date or chapter, and filter unread volumes. Backup and restore your library, extensions, trackers, and settings with a single tap—perfect for switching devices or starting fresh.
3.6 Tracker Support
Integrations with MyAnimeList, AniList, Kitsu, MangaUpdates, Shikimori, and others let you sync reading progress externally. Follow new releases, updates, and maintain series tracking across platforms.
3.7 Privacy-First Design
Tachiyomi respects your privacy—no ads, no usage tracking, no third-party libraries collecting data. You choose what to share, and all activity stays on your device.
4. Community & Contributors
Tachiyomi’s heartbeat is its community.
4.1 Global Team Effort
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Developers: Core members and external coders who fork or evolve the app
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Extension Authors: Contributors who maintain source adapters
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Translators: Volunteers who localize the app into dozens of languages
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Designers: Creators refining icons, themes, and panels
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QA Testers & Moderators: Volunteers testing versions and guiding users
4.2 Community Hubs
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Reddit (r/Tachiyomi): A growing hub for support, discovery, and updates
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Discord: Communities centered on forks like TachiyomiSY with live feedback
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GitHub Forks: TachiyomiSY, TachiyomiAZ, TachiyomiJI — each evolving the app differently
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Blogs, Tutorials & Social Media: Fans helping fans through walkthroughs and highlights
4.3 How to Join
You can contribute in many ways—code, extensions, translations, guides, or community assistance. Just email [email protected] or contribute through GitHub forks. Let's keep building and improving naturally, together.
5. How To Use Tachiyomi
Here’s a step-by-step walkthrough:
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Download & Install
Grab the latest APK from https://tachiyomi.site. Enable “Install unknown apps” and complete installation. -
Add Extensions
Open “Extensions,” browse available sources, and install favorites like MangaDex, Mangakakalot, or Webtoons. -
Discover & Search
Use global search to find manga across all added sources. Filter results by genre or sorting preferences. -
Build Your Library
Click “+” to add to your library. Create custom folders, prioritize recent series, or mark as favorites. -
Customize the Reader
Tweak reading settings—layout style, color themes, brightness control, reading direction, and scrolling method. -
Offline Reading
Use “Download Chapters” to save manga for offline access or enable auto-download on update. -
Sync Trackers
Connect to services like MAL or AniList in “Settings → Trackers” and manage all your reading progress externally. -
Backup & Restore
In “Settings → Backup & Restore,” save your library, trackers, and settings. Store backups in your device or cloud and restore anytime.
6. Frequently Asked Questions
Here are common questions users ask:
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Is it safe?
Yes. Tachiyomi is fully open-source, regularly peer-reviewed, and used globally without malware or security incidents. Just download the APK from our official site. -
Why isn’t it on Google Play?
Due to its architecture using extensions to access multiple sources, Tachiyomi doesn't comply with Play Store policies. We distribute it directly to support freedom and flexibility. -
Can I update safely?
Visit our site or check within the app if using a fork. Back up your library first, uninstall the old version if necessary, and install the new APK. -
Are there versions for iOS or desktop?
Not officially—but third-party efforts like “Suwayomi-Server” bring Tachiyomi to desktop via Java. iOS is currently unsupported. -
What are forks?
Community-driven versions of Tachiyomi—such as SY and AZ—offering unique features and active updates. Find them linked on our website. -
Can I use trackers?
Yes—activate them in “Settings → Trackers” and link your accounts for automatic sync. -
How can I report bugs or request features?
Open issues on GitHub forks, post on Reddit, or email us at [email protected]—we’ll help or forward feedback. -
What about language support?
Tachiyomi includes multiple languages, and community volunteers continue adding support through translators. -
Can I suggest new features?
Absolutely! Join Reddit/Discord communities, post on GitHub, or email us directly. Community input drives evolution. -
Are my backups safe?
Yes—backups include your library, settings, categories, and trackers, and they stay on your device or selected storage. You control where backups are stored.
7. Roadmap & Future Vision
Even after the pause in official development, our future shines bright:
7.1 Maintaining Excellence
Community forks continue delivering performance improvements, UI enhancements, and new features like SMP support, image filters, and built-in update checks. We highlight top forks to guide users toward maintained versions.
7.2 Expanding Features
Ideas in motion include auto-chapters, custom reader modules, multi-tracker support, real-time server syncing, and enhanced library tools. Your suggestions shape what gets built next.
7.3 Enhanced Community Tools
We are building extended documentation—video tutorials, screencasts, and a blog to share updates, reading recommendations, and contributor highlights.
7.4 Global Growth
We’re nurturing translation efforts to support languages new to Tachiyomi. We invite new volunteers to join translation teams and open source communities.
8. Join the Movement
Whether you're a coder, designer, translator, or manga enthusiast, there’s a place for you here:
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Code and Debug: Fork and improve the app.
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Build Extensions: Add new manga sources.
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Localize: Translate UI and readme.
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Guide New Users: Create tutorials or share tips.
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Boost Growth: Share on blogs, social media, or group chats.
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Provide Support: Solve problems on Reddit or Discord.
Email [email protected] if you’d like to get started or need help finding a task to begin with.
9. Contact & Support
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Email: [email protected]
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Website: https://tachiyomi.site
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Reddit: r/Tachiyomi – installation help, discussions, news
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GitHub Forks: Explore and contribute to forks online
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Discord: Join community chats for instant support
We’re here to listen and support your needs—drop a message anytime!
10. Thank You
To our developers, translators, testers, writers, community moderators, donors, and users—you are Tachiyomi. You’ve turned our vision into reality. With your help, we’ve created something meaningful—a platform built on trust, freedom, and shared passion.
Though the official chapter in Tachiyomi’s development has closed, our story continues through forks, ideas, and countless readers who love what we've built. We hope you’ll join us in crafting the next chapter together.