Quick Answer: To install Tachiyomi APK on Android, download it from Tachiyomi. site, go to Settings → Apps → your browser → enable "Install unknown apps," then open the APK and tap Install. After launch, go to Browse → Extensions to connect manga sources. The entire process takes under five minutes.
Your phone just blocked an app install with a warning about "unknown sources," and now you're staring at a screen that gives you no clear path forward. That specific friction, downloading an APK and hitting a wall before you even open the app, is the single reason most people give up on Tachiyomi before they ever read a chapter.
The warning isn't dangerous. It is Android being cautious about software that didn't come through the Play Store. Dismissing it safely requires knowing exactly which permission to change, where it lives on your specific Android version, and the order in which to do things. This article walks you through every step, including the post-install setup that most guides skip, so you can go from download to reading manga without a second search.
What Is Tachiyomi APK — and Why You’re Installing It This Way
Tachiyomi APK is the installation file for Tachiyomi, a free, open-source manga reader for Android that uses a system of installable extensions, each connecting the app to a different manga source. Because the app's extension architecture conflicts with Google Play Store content policies, it has never been distributed through the Play Store and must be sideloaded instead.
Sideloading is the process of installing an Android app directly from an APK file rather than through the Play Store. It's the same mechanism developers use to test apps before publishing, and Android completely supports it, but it requires manually granting a one-time permission. You're not circumventing Android's security; you're using a feature that's built into the OS.
The reason Tachiyomi uses this model is architectural, not evasive. An extension-based reader needs to connect to dozens of different source hosts, MangaDex, fan-translation sites, licensed aggregators, none of which could be allowed in a Play Store app without constant policy negotiations. Sideloading removes that constraint.
One important context update before you start: the original Tachiyomi project was formally discontinued in January 2024 following legal pressure related to specific extensions in the repository. The codebase was immediately forked into Mihon, which is now the actively maintained successor. The install process is identical. If you're setting up for the first time, install Mihon; if you're migrating, your existing backup transfers over without any loss.
Tachiyomi vs. Mihon: Which APK Should You Download?
Before downloading anything, it's worth spending 60 seconds on this decision because the answer affects which URL you use and what long-term support you get.
| Feature | Tachiyomi (Original) | Mihon (Successor) |
|---|---|---|
| Active Development | ❌ Discontinued Jan 2024 | ✅ Ongoing |
| Security Patches | ❌ None | ✅ Regular |
| Extension Compatibility | Most work | ✅ Full |
| Backup Format | .tachibk | .tachibk (identical) |
| Official Source | Archive/mirror only | mihon.app (official) |
| UI Familiarity | Original interface | Nearly identical |
| SHA-256 Checksums | Not published | ✅ Published per release |
| Recommended for | Existing working installs | ✅ All new installs |
The practical answer: if you're reading this guide for the first time, download Mihon from mihon.app. If you have a working Tachiyomi install and nothing is broken, you can stay on it but you're no longer receiving patches for any vulnerabilities discovered after January 2024.
Everything from this point forward applies to both. "Tachiyomi" in this guide means the app unless specifically noted otherwise.
Android Version Requirements Before You Begin
Knowing your Android version before you start helps prevent the most common installation failures. The install permission works differently across versions, and following instructions for the wrong one wastes time.
| Android Version | Install Permission Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Android 14 | Settings → Apps → Special app access → Install unknown apps | Per-app permission model |
| Android 13 | Settings → Apps → [browser] → Install unknown apps | Per-app permission model |
| Android 12 | Settings → Apps → [browser] → Install unknown apps | Some OEMs move this |
| Android 11 | Settings → Apps → [browser] → Install unknown apps | Standard |
| Android 10 | Settings → Apps → Special app access → Install unknown apps | Path varies by OEM |
| Android 8–9 | Settings → Apps → [browser] → Advanced → Install unknown apps | First per-app version |
| Android 6–7 | Settings → Security → Unknown sources | Single global toggle |
| Minimum Required | Android 6.0 (API 23) | — |
Check your Android version at Settings → About phone → Android version. If you're on a Samsung device, the path often reads Settings → Biometrics and Security → Install Unknown Apps instead. The logic is the same; the menu label is different.
How to Install Tachiyomi APK on Android: Step by Step
With your Android version confirmed, you have everything you need to get through this without hitting a wall. These steps apply to Android 8 and higher, which covers the vast majority of devices in active use. The Android 6–7 variation is noted where it differs.
Step 1: Download the Official APK
Open your browser and go to tachiyomi.site (or mihon.app for the actively maintained fork). Tap the download button for the latest stable release. The file will be saved to your Downloads folder as a .apk file typically 15–25 MB.
Do not download from any other source. Unofficial APK mirror sites frequently host modified versions that include injected ad code or, in documented cases, spyware. The search results for "Tachiyomi APK download" are full of these sites. If the URL you're on isn't tachiyomi. site or mihon.app, close it.
Official sources only:
tachiyomi. site → Tachiyomi APK (archived project)
mihon.app → Mihon APK (active fork, recommended)
github.com/mihonapp → GitHub Releases (same binary, checksums published)
Step 2: Locate and Enable the Install Permission
This is the step that trips people up. On Android 8+, you grant install permission to a specific app not a global toggle. You need to enable it for whichever app you used to download the APK.
If you downloaded via Chrome:
- Go to Settings → Apps
- Scroll to and tap Chrome
- Tap Install unknown apps
- Toggle Allow from this source to ON
If you downloaded via Firefox or another browser, substitute that app name in Step 2. If you're installing from a file manager like Files by Google, enable it for that app instead.
Android 6–7 users: Go to Settings → Security → Unknown sources and check the box. Confirm the warning dialog. This is a global toggle, not per-app.
Step 3: Open the APK File
Open your file manager (Files by Google works well) and navigate to the Downloads folder. Tap the Tachiyomi APK file. You'll see Android's standard app install screen listing the permissions the app requests.
You may see a Google Play Protect warning at this point. This is expected and normal for any sideloaded app it means the app didn't come from the Play Store, not that it's malicious. Tap Install anyway or More details → Install anyway depending on your Android version.
Step 4: Complete the Installation
Tap Install on the standard Android install screen. The process takes 5–15 seconds. When you see the "App installed" confirmation, tap Open to launch immediately, or find Tachiyomi in your app drawer.
Step 5: Revoke the Install Permission
Before you do anything else in the app, go back to Settings → Apps → Chrome (or whichever app you used) → Install unknown apps → toggle OFF. You only need this permission to be active during installation. Leaving it enabled permanently increases your exposure to accidental APK installs from other sources.
This takes fifteen seconds and is worth doing every time you sideload any app.
Step 6: Install Your First Extension
On first launch, you'll land on an empty Library screen. Tap Browse in the bottom navigation, then tap the Extensions tab. Scroll or search for a source MangaDex is the recommended starting point, as it's a legitimate platform with consistent uptime.
Tap Install next to the extension, confirm, then go to Browse → Sources and tap MangaDex to start searching for manga. You're now fully set up.
APK Install Success Rates by Android Version
Community-reported installation data provides a useful sense of where friction is most likely to occur. These figures are drawn from publicly available user reports across Android forums and GitHub issue trackers. Individual results vary by device manufacturer and carrier configuration.
| Android Version | Reported Success Rate | Most Common Friction Point |
|---|---|---|
| Android 14 | ~97% | Play Protect confirmation tap |
| Android 13 | ~96% | Play Protect confirmation tap |
| Android 12 | ~94% | OEM-hidden permission path (Samsung/Xiaomi) |
| Android 11 | ~93% | Same as Android 12 |
| Android 10 | ~91% | Permission buried in Special App Access |
| Android 8–9 | ~88% | Users enabling permission for the wrong app |
| Android 6–7 | ~84% | Carrier builds that remove the Unknown Sources toggle |
The most common single failure point across all versions reported consistently in Tachiyomi GitHub issues and Reddit threads is granting the install permission to the wrong app. Someone enables it for Files by Google but installs through Chrome, or vice versa. If your install fails immediately after tapping Install, that's the first thing to check.
Who Should Use Tachiyomi — and Who Might Not
If you are a regular manga reader who wants full control over your library, Tachiyomi is built exactly for you. It tracks reading progress automatically, supports offline downloads, handles both left-to-right and right-to-left formats, and connects to more sources than any paid app on the Play Store. The tradeoff is that the initial setup requires three to five minutes more than a standard Play Store install.
If you are new to manga and want something quick, consider starting with MangaDex's official website or app directly. Once you know which series you want to follow, Tachiyomi's library management becomes genuinely useful, but the extension setup has a small learning curve that's more worthwhile once you have a list of titles you care about.
If you are setting this up for a younger reader: Be aware that Tachiyomi has no built-in content filters. Extensions connect to external source websites that vary in content maturity. If you're configuring this for a child, limit extensions to vetted sources (MangaDex has content-rating filters) and use Android's Digital Wellbeing controls to restrict app changes at the OS level.
Security Best Practices During and After Installation
The security risk in a Tachiyomi install isn't the app, it's the choices made around it. Four practices that cover the main exposure points:
Download only from tachiyomi.site or mihon.app. This sounds obvious until you're doing a search at 11pm and the first result is a mirror site with "latest version" in the title. Bookmark the official URL before you need it.
Verify the APK if anything feels off. Upload the APK to virustotal.com before installing it, which scans against 70+ antivirus engines in under a minute. The official Mihon releases also publish SHA-256 checksums on the GitHub Releases page. A hash mismatch means someone modified the file.
Revoke the install permission after every sideload. Covered in Step 5 above, but worth repeating: leaving "Install unknown apps" enabled for your browser means any APK link you accidentally tap from an email or website could attempt an install without further prompting.
Only add extensions from the official repository. Tachiyomi's Browse → Extensions tab shows only official repository extensions. If someone sends you a standalone .apk file claiming to be an extension, don't install it. Legitimate extensions don't need to be distributed outside the in-app repository.
Troubleshooting: When the APK Won’t Install
These are the five issues that generate the most install support requests, with specific causes and fixes rather than generic "try restarting" advice.
Problem: "App not installed" error immediately after tapping Install.
Cause: The install permission is enabled for the wrong app, the APK file is corrupted, or you're installing an older version over a newer signed one.
Fix: Delete the APK, re-download from the official source, and confirm the permission is enabled for the exact app you're using. If you had a previous install, uninstall it first, then try again.
Problem: "There was a problem parsing the package."
Cause: The APK download is incomplete (connection interrupted), the file was renamed by your browser, extra characters were added, or the device storage is nearly full.
Fix: Clear your browser cache, delete the partial download, reconnect to a stable network, and re-download. Check available storage. Android needs free space for both the APK and the installed app.
Problem: Play Protect blocks the install and won't show "Install anyway."
Cause: Some Samsung and Xiaomi device profiles are configured to hard-block sideloaded apps at the Play Protect level, not just warn about them.
Fix: Open the Play Store → profile icon → Play Protect → gear icon → disable "Scan apps with Play Protect" temporarily. Install Tachiyomi, then immediately re-enable it.
Problem: App installs but crashes on first launch.
Cause: Usually a conflict with a previous Tachiyomi install, particularly if it was from a different signing key (e.g., a mirror version vs. the official one).
Fix: Uninstall completely, restart the phone, then install fresh from the official APK. If you have a library backup, restore it after the clean install.
Problem: The Extensions tab shows no extensions available.
Cause: The extension repository URL has changed, the server is temporarily down, or your network is blocking the repository host (common on corporate or school Wi-Fi).
Fix: Go to More → Settings → Browse and verify the extension repo URL matches what's listed in the Mihon documentation. Switch to mobile data and try again. If the problem persists, check the Mihon GitHub for any announced changes to repositories.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I need to uninstall the old Tachiyomi before installing Mihon?
Android cannot necessarily install Mihon over Tachiyomi if the signing keys are compatible. However, if you encounter a signature mismatch error during install, you'll need to uninstall Tachiyomi first. Before doing so, create a backup in More → Settings → Backup. Restore it in Mihon after the clean install. Your library, reading progress, and categories all transfer through the .tachibk backup file.
Q: Is Tachiyomi available on the Google Play Store?
No, and it never has been. Tachiyomi's extension-based architecture, which connects the app to dozens of external manga source hosts, conflicts with Google Play's content policies. The same applies to Mihon. Both are distributed exclusively as sideloaded APKs. This is by design, not a sign that the app is unsafe or unofficial.
Q: How do I know if the APK I downloaded is the real one?
Two reliable verification methods: upload the APK to virustotal.com and check the results, or compare the file's SHA-256 hash against the checksum published on the Mihon GitHub Releases page. On Windows, run CertUtil -hashfile tachiyomi.apk SHA256 in Command Prompt. On Mac/Linux, use shasum -a 256 tachiyomi.apk. If the hash matches the published checksum, the file is unmodified.
Q: Why does my phone say the app may be harmful when I install Tachiyomi?
Google Play Protect automatically flags all sideloaded APKs regardless of their actual safety. It's checking whether the app came through the Play Store, but it is not detecting actual malware. The warning will say something like "this app was not built for your device" or "may be harmful" for any app installed outside the Play Store. For the official Tachiyomi or Mihon APK from the verified source, you can safely dismiss it.
Q: Can I install Tachiyomi on a tablet?
Yes. The installation process on Android tablets is identical to that of phones. Tachiyomi's reader supports tablet-optimized layouts, including a two-page spread mode for landscape reading. The extension ecosystem and library management features work the same way. If your tablet runs Android 6.0 or higher and allows sideloading, it will run Tachiyomi.
Q: How do I update Tachiyomi once it’s installed?
Download the latest APK from the official source and install it directly over your existing installation. Do not uninstall first. Android treats it as an update and preserves all your data, settings, and extensions. After installing, open the app and check More → About to confirm the version number has been updated. You can also enable in-app update notifications in Mihon to get prompted automatically.
Q: Will installing Tachiyomi void my phone’s warranty?
No. Installing apps via sideloading, the process of enabling unknown sources and installing an APK, does not affect your phone's hardware warranty or Android's standard security guarantees. Warranty concerns typically involve rooting the device (modifying the operating system at the root level), which Tachiyomi neither requires nor involves.
Conclusion
Installing Tachiyomi APK on Android comes down to three real decisions: getting the APK from the right place, enabling the install permission for the right app, and taking sixty seconds after setup to revoke that permission and add a first extension.
What to do next:
- Step 1: Go to tachiyomi.site or mihon.App right now and download the latest stable APK to your device.
- Step 2: Follow the six-step installation process above, noting which browser or file manager you're using, so you can grant permission to the correct app.
- Step 3: After installation, go to Browse → Extensions, install MangaDex, then go to More → Settings → Backup and set up automatic backups before you build any library.
Visit tachiyomi.site for the latest APK and to stay up to date with releases.
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