Frequently Asked Questions and Platform Guidelines

Here are answers to the questions readers ask us most, for both the website and the app. If you can't find what you need, email support@comikey.com or see the other ways to contact support.

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About Comikey

What is Comikey?

Comikey is an official platform for reading manga, manhwa, manhua and webcomics in English. We have hundreds of series, and all of them are officially licensed.

You can read on the website or in the free app for Android, iPhone and iPad. Most series let you start for free, and you can use Keys to read the newest chapters. Comikey is run by Comikey Media Inc., based in Portland, Oregon. Learn more on our About us page.

What are manga, manhwa, manhua and webcomics?

  • Manga: comics from Japan. They are drawn in panels, usually in black and white, and traditionally read from right to left.
  • Manhwa: comics from Korea, often called webtoons. They are usually read from top to bottom.
  • Manhua: comics from China. Like manhwa, they are usually read from top to bottom.
  • Webcomics: comics made to be read online, usually as one long vertical strip that fits a phone screen. Manhwa and manhua are often called webcomics.

What does simulpub mean?

Simulpub is short for simultaneous publication. A simulpub chapter is released on Comikey on the same day it comes out in its home country.

Some series on Comikey are simulpub. You can find them with the Simulpub filter on the comics page.

When do new chapters come out?

New chapters usually come out at 15:00 UTC. On the website, upcoming chapters show a countdown on the series page.

Where can I read Comikey?

  • Website: comikey.com works in any modern browser on a computer, tablet or phone. JavaScript needs to be turned on.
  • App: the free "Comikey - Manga & Webcomics" app is on Google Play for Android and on the App Store for iPhone and iPad.

Some free options, like the Daily Pass and ad unlocks, are only in the app. If you log in with the same account on the website and in the app, your Keys and unlocked chapters show up in both places.

Is Comikey legal?

Yes. Everything on Comikey is officially licensed and legally distributed by Comikey Media Inc.

We work with publishers such as SQUARE ENIX, Shogakukan, SHUEISHA, Hakusensha, Coamix and Kuaikan Comics.

Do my purchases support the creators?

Yes. When you unlock chapters with Keys, you support the creators and publishers of the series you read.

Can I share or repost pages from Comikey?

No. All content on Comikey is protected by copyright. Copying or sharing it without permission is not allowed and may be punishable under copyright law. You may not sell our content or post it anywhere else, even for free.

Accounts that break our Terms of Service may be terminated.

Is there a Comikey in Portuguese?

Yes. Comikey also publishes a separate catalog in Brazilian Portuguese at br.comikey.com. On comikey.com, the flag at the bottom of the page switches to it, and the search bar has a PT-BR filter. This FAQ covers only comikey.com and the English catalog in the app.

Where can I follow Comikey?

We post news and event announcements on Comikey News. You can also find us here:

Reading for free

Can I read Comikey for free?

Yes. Here's what you can read without spending Keys:

  • First chapters: most series have their first chapters free for everyone, usually the first 3. This works on the website and in the app.
  • Daily Pass (app only): unlock 1 chapter per series for free every 23 hours.
  • Free with Ads (app only): watch a short ad to unlock a chapter. Each series has its own limit.
  • Events: from time to time we add more free reads, like extra Daily Passes or ad unlocks on selected series. We announce them in the app and on Comikey News.

Chapters you unlock with the Daily Pass or an ad stay unlocked for 72 hours. The newest chapter of each series can't be unlocked with the Daily Pass or an ad.

How does the Daily Pass work?

The Daily Pass is in the app. It gives you 1 free chapter per series every 23 hours. The 23 hours start when you use it on that series, so it doesn't reset at midnight. For example, if you use it on a series at 8 PM, it's ready again for that series at 7 PM the next day.

A chapter you unlock with the Daily Pass stays unlocked for 72 hours.

How do ad unlocks work?

In the app, you can watch a short ad to unlock a chapter (Free with Ads). Each series has its own limit, so depending on the series, you can unlock one or more chapters with ads every 23 hours.

A chapter you unlock with an ad stays unlocked for 72 hours.

Why can't I unlock the newest chapter for free?

The newest chapter of each series can only be unlocked with Keys. This supports the creators and publishers. When the next chapter comes out, the previous one becomes available for the Daily Pass and ad unlocks.

On series with a Free-Paid-Free schedule (explained below), a new chapter may also be free during part of its first week.

Can I use the Daily Pass or ad unlocks on the website?

No. The Daily Pass and ad unlocks are only in the app. On the website, you can read the free first chapters and unlock other chapters with Keys. On series with a Free-Paid-Free schedule, new chapters may also be free on the website during the free windows.

What is Free-Paid-Free?

On some series (currently Kengan Omega), a new chapter may be free for its first 3 hours, need Keys until 12 hours after release, and then be free again until one week after release. After that, it works like any other chapter.

Keys and Xtra Keys

What are Keys?

Keys are Comikey's currency. You use them to unlock chapters.

To unlock a chapter, tap or click it, check the price in Keys and confirm.

A chapter you unlock with Keys stays unlocked on your account and doesn't expire. You can read it on the website and in the app, as long as you're logged into the same account.

How much does a chapter cost?

Most chapters cost 2 or 3 Keys (manga chapters usually cost 3). The price is shown before you unlock a chapter. Some special items, like volumes, cost more.

On the website, Key packs start at $1.99 (USD) for 20 Keys. You can see every pack on the Purchase Keys page. In the app, prices are set by the App Store or Google Play and can differ by country and currency.

How do I buy Keys?

  • On the website: log in and go to the Purchase Keys page. Packs start at $1.99 (USD) for 20 Keys, and packs of 50 Keys or more come with bonus Xtra Keys.
  • In the app: Keys are sold through the App Store or Google Play. Packs and prices can differ from the website and by country and currency. Log in or sign up before you buy: Keys bought as a guest are saved only in the app on that phone (see I bought Keys as a guest).

Can I unlock several chapters at once?

Yes, in the app. If you unlock 5 or more chapters at once, you get some Xtra Keys back. On the website, chapters are unlocked one at a time.

Can I share or transfer my Keys?

No. Keys can only be used by the account that bought or earned them. They can't be transferred, sold or gifted.

What are Xtra Keys?

Xtra Keys are bonus Keys. They work like regular Keys for unlocking chapters, with a few differences:

  • They expire. Bonus Xtra Keys from Key packs and from unlocking 5 or more chapters at once last 10 days. Xtra Keys from codes and events expire on the date set for that code or event, usually 10 days after you receive them.
  • They are always used before your regular Keys. This happens automatically.
  • You can't buy them on their own.

How do I get Xtra Keys?

  • As a bonus on Key packs (on the website, packs of 50 Keys or more)
  • By unlocking 5 or more chapters at once in the app
  • With promo codes
  • During events
  • Occasionally from our support team

How do I redeem a promo code?

Log in on the website, go to comikey.com/my/code/ and enter your code. Xtra Keys from a code expire on the date set for that code, usually 10 days after you receive them.

Payments and purchases

How can I pay?

  • On the website: credit or debit card, or PayPal. Google Pay and Apple Pay also work on supported browsers and devices.
  • In the app: purchases go through the App Store (iPhone and iPad) or Google Play (Android), using the payment method saved in your Apple or Google account.

Are my payments secure?

Payments on the website are processed by Braintree, a PayPal service. Comikey doesn't store your card details. In the app, payments are handled by Apple or Google.

Can I get a refund?

Key purchases are final, except where the law requires otherwise.

  • App Store (iPhone or iPad): refunds are handled by Apple. You can request one at reportaproblem.apple.com.
  • Google Play or website: if something went wrong with a purchase, contact support with your order details.

Your account

Do I need an account, or can I use the app as a guest?

On the website, you can read free chapters without an account, but you need to log in to buy Keys and unlock chapters with them. In the app, you can read and even buy Keys as a guest, without an account.

Guest purchases and Keys are saved only on that app install. If you delete the app or switch phones before creating an account, you can lose them. That's why we recommend creating an account or logging in before you buy.

When you sign up or log in from the app, your guest purchases should be moved into that account. If anything is missing, contact support.

Can I use the same account on the website and in the app?

Yes. Log in with the same account on the website and in the app to see your Keys and unlocked chapters in both places.

If Keys or chapters seem to be missing, a common reason is being logged into a different account. Check that you're logged into the account you used to buy them.

How do I create an account?

On the website, go to the sign-up page. You can sign up with an email and password, or with your Google, Apple, Discord, X (Twitter) or Reddit account.

You can also sign up or log in from the app. If you've been reading in the app as a guest, sign up there, on the same phone, so your guest purchases move to your account.

What if I forgot my password or the email I used?

To set a new password, use the password reset page.

If you don't remember which email you used, contact support with your username, and tell us how you used to log in (for example, with Google or Apple).

What if my account says it's inactive?

Contact support. In most cases we can reactivate it for you.

How do I keep track of the series I'm reading?

Add a series to your favorites to keep track of it. On the website, log in and go to comikey.com/my/favorites/ to see them. In the app, your reading log shows the series you've been reading.

How old do I need to be to use Comikey?

You need to be at least 13. If you're under 18, you need supervision from a parent or guardian. See our Terms of Service for details.

How do I delete my account?

  • In the app: go to the Profile tab, tap the gear icon near your username, then tap Delete Account and confirm.
  • By email: email support@comikey.com from the email address on your account (or include your username) and ask us to delete your account.

Deleting your account is permanent. You lose your Keys, your Xtra Keys and every chapter you unlocked. More details are on our Delete your account page.

What information does Comikey collect?

Please see our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Troubleshooting

Pages or images won't load, or a chapter shows an error

  1. Check your internet connection.
  2. Close and reopen the app, or refresh the page on the website.
  3. Update the app to the latest version.
  4. On the website, turn off ad blockers and privacy extensions for comikey.com, then reload the page. They can block a background security check the reader needs.

If a chapter still has missing or broken pages, report it with the series name, chapter number and a screenshot. If you unlocked the chapter with Keys, it stays unlocked on your account, so you can read it once it's fixed without spending Keys again. After we fix a chapter, your device may keep showing the old version for a while. Close and reopen the app to load the fixed one.

Ads won't load, or the chapter doesn't open after an ad

Ads come from an advertising partner, which sometimes has temporary outages. Ads usually work again later or the next day. In the meantime, try this:

  1. Close and reopen the app, and update it to the latest version.
  2. Turn off any VPN, ad blocker or private DNS. These can stop ads from loading.

Keep in mind that each series has its own ad limit every 23 hours. If you've already reached it on that series, try again later. Ads may also not be available on every series or at all times, and the newest chapter of a series can't be unlocked with an ad. If an ad played and the chapter still didn't open, contact support with the series name, chapter number and a screen recording.

My Daily Pass didn't come back

The Daily Pass comes back 23 hours after you used it on that series. It doesn't reset at midnight.

Each series has its own Daily Pass. It's only in the app, and it can't be used on the newest chapter of a series.

If it's been more than 23 hours and the Daily Pass still isn't available, close and reopen the app. If that doesn't help, contact support with the series name and a screenshot.

A chapter I unlocked is locked again

Chapters you unlock with the Daily Pass or an ad stay unlocked for 72 hours, then lock again. Chapters you unlock with Keys don't expire. If one of those is locked, check that you're logged into the account you used to unlock it.

I bought Keys, but they're not showing

  1. Make sure you're logged into the same account you used to buy them. If you bought in the app as a guest, see I bought Keys as a guest.
  2. Close and reopen the app, or refresh the page on the website.
  3. Wait a few minutes.

If they still don't show, contact support with your order number.

I bought Keys as a guest and switched phones or deleted the app

Keys you buy as a guest (in the app, without an account) are saved only on the app install where you bought them. If you still have that install, open the app there and sign up or log in. Your guest purchases should be moved into your account. If you already signed up or logged in and your Keys didn't move over, contact support with your order number.

If you already deleted the app or switched phones, contact support with the order number from your App Store or Google Play receipt. Include your email address in your message so we can reply. To avoid this, create an account or log in before you buy.

My Xtra Keys are gone

Xtra Keys expire, usually 10 days after you receive them. They are also always used before your regular Keys whenever you unlock a chapter. Learn more about how Xtra Keys work.

My payment was declined on the website

Payment declines usually come from the payment processor or your bank. Try another payment method, or check with your bank or PayPal. You can also buy Keys in the app. If it keeps failing, contact support with a screenshot of the error message.

If you were charged but didn't get your Keys, see I bought Keys, but they're not showing.

The app won't install, open or connect

Check that your device meets the requirements on the App Store or Google Play page, and update its operating system. On iPhone, the app needs iOS 13.0 or later (iPadOS 13.0 or later on iPad).

If the app opens but can't connect, check your internet connection and update the app to the latest version.

If it still doesn't work, contact support with a screen recording, your device model and your OS version.

I can't find a series, or it isn't available in my country

First, check the spelling. Some series aren't available in every country because of licensing. For example, most SQUARE ENIX series aren't available in Japan.

It's also possible that we don't have that series. You can suggest it, as explained in the next answer.

Can you add a series I want to read?

You can suggest it. Send us the series name through the Feedback form or by email at support@comikey.com. We pass suggestions to our licensing team, but we can't promise that a series will be added.

Why is a chapter split into parts, like 12.1 and 12.2?

Some series are released in parts, following the publisher's own release format.

Why is a new chapter late, or a series on hold?

Release dates come from the publishers. When a publisher delays or pauses a series, the date on Comikey moves too. When the next chapter has a release date, the series page on the website shows a countdown to it.

Can I read offline?

No. Offline reading isn't available at the moment.

Still need help?

Email support@comikey.com or use the Feedback form, and include the details listed below. We reply by email as soon as we can.

How do I contact support?

  • Email: support@comikey.com
  • Feedback form: log in on the website and go to comikey.com/my/feedback/. It's also linked as "Feedback" at the bottom of every page. Choose Bug, Suggestion, Content or Other.
  • In the app: use the feedback option in the app. If you can't find it, email us.

If you use the Feedback form or the app, we reply to the email address on your account. If you use the app as a guest, include your email address in your message so we can reply.

What should I include in my message?

Send it to support@comikey.com or through the Feedback form, and include:

  • The email or username of your Comikey account, and where you read: Android, iPhone or iPad, or the website. If you use the app as a guest, say so and include your email address.
  • Purchase problems: your order number.
    • Google Play: it starts with "GPA." and is in your Google Play receipt email. You can also find it in the Play Store under your profile icon > "Payments & subscriptions" > "Budget & history".
    • App Store: the Order ID in Apple's receipt email, or in Settings > your name > Media & Purchases > View Account > Purchase History.
    • Website: the receipt or transaction ID, or a screenshot of the receipt or PayPal transaction.
  • Chapter problems: the series name, chapter number and a screenshot.
  • App or ad problems: a screen recording, your device model and your OS version, and the series name if the problem is with one series.

How do I report a bug or suggest a feature?

Email support@comikey.com or use the Feedback form. You can also share suggestions with other readers on Discord.

Where can I chat with other readers?

Join the Comikey community on Discord for news, conversations with other readers and suggestions. The server is shared by English and Portuguese readers. For help with your account or purchases, email us or use the Feedback form, so we can look up your account.

Business, publisher or press inquiries

Please email us@comikey.com.

Platform Guidelines

"User Postings" means content, including text, data, photographs, graphics, images, information, and any combination of these elements which you and other users may submit to the Services, including through comments.

Abusive or Hateful Content

Malicious or abusive content or comment toward creators or other users is not allowed. This includes revealing an individual’s personal information (e.g. real name, contact information, address, social security numbers etc.).

Hateful content or comment that promotes or encourages violence, or has the primary purpose of inciting hate towards individuals or groups based on race, ethnic origin, religion, disability, gender, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, political orientation, etc. is not allowed.

Copyright

Posting, distributing, or transmitting any third party’s copyrighted content without the copyright holder’s consent is not allowed. Examples of prohibited content include:

  • Posting, distributing, or transmitting any third party’s copyrighted content without the copyright holder’s consent (e.g. images, gifs, screenshots, image edits)
  • Using a creative work commercially without proper permission
  • Copying or linking materials from another website or service without permission
  • Providing free downloads of copyrighted material
  • Infringing any third party’s intellectual property right including, without limitation, copyright, trademark, design rights, patent rights, etc.

Mature or Sexual Content

Content that contains nudity or is intended to be sexually gratifying is not allowed. This includes, but is not limited to, full and partial nudity, as well as graphic depictions of sexual acts.

Violent or Graphic Content

We do not allow graphic depictions of gratuitous violence or content that promotes acts of violence. Examples of prohibited content include:

  • Brutal, extended, graphic acts of violence
  • Depiction of sadism, or glorification/promotion of inflicting harm on others
  • Glorification or promotion of self-harm

Spam and Advertising

Posting unsolicited or unwanted content or links is not allowed. This includes creating profiles or uploading content with the primary purpose to drive traffic to external websites. Using automated means to increase view counts or perform social interactions, or creating multiple accounts to increase view counts or perform social interactions will result in account suspension or removal.

Dangerous or Illegal Content

Content that is encouraging, promoting, or soliciting dangerous or illegal activity is not allowed. Examples of dangerous or illegal content include, but are not limited to:

  • Spreading misinformation
  • Content with themes of incest and grooming
  • Glorification or promotion of illegal substances or drug use

Potentially Unlawful Content

We reserve the right to remove content and discipline conduct that we deem to be potentially unlawful in our sole discretion. Examples of potentially unlawful content or conduct include (i) defamatory content, (ii) factually false or deceptive content, (iii) content that violates the privacy rights of another person, and (iv) repeated or serious harassment of other users through the Services.

Content Moderation

You acknowledge and agree that we may use automated and/or discretionary tools and systems to review and monitor User Postings and other content on the Services for violations of this Agreement and applicable law.

Reporting Comments

To report comments that violate this policy or our Terms of Use, use the “Flag” option on the comment. Reported material will be reviewed by our moderation team, and comments or other content in violation of our policies will be removed.

Violations of this Policy

Notwithstanding any remedies available to us in the Terms of Use, we reserve the right to take any action we deem appropriate in response to violations of this Policy. Users who violate this Policy may be suspended from posting or submitting User Posting (temporarily or permanently) or have their account and access to the Services suspended or terminated.

While we generally attempt to provide advance notice to users of actions we take in response to policy violations, we may elect not to do so at our sole discretion. As a result, violations of this Policy or the Terms of Use may result in permanent loss of User Postings and other content previously accessible through the Services.

If your content has been removed or suspended due to policy violations, you may contact our support team at support@comikey.com. However, please note that we do not offer an appeals process for actions we take in response to violations of this policy.