After a federal ban on ByteDance-owned apps went into force on January 19, 2025, TikTok is no longer accessible for download on the U.S. App Store. ByteDance is required to sell TikTok’s U.S. operations to an American company in accordance with the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act.
TikTok and other apps controlled by ByteDance, the Chinese parent firm, are prohibited. In compliance, Apple and other app store operators have taken TikTok down from their US platforms.
TikTok will not be available for in-app purchases, upgrades, or new downloads in the United States due to the prohibition. Existing users who have the program installed, however, can keep using it.
The U.S. government considers TikTok’s affiliation with ByteDance as a national security threat. In response to calls for ByteDance to sell TikTok’s U.S. business to a local buyer, lawmakers contend that the app may expose American data to foreign adversaries.
TikTok continues to be in operational and legal uncertainty since no U.S. acquirer has been found. With the Supreme Court upholding the law that enforced the ban, millions of TikTok users are now unsure about the app’s future.
Americans who already have TikTok installed can continue to use it, but updates are not available and new users are not allowed. Until ByteDance finds a buyer in the United States, TikTok’s future in America remains uncertain, leading to contentious discussions on tech sovereignty, privacy, and security.
