TikTok was recently banned in the United States, and while people thought this just meant no updates or downloads, the app completely went dark. Surprisingly, things moved quickly, and TikTok’s owner, ByteDance, announced it is bringing the app back. However, TikTok has not yet returned to the Apple App Store. Here’s what’s going on.
Why Isn’t TikTok Back on the App Store?
Although former President Trump gave assurances that made ByteDance feel confident enough to restore TikTok, legal issues remain. ByteDance must sell TikTok’s U.S. operations to a government-approved buyer to avoid a permanent shutdown. Trump allowed a 90-day extension for this, but ByteDance needs to prove they’re actively working on it.
Some politicians, like Republican Senator Tom Cotton, have warned that any company hosting TikTok could face massive legal consequences. This has made companies like Apple and Google cautious about bringing TikTok back to their app stores.
TikTok’s Statement
On January 19, TikTok said it is working with service providers to restore the app and thanked Trump for providing clarity that no penalties will be imposed on companies supporting TikTok’s operations in the U.S. They also said they are committed to finding a long-term solution.
Apple’s Unusual Action
Apple did something unprecedented: it published a support document explaining the situation with TikTok and other ByteDance apps like CapCut and Lemon8. It said these apps would stay on users’ devices if already installed, but they can’t be downloaded, updated, or used for new subscriptions in the U.S. Apple has not clarified whether the apps will return to the store anytime soon.
The Bigger Picture
President Trump recently mentioned that he’s likely to extend the 90-day deadline, but the situation is still complicated. ByteDance and the U.S. government need to work out a deal to keep TikTok running in the country.
For now, TikTok’s return feels like a temporary fix. Whether it becomes fully available again depends on resolving these legal and political challenges.