TikTok Restored in the U.S. but Still Missing from App Store
TikTok is up and running again in the United States after briefly going offline this weekend, but it remains unavailable for download on the App Store. The social media giant issued an in-app announcement, crediting its restored functionality to “President Trump’s efforts.”
The disruption stems from a U.S. law passed last year requiring ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, to relinquish ownership of the app due to national security concerns. The law, which officially took effect this weekend, prohibits platforms like Apple and Google from hosting ByteDance-developed apps unless compliance is ensured. Late Saturday, Apple pulled TikTok, along with other ByteDance-owned apps such as CapCut and Lemon8, from the App Store in response to the legislation.
To address the issue, President-elect Donald Trump announced plans to issue an executive order granting additional time for ByteDance to divest its stake and comply with the law. He further reassured that companies who kept TikTok operational prior to this action would not face penalties.
Apple CEO Tim Cook, who is set to attend Trump’s inauguration, has not yet indicated whether TikTok will return to the App Store following the forthcoming executive order. However, with potential fines amounting to billions of dollars, Apple appears to be approaching the situation cautiously. A spokesperson for Apple reiterated the company’s obligation to “follow the laws in the jurisdictions where it operates.”
TikTok’s situation exists within a larger political and economic debate over data security involving Chinese-owned platforms. During his campaign, Trump committed to enforcing stricter regulations on digital security while supporting cryptocurrency and other tech initiatives. Critics argue that these fast-moving decisions are creating uncertainty for major tech players navigating compliance.
Meanwhile, TikTok users in the U.S. can now access the app without major interruptions, though its future appears tied to how the legal and political negotiations unfold in the coming weeks. For now, TikTok enthusiasts can breathe a small sigh of relief as they wait for clarity regarding the app’s long-term availability.
