TikTok is removed from app stores in the US; uncertain future after ban

The TikTok app was officially removed from app stores in the United States, just hours before the January 19th deadline, as predicted after the decision of US Supreme Court to maintain the prohibition imposed by law Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act. Users were notified about the deactivation through notices in the application itself.

Despite the ban, there is a possibility that President-elect Donald Trump will temporarily reinstate TikTok after his inauguration on January 20, 2025. A notice within the app informed users that Trump “has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reestablish TikTok once he takes office“, as reported by NPR.

Trump mentioned to NBC that a 90-day extension to the ban is likely, stating: “The 90-day extension is something that will likely be done because it is appropriate.This extension would require ByteDance to prove to Congress that the process of divesting TikTok’s US operations is underway, among other requirements.

Apple has already published a support page explaining the TikTok ban in the US and listing all ByteDance apps that would be affected. Searching for the app in the Google Play Store displays a warning that TikTok is not available. Furthermore, as previously disclosed, installing the TikTok APK through sideloading is not a viable alternative.

Many users sought solutions through VPNsbut according to USA Today, this strategy has not been effective in reestablishing access to the application. Thus, TikTok is completely unavailable in the US.

Some users have migrated to the Chinese app RedNote, which has similar features to TikTok, but RedNote also has data privacy concerns and is not an ideal long-term alternative. To sustainably return to the American market, ByteDance will need to find a buyer for TikTok’s US operations, even if Trump’s suggested 90-day extension is granted.