TikTok has officially made its way back to both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store in the United States after being removed for nearly a month. The removal, which took place on January 19, 2025, was due to concerns about national security and a U.S. law requiring ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, to divest its American operations.
According to The Verge, while existing users could continue accessing the app, new downloads were blocked during this period. The reinstatement happened after U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi assured Apple and Google that they wouldn’t face legal consequences for hosting TikTok.
MarketWatch reports that this move aligns with an executive order from the U.S. government, which delayed the enforcement of the ban until April 5, 2025. This extension provides time for potential restructuring, including the possibility of an American entity acquiring a stake in TikTok’s U.S. operations.
However, the situation remains uncertain. As AP News points out, the law enforcing the ban is still in effect, and non-compliance could lead to heavy fines. It remains to be seen whether ByteDance will be able to negotiate a sale or find another solution to keep TikTok accessible in the U.S. For now, users can once again download the app, but future developments could impact its availability.