TikTok has made its way back onto Apple and Google’s U.S. app stores after President Donald Trump temporarily delayed a nationwide ban on the popular Chinese-owned social media platform. The sudden return follows weeks of uncertainty surrounding the app’s future in the United States.
Last month, TikTok briefly disappeared from app stores just before a law took effect on January 19, compelling its parent company, ByteDance, to either divest its U.S. assets or face an outright ban due to national security concerns. However, the very next day, Trump issued an executive order extending the ban’s enforcement by 75 days, allowing TikTok to continue operating—at least for now.
Despite Trump’s assurances, Apple and Google hesitated to reinstate TikTok, seemingly waiting for confirmation that they would not face legal repercussions for distributing the app. According to industry analysts, the delay likely stemmed from concerns about potential liability.
On Thursday, TikTok confirmed that its app was once again available for download, marking a significant moment in its ongoing battle to maintain a foothold in the U.S. market. With over 52 million downloads in 2024 alone, TikTok remains one of the country’s most downloaded apps, per data from Sensor Tower. Notably, 52% of those downloads came from the Apple App Store, while 48% were from Google Play.
The legal battle over TikTok traces back to legislation signed in April 2024 by then-President Joe Biden, citing fears that the Chinese government could exploit the app to collect data on American users. This law granted the U.S. government unprecedented power to ban or mandate the sale of Chinese-owned apps on national security grounds, setting a new precedent in digital policy.
As uncertainty lingers, the delay has drawn interest from potential buyers, including former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt. Analysts estimate TikTok’s U.S. operations could be worth up to $50 billion, making it a highly sought-after acquisition target.
Trump has stated that discussions regarding TikTok’s sale are ongoing, with multiple parties expressing interest. A final decision on the app’s fate is expected to come in February, though Trump has hinted that he might extend the deadline further.
For now, TikTok remains available to millions of American users, but its future remains in limbo as the clock ticks on ByteDance’s compliance with U.S. regulations.