TikTok remains unavailable on the Apple App Store as of Monday, January 20th at 8: 30 am PT (Photo: Digital Music News)
Where is TikTok down in the US? Here’s the latest availability report.
Apple App Store: ⊗ Not Available (see Apple statement here)
Google Play Store: ⊗ Not Available
Existing, Already-Downloaded Apps: √ Available (Restored)
Web Version: √ Available (Restored)
Akamai: √ Available (Restored)
Oracle: √ Available (Restored)
TikTok, along with ByteDance-owned apps, was officially banned in the United States as of Sunday, January 19th, 2025. On January 20th, President Trump signed an Executive Order allowing a 75-day stay on the ban while ByteDance and the United States negotiated a joint ownership arrangement.
The ban was instituted across multiple platforms late Saturday (January 18th) to comply with the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, and TikTok shuttered access to its app on Saturday evening. As of Sunday (January 20th), TikTok and various internet backbone providers began reinstating the app following assurances by Donald Trump, while both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store have pulled the app entirely and have not reinstated the app. Here’s the latest.
Latest developments
January 20th, 5:30 pm PT
Incoming President Trump signs an Executive Order delaying the ban by 75 days. Trump indicated interest in negotiating a joint ownership arrangement with ByteDance, with the United States a 50/50 joint venture partner.
January 19th, 1:00 pm PT:
Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, issues a warning on X that “any company that hosts, distributes, services or otherwise facilitates communist-controlled TikTok could face hundreds of billions of dollars of ruinous liability.”
The post was a direct response to TikTok’s announcement that it was restoring service.
January 19th, ~10:00 am PT:
Major CDNs like Akamai and Oracle have restored availability of the app, based on assurances from incoming President Trump that an Executive Order would extend the ban deadline and lift all fines against carriers of the app. Most users are reporting that the app is coming back online for them, with a ‘Welcome Back!’ message from TikTok.
January 19th, 6:30 am PT:
TikTok states via X that its service is being restored, while thanking Trump.
“In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service. We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties providing TikTok to over 170 million Americans and allowing over 7 million small businesses to thrive.”
January 19th, 4:00 am PT:
On Truth Social, Trump urged a pause on the ban and outlined a deal in which the United States would own 50% in a TikTok joint venture.
“I would like the United States to have a 50% ownership position in a joint venture. By doing this, we save TikTok, keep it in good hands and allow it to say up,” the post outlined.
At this point, it’s unclear if ByteDance or any other stakeholders have agreed to this top-level ownership structure.
January 18th, 11:15 pm PT:
After the Supreme Court denied a late-stage appeal, the TikTok app was removed on the evening of January 18th from most platforms, including Apple’s App Store and Google Play Store. Existing users were also told the app was blocked and unavailable.
The removals from the App Store and Play Store prevent future downloads and updates; blocks on the existing app were done by TikTok itself.
Anyone who removed the app ahead of the January 19th ban cannot currently re-download the app.
