TikTok is Back on the App Store
TikTok is back. After weeks of uncertainty, Apple is reinstating the app in the U.S. App Store, following Google’s lead in bringing it back to the Play Store. The decision comes after U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi assured Apple it would not face financial penalties for hosting the app on their app store, a move first reported by Bloomberg.
The removal of TikTok on January 19th was a direct response to a law targeting apps owned by Chinese-owned tech company ByteDance which not only banned TikTok but also Lemon8, CapCut and a game called Marvel Snap. Despite an executive order from President Donald Trump which gave ByteDance an extension of the ban for 75 days, Apple and Google had remained cautious and not willing to risk hefty fines by keeping TikTok available on their stores. Now, with government assurances in place, TikTok is returning to both major app stores.
For users, this means business as usual. No more side-loading workarounds, VPNs, or fears of losing access. You can even buy a new phone now!
Starting February 13, 2025, TikTok will once again be available for download... for now. We'll see what happens over the next 75 days. The next "deadline" for TikTok is set for April 5th.
