TikTok Returns To The US, But It’s Missing From The App Store: What You Should Know

Latest days have been fairly eventful for TikTok within the U.S. The app was taken offline on Saturday night time, and Apple eliminated it from their App Retailer. Nonetheless, by Sunday afternoon, TikTok was in a position to restore its service within the U.S. following “important readability” provided by President Trump.

Even with TikTok operational once more within the U.S., it nonetheless stays absent from the App Retailer. Right here’s a breakdown of the frequently altering state of affairs.

A concise timeline of the TikTok controversy

• In April 2024, President Biden enacted a ban that required TikTok’s China-linked mum or dad firm to divest from the app inside 9 months or danger a ban within the U.S.
• This deadline lapsed on January 19. TikTok opted to go darkish within the U.S. on January 18 at 10:30 p.m. ET, regardless of not being obligated to take action. As an alternative, regulatory obligations primarily fell on TikTok’s companions, corresponding to Oracle and the app retailer suppliers like Apple and Google.
• Following this, Apple eliminated TikTok from its U.S. App Retailer, citing an obligation to adjust to the legal guidelines relevant to its operations.
• By round 12:30 p.m. on January 19, TikTok communicated that it was within the midst of “restoring service” within the U.S., attributing this motion to the “readability and assurance” supplied by President Trump that service suppliers wouldn’t face penalties.

Regardless of TikTok being again on-line within the U.S., it has not been reinstated within the App Retailer, nor has it reappeared on the app shops of Google, Microsoft, and Amazon. This absence is because of Oracle and its companions selecting to just accept the dangers of doubtless large fines in gentle of Trump’s assurance towards implementing the ban.

Conversely, main firms like Apple, Google, Amazon, and Microsoft appear unwilling to take that gamble, as mentioned earlier.

Implications for TikTok customers

For iPhone customers, this example has a number of implications. If you have already got TikTok put in in your iPhone, you might be nonetheless ready to make use of the app. Apple didn’t take away TikTok from any gadgets, nor did it block entry for current customers.

Nonetheless, TikTok continues to be lacking from the App Retailer, which hinders new customers from downloading it. Customers who beforehand uninstalled the app are additionally unable to reinstall it. Moreover, TikTok can not obtain any updates through the App Retailer, with the newest replace launched final week.

For now, most options of the TikTok app for iPhone are operational for the reason that firm has restored entry. As an example, TikTok’s items market, referred to as TikTok Store, is functioning correctly inside the iPhone app, and Apple Pay is an obtainable fee methodology.

The state of affairs regarding digital purchases utilizing Apple’s In-App Buy system is a little more nuanced.

• In-App Purchases made previous to the TikTok federal ban taking impact on Saturday night time stay absolutely accessible.
• New In-App Purchases through the TikTok app for iPhone can’t be made, as Apple can not legally help this beneath the federal ban provisions.
• Nonetheless, digital purchases can nonetheless be made by means of the TikTok web site, that are then accessible inside the app on iPhone.

What lies forward for TikTok stays unsure. As I used to be making ready this piece, President Trump formally assumed workplace. He has urged a potential 90-day delay in implementing the TikTok ban and likewise expressed a need for the U.S. to carry a 50% possession stake in a three way partnership relating to TikTok. It stays to be seen if ByteDance will comply with such phrases.

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