TikTok Returns to U.S. App Stores

After a 25-day absence, TikTok is back on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store in the U.S. The popular app, along with other ByteDance-owned platforms like CapCut and Lemon8, was removed on January 18 following national security concerns.

However, after President Trump’s executive action delayed the enforcement of a potential ban, both tech giants restored the app on Thursday evening.

The issue stemmed from a law signed under the Trump administration, requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok to a U.S. entity or face a full ban. The law was introduced due to fears over data security, with concerns that China could access U.S. user information. While the app remained functional for existing users during the blackout, new downloads were blocked. TikTok urged users to sideload the app during this period.

Despite the uncertainty, TikTok's traffic rebounded nearly 90% to pre-ban levels, according to Cloudflare Radar. Meanwhile, competitors like X and Bluesky rolled out vertical video features, and Meta launched a video editing app similar to TikTok's CapCut.

Trump’s intervention was key to TikTok’s return. His executive order extended the timeline for ByteDance to find a buyer, with the app receiving another 75 days before a potential shutdown. Although national security concerns were the initial focus, Trump later suggested that TikTok’s cultural significance among young Americans influenced his decision to delay the ban.

According to FoxData, TikTok was the second most downloaded app in the U.S. in 2024, with an estimated 74.61 million downloads. Of this, 28.07 million downloads were from the U.S. App Store, and 46.54 million downloads came from Google Play in the U.S.  

As the platform navigates its uncertain future, its journey reflects the ongoing tension between technology, security, and geopolitics in the digital age.